HD47 - The Administrative Requirements including a Memorandum of Understanding for the Newly Created Department of Forensic Science


Executive Summary:
Item 427 of the amended Appropriation Act requires this office to submit, by May 1,2005, a report addressing "the administrative requirements for the new agency [Department of Forensic Science], including a Memorandum of Understanding for the new department to contract with the Department of Criminal Justice Services for administrative support services for an interim period. The report shall also include a Memorandum of Understanding to set forth the appropriate roles and responsibilities of the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine and the relevant state agencies and institutions with which it cooperates."

Administrative Functions of the Department of Forensic Science

During the upcoming transition period, the Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) will be working with the Department of Forensic Science (DFS) to determine the resources needed to create an Administration Division to support the new agency. To facilitate that effort, DFS is in the process of hiring an Administrative Division Director. In addition to other duties, this position will work with DFS and DCJS staff to identify the resources needed to provide DFS with administrative support. It is anticipated that whatever additional resources are needed will be requested during the upcoming biennial budget process.

The Division of Forensic Science has 5 fulltime positions that currently reside within the DCJS administrative support division. These positions will be returned to DFS as part of the resources used to create their administrative division. The positions are funded by DFS.

The number of additional administrative positions that will be needed will be determined once the new DFS Director of Administration is hired and an assessment of how administrative functions can most efficiently be delivered is completed. These estimates are based on an agency consisting of approximately 330 fulltime and part-time employees. Overall, the administrative component will include finance/budget, human resources, procurement, and information technology.

Over the coming fiscal year, DCJS will provide whatever support the new DFS Director of Administration needs to help determine the types of positions needed, as well as the number of new positions and funding to request.

Attached are four Memorandums of Understanding to clarify the support that DCJS will provide DFS during FY 06, and to clarify the roles of the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine, the Department of Health, and Institute students.