The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Forensic Services Division (FSD), a nationally accredited crime laboratory, has been awarded a competitive grant of $237,500 to help keep our roadways safe from impaired drivers.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
FSD will use the funding to support the existing testing program for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases by purchasing required testing supplies, replacing equipment, and acquiring validation services to develop a comprehensive drug confirmation method. Biological samples are tested for illegal, prescription, and over-the-counter drugs commonly detected in DUID cases.
This one-year grant will ultimately improve testing capabilities, analysis and turnaround times benefiting law enforcement agencies throughout Contra Costa County. The goal is to meet or exceed the National Safety Council Recommendations for Toxicological Investigation of Drug-Impaired Driving.
“This grant will help increase efficiency at the Forensic Services Division,” said Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston. “We will be able to provide rapid results to law enforcement and prosecutors on DUID cases, which will help improve public safety in the county.”
