MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded nearly $150,000 to help law enforcement officers and prosecutors be more successful in solving crimes and obtaining convictions in court.
The $149,588 award will enable the University of Alabama Police Department to purchase newer equipment for its digital forensics and intelligence lab. The police department provides digital forensic services to local, county and state law enforcement agencies throughout Alabama.
The UA Police Department Digital Intelligence Unit works with law enforcement officers and investigators in helping to solve major crimes, homicides and illegal drug cases, including cases involving the Alabama Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.
“I commend our law enforcement officers, both on the front lines and in the laboratories, for the work they do in taking criminals off the streets and making our communities safer,” Gov. Ivey said. “The equipment upgrade with this grant will help the UA forensics unit process crime evidence at a much faster rate, resulting in more productive investigations and convictions.”
The unit has conducted more than 2,000 forensic investigations involving more than 1,000 criminal cases since 2014 when it was created from seed money from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The unit conducted nearly 500 forensic investigations in 2022.
The newer equipment is expected to result in quicker and more effective evidence collection for law enforcement agencies to increase their abilities to solve crimes.
As with the original funding, ADECA is administering the grant. The funds were provided to the state by the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Forensics has become an essential element in crime solving and the work this unit does, particularly in providing invaluable assistance to smaller police forces,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
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Media
Jim Plott or Mike Presley
ADECA Communications and External Affairs
(334) 242-5525
