"The funds distributed today will allow Maine agencies to improve their forensic practices, a critical resource in today's justice system," Snowe and Collins said in a joint statement. "Further, the American Indian community will have the ability to provide essential services to victims of crimes." The federal grants were allocated as follows:
• $139,883 to the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory for the Forensic Casework DNA Backlog Reduction Program, to identify and test backlogged forensic DNA casework samples.
• $71,286 to the Maine Department of Public Safety for the DNA Capacity Enhancement Program, to improve the infrastructure and analysis capacity of existing crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis so they can process DNA samples efficiently and cost-effectively.
• $75,760 to the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point for Tribal Victim Assistance, to improve the ability of American Indian communities and reservations to provide direct services to victims of crimes; including counseling, referrals, emergency services, court accompaniment, and assistance obtaining victim compensation.
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