For release: March 5, 2003
Contacts:
David Baldwin, (515) 294-2069
Steve Karsjen, (515) 294-5643, karsjen@ameslab.gov
AMES, Iowa - U.S. Representative Tom Latham has announced $3 million in federal funding for the Midwest Forensics Resource Center at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory at Iowa State University.
“These funds will help the Midwest Forensics Resource Center continue to provide much needed assistance to crime laboratories and law-enforcement agencies nationwide,” said Congressman Latham. “I am pleased to be able to secure funding for this critical effort.”
The Midwest Forensics Resource Center, or MFRC, has a four-part mission, which includes conducting long-term research into new and improved forensic techniques; conducting short-term, case-related forensic projects; promoting forensic science curricula for Iowa State University and associated universities and promoting better ties with crime laboratories in the region; and developing customized training for the MFRC’s regional partners.
The MFRC’s regional partners include law-enforcement agencies in nine Midwestern states, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. These partners work with the MFRC to ensure it supplies the types of training, casework assistance, education and research they require. In addition to its regional partners, the MFRC works with federal agencies that support forensic efforts. These agencies include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Department of Energy; the FBI; and the Department of Justice/National Institute of Justice.
This latest round of funding from Congressman Latham comes on the back of $3 million in funds he secured for the MFRC in 2002, which helped get the center up and running. Since that time, the MFRC has made strides in all four of its focus areas. In casework assistance, efforts are focused on creating a Web-based database of forensic resources and establishing a network of specialized casework resources. This database helps Midwestern criminalists access outside expertise. In the area of training, the MFRC is serving as a focal point for providing nationally recognized training to the partner states. The MFRC is also customizing training to meet the needs of the regions. In research, the center has issued two requests for research proposals to Iowa State University, Ames Laboratory and participating state crime labs. Up to 10 of these proposals are expected to be funded. Finally in the area of education, the MFRC has facilitated the development of a forensic science curricula at ISU.
“We’re off to a great start, but that’s just what it is, a start,” said David Baldwin, director of the MFRC. “The future holds many opportunities for the MFRC to help crime labs and law-enforcement agencies in all areas of forensics.”
In addition to the MFRC’s efforts in training, the FBI Training Unit has asked the MFRC to consider serving as one of the FBI’s training partners. The FBI has developed a virtual training academy in an effort to make forensic training more readily available through secure Internet connections and regional training centers.
The MFRC is a member of the Institute for Physical Research and Technology, a network of research and technology-transfer centers at Iowa State University. More information about the MFRC can be found on the Web at http://www.mfrc.ameslab.gov.
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Last revision: 3/5/03 kbg