Overview - A.R.S. § 41-2421 (J)(5) directs that 14.29% of the surcharge attached by courts within Arizona must be placed into a fund for distribution to state, county, and municipal law enforcement full-service forensic crime laboratories by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC).

The goal of the Full-Service Forensic Crime Laboratory Program is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the state's various full-service crime laboratories. Thus, the Commission has made it their goal to have laboratory results posted on an automated site for prosecutors and law enforcement. ACJC requests that laboratories support their goal as laboratory improvements are made.

Eligibility - The Commission is presently making these funds available for allocation directly to state, county, and local law enforcement full-service forensic crime laboratories. However, the laboratories must:

1)       The laboratory must employ at least one (1) full time forensic scientist who holds a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a physical or natural science

2)        The lab must be registered as an analytical laboratory with the United States Department of Justice for possession of all scheduled controlled substances

3)       The lab must be accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board

4)       Provides at a minimum, services in the areas of controlled substances, forensic biology, DNA, blood and breath alcohol, firearms and tool marks.

How/When to Apply - ACJC will post a notification on the ACJC web site at www.azcjc.gov for grant announcements annually at the beginning of the April.