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Crime Lab Project It's Not CSI Out There! American Crime Labs Need Your Help The CSI shows are exciting, entertaining dramas and have done a lot to make the public aware of forensic science, and its potential. That's terrific. But let's talk about reality, and not television: the truth is, most American crime labs are under-funded, are in aging facilities, do not have the latest computers and other equipment, and are not fully staffed. More than one out of four labs do not have basic computers for processing evidence. What is the Crime Lab Project? We are a group of writers, producers, and concerned members of the public who are working together to obtain better funding for forensic science labs. The Crime Lab Project does not collect dues or donations. We ask those who want to be a part of it to sign up for our mailing list, and to take action on behalf of crime labs. Anyone who is willing to do so may become a member of the Crime Lab Project. What does the Crime Lab Project do? Works to increase awareness of the problems facing America's severely under-funded crime labs. Increases awareness of and the costs and dangers a lack of support for labs creates for law enforcement, the judicial process, and national security, as well as the devastating toll inefficient labs take on crime victims and families of crime victims. Takes action to ensure that crime labs are adequately funded. How is the Crime Lab Project doing this? By urging our local, state, and federal representatives to provide better funding for crime labs for all aspects of the scientific examination of evidence: DNA, fingerprints, trace evidence, firearms examination, tool mark evidence, toxicology, pathology, and the other areas which are essential to their important work. By doing all we can to bring public attention to the needs of crime labs through our Web sites, mailing lists, and at speaking engagements. By providing news and information about the current state of forensic science labs. We continue to work hard to get Congress to FUND the Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Act of 2000. Congress has basically created a bank account for forensic science labs, but so far, it has deposited only a fraction of the authorized funds! The need for funding is urgent. Recently, our efforts have helped to get Coverdell funds for labs for the first time in the years since it became law. We still need your support to ensure this funding receives final approval, and that additional funding is received for Coverdell. We are very pleased that DNA funding has also been approved in separate bills, but our legislators need to hear a clear message from us: DNA isn't the only area that needs funding -- Coverdell deserves their support! What is the Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Act? Click here to find out! What else is new about the Crime Lab Project? In addition to the occasional newsletters we send through our mailing list, we have now established CLPNews@yahoogroups.com -- an e-mail list for receiving digests of news about crime labs and forensic science. These free digests are sent out twice weekly. To receive it, sign up through the Yahoo Groups Web page, or send a blank e-mail to CLPNews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.