University of Albany Receives Approximately 1 Million For Northeast Regional Forensic Institute

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the National Institute of Justice awarded $950,000 to the Research Foundation of State University of New York under the Forensic Science Training Development and Delivery Program. Funds will enable the Northeast Regional Forensic Institute (NEFRI) to host the Forensic Science Training Development and Delivery Program annually for one year and train sixteen students at the DNA Academy at SUNY Albany. In 2004, Schumer helped secure funding to maintain the program ensuring a new wave of highly trained forensic scientists for the future.

"DNA technology analysis has become a critical aid to law enforcement and forensic science," said Schumer. “The DNA Academy at the University at Albany helps train new and current scientists with cutting edge technology and procedures. I will continue to support programs like this that address the growing need for quality forensic scientists.”

The Northeast Regional Forensic Institute (NERFI) program seeks to bring together the criminal justice and academic community to provide highly trained forensic scientists and the latest forensic methods to the area. Working in collaboration with the University at Albany's Office for Research, the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center, and with the support of Senator Schumer, NERFI and its DNA Academy provide the forensic community with a customized curriculum, state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, international, multilingual teachers and prompt, effective turn-around time for casework competency.

These funds will enable NERFI to host the Forensic Science Training Development and Delivery Program annually for one year. This will be accomplished by training sixteen students for sixteen weeks to attend the DNA Academy to fulfill the intent of FBI Quality Assurance Audit and SWGDAM training criteria. Those trained will also be supplied with professional development training in the form of DVDs, which will also be distributed to all public DNA laboratories in the United States and placed on their website at DNA.gov.

The National Institute of Justice is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and a component of the Office of Justice Programs. The National Institute of Justice provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to enhance the administration of justice and public safety.