Justice Department announces grants for improvements to Kansas forensic laboratories

KANSAS CITY, KAN. - The U.S. Department of Justice through the Department's Office of Justice Programs -Bureau of Justice Assistance announced awarding the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) a $500,000 federal grant and the State of Kansas a $211,367 federal grant to improve forensic science capabilities.

"Law enforcement depends heavily on forensic evidence in criminal investigations as the results can provide evidence of a suspect's guilt or innocence. To protect Constitutional rights to due process and a speedy trial, prosecutors need access to forensic test results in a timely manner," said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. "These grants are a demonstration of the federal government's commitment to expanding the capabilities of state and local laboratories by helping them gain access to modern forensic technology and equipment."

The KBI Forensic Laboratory in Topeka, Kansas, provides accredited forensic toxicology testing for 104 of the 105 Kansas counties. The laboratory supports KBI investigations as well as coroners and law enforcement across the state. According to the KBI, novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and opioids are becoming increasingly common in Kansas. KBI toxicology testing provides results for NPS and opioids on behalf of law enforcement investigating impaired driving, deaths, sexual assault, and violent crime. KBI plans to use the federal grant to purchase two liquid chromatograph tandem mass spectrometers (LC/MSMS) to improve the quality and timeliness of toxicology testing. The instrumentation provides increased sensitivity and specificity in testing for NPS and opioids, which is expected to lead to a shorter turnaround time for final results.

"This critical federal investment allows the KBI to upgrade laboratory technology with advanced instrumentation, directly improving the speed and precision of our toxicology testing," said KBI Director Tony Mattivi. "By enhancing our ability to detect dangerous opioids and novel psychoactive substances, we are strengthening support for local law enforcement and public health partners. Ultimately, this funding translates into quicker answers for investigators, safer highways, and a more robust response to the overdose crisis in Kansas."

The $211,367 grant to the State of Kansas is to fund improvements at KBI regional laboratories as well as at Johnson County Crime Lab and Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center. The laboratories will receive upgraded equipment and workstations, and forensic tool software maintenance and support. The goal is to reduce turn-around time for completing casework, improve workflow efficiency, and reduce the backlog of cases with pending forensic analysis.

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