MONTGOMERY – Gov. Robert Bentley recently awarded an $80,000 grant to help the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences obtain laboratory supplies vital to completing criminal investigations.

The department will purchase supplies in two categories: Pathology supplies will help with performing autopsies, and chemistry supplies will help with analyzing controlled substances.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Justice Department. The specific grant program — the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program — seeks to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services by reducing backlogs and training laboratory personnel.