NIJ FY17 Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program | NIJ 2017 11566

Opportunity Information: Apply for NIJ 2017 11566

The NIJ FY17 Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), designed to tackle a long-standing capacity and quality crisis in the nation s death investigation infrastructure. The program is grounded in the widely recognized shortage of board-certified forensic pathologists in the United States, a problem highlighted by the National Academies 2009 report on strengthening forensic science. In practical terms, the shortage affects the speed and quality of autopsies, the reliability of cause and manner of death determinations, and the overall ability of the justice system and public health agencies to depend on accurate death investigation findings.

The opportunity focuses on strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME C) system through two main project areas. First, it aims to increase both the number and the quality of board-certified forensic pathologists entering the field. The emphasis is on encouraging physicians who have completed an accredited pathology medical residency to pursue forensic pathology subspecialty training and ultimately achieve board certification. This workforce pipeline focus reflects the reality that forensic pathology is a specialized discipline with demanding training requirements, and that increasing supply requires intentional investments that make the subspecialty more feasible and attractive while supporting high standards of competence.

Second, the program supports medical examiner and coroner offices that are working to achieve accreditation through recognized accreditation bodies, with examples including NAME and IACME. Accreditation is positioned as a concrete mechanism for improving consistency, professionalism, and accountability across offices that may differ widely in resources, staffing models, and operational practices. By helping offices meet accreditation requirements, the program seeks to strengthen service quality, promote sound policies and procedures, and improve the completeness and reliability of data reporting. Better reporting and standardized practices can have downstream benefits for criminal investigations, court proceedings, and public health surveillance, especially in areas like drug overdose deaths, violence trends, and emerging hazards.

This grant aligns with the Office of Justice Programs broader goal of improving public safety and supporting the fair administration of justice through innovative leadership and evidence-informed programs. In the ME C context, that mission translates into improving the scientific and operational foundation behind death determinations that may be pivotal in homicide investigations, officer-involved deaths, child fatalities, in-custody deaths, and other high-stakes cases. Strengthening these systems also helps reduce backlogs and delays that can slow investigations and prolong uncertainty for families and communities.

Administratively, the opportunity is identified as NIJ 2017 11566 under CFDA 16.560, with funding categorized under law, justice and legal services as well as science and technology and other research and development. The award ceiling is listed at 4,000,000, with an anticipated 20 awards. The opportunity was created on Jan 09, 2017, with an original closing date of Mar 20, 2017. A wide range of applicants are eligible, reflecting the diversity of entities involved in death investigation and forensic training pipelines. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); individuals; for profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. This broad eligibility suggests NIJ intended to support both government agencies responsible for death investigation services and partnering organizations that can provide training, administrative support, quality improvement, or accreditation readiness assistance.

Overall, the program can be understood as a targeted response to two reinforcing problems: an insufficient forensic pathology workforce and uneven adoption of professional standards across ME C offices. By funding initiatives that expand the forensic pathologist pipeline and accelerate accreditation efforts, the NIJ program aims to improve the credibility, timeliness, and consistency of death investigations, ultimately strengthening both justice outcomes and public health understanding.

• The Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice in the law, justice and legal services, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIJ FY17 Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner System Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 16.560.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 09, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 20, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for NIJ 2017 11566

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