The new Technology Centers of Excellence are the Applied Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa.; International Biometric Group, LLC, New York, N.Y.; Drakontas LLC, Camden, N.J.; and the National Forensic Science Technology Center, Largo, Fla. Each of the Centers will focus on one of the following areas; communications technologies; forensic technologies; sensors, surveillance, and biometric technologies; weapons and protective systems technologies.
Pennsylvania State University's Applied Research Laboratory is receiving $3.2 million to establish the Weapons and Protective Systems Technology Center to support OJP's efforts to enhance the safety of law enforcement and corrections officers including efforts related to introducing into practice safer, more effective less lethal devices and equipment to protect them against chemical and biological weapons and improvised explosive devices. The Center will also provide technical and administrative support to the National Bomb Squad Commander's Advisory Board as well as establish a bomb technology test and evaluation program.
The National Forensic Science Technology Center is receiving $6 million to form the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence that will support numerous OJP research and development initiatives specifically related to forensic science and technology. It will also serve as the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology, and the Law's online resource and support forensics technology working groups' activities.
Drakontas of Camden, N.J. is receiving over $3.6 million to establish the Communications Technologies Center of Excellence that will generally provide a means for testing, evaluating and demonstrating communications tools and technologies. Drakontas will establish and manage a law enforcement wireless pilot project, support a Communications Technology Working Group, and provide specialized communications technology assistance to law enforcement, when needed.
The International Biometric Group of New York is receiving $2.9 million to establish the Sensors, Surveillance, and Biometric Technologies Center that will support OJP's law enforcement and corrections biometrics and surveillance technology projects, including concealed weapons detection and through-the- wall surveillance programs. These efforts will ultimately lead to the adoption of new technologies for use by state and local criminal justice agencies.
The Technology Centers of Excellence will operate within the existing National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center System (NLECTCS), a component of OJP's National Institute of Justice (NIJ), which serves as a nationwide network of technology research facilities. The NLECTC system is the link that connects law enforcement and corrections to the science and technology community. The inclusion of the four specialized Centers will further the mission of OJP by better aligning the NLECTC system with the research, development, testing and evaluation activities of NIJ.
