WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice has awarded $95,000 to the County of Westchester under the Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program to enhance the quality and timeliness of forensic science and improve medical examiner services in order to process evidence samples more efficiently and cost effectively.

Funds from the Coverdell Program are to be used to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services and/or to eliminate backlogs in the analysis of forensic evidence, including controlled substances, firearms examination, forensic pathology, latent prints, questioned documents, toxicology, and trace evidence.

"Current forensic science technology can help link suspects to crime or eliminate individuals from suspicion," said Senator Charles Schumer said. "To successively fight crime our communities need state-of-the-art forensic capability, and these funds will allow the forensic lab in Westchester to eliminate backlogs and analyze evidence samples efficiently and effectively.”