Primary Department: Institute of Forensic Sciences
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Luis A. Sanchez, M.D., Executive Director & Chief Medical Examiner
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Supplemental RCA
Type of Request: Grant - Award
Project ID (if applicable): 1748020
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): U.S. Department of Justice/Texas Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): 0%
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Grantor does not allow indirect cost capture
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request by the Institute of Forensic Sciences for approval to accept from the U. S. Department of Justice/Texas Office of the Governor/Criminal Justice Division grant funds in the amount of $336,113.65, with no required match, for the FY26 Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program.
end
Background and Discussion:
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS) Crime Laboratory provides analytical services to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Harris County Constables' Offices, and more than 50 other law enforcement agencies within Harris County. The population of Harris County was approximately 4,889,000 in 2024 with over half of these citizens served by law enforcement agencies that routinely submit evidence to the HCIFS Crime Laboratory. HCIFS operates two separate forensic services: Medical Examiner and Crime Laboratory. The former is charged with determining the cause and manner of death of statutory cases, with most requiring post-mortem forensic toxicology testing. The Crime Laboratory is a traditional forensic laboratory with sections dealing with seized drugs, forensic DNA, firearms identification, h...
Click here for full text