{{Short description|Forensic science laboratory}} {{Globalize|article|USA|2name=the United States|date=December 2010}}

A '''crime laboratory''', often shortened to '''crime lab''', is a scientific laboratory, using primarily forensic science for the purpose of examining evidence from criminal cases.

== Lab personnel == {{Unreferenced section|date=September 2025}} [[File:USPP-Identification Unit-officer.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Police officer of the United States Park Police Identification Unit analysing evidence]]

A typical crime lab has two sets of personnel: *Field analysts – investigators that go to crime scenes, collect evidence, and process the scene. Job titles include: **Forensic evidence technician **Crime scene investigator **Scenes of crime officer (SOCO) *Laboratory analysts – scientists or other personnel who run tests on the evidence once it is brought to the lab (i.e., DNA tests, or bullet striations). Job titles include: **Forensic Technician (performs support functions such as making reagents) **Forensic Scientist/Criminalist (performs scientific analyses on evidence) **Fingerprint Analyst **Forensic Photographer **Forensic Document Examiner **Forensic Entomologist

== Crime labs ==

===United States=== In the United States, crime labs may be publicly or privately operated, although private laboratories typically do not respond to crime scenes to collect evidence. Public crime labs are organized at the city, state, or national level. A law enforcement agency that operates its own crime lab usually has access to a higher level laboratory for analysis of their evidence. Most states have their own crime labs, for instance Oklahoma has the OSBI, many other places have smaller yet sufficient crime labs. Crime labs simply do not have the funding or personnel resources to keep up with the large influx of cases being brought into the laboratory, as well as the backlog of cases already in existence.<ref>Houck, M. M. (2020). Backlogs are a dynamic system, not a warehousing problem. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 2, 317-324. doi:10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.10.003</ref>

The Los Angeles Police Department founded the first crime laboratory in the United States (1923), followed by the Bureau of Investigation (1926), forerunner to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.<ref>Fletcher, Connie (2009). ''Every Contact Leaves a Trace''. New York: St. Martin's Press, New York. Interview with crime lab director.</ref>

==Crime labs in popular culture== The term "crime lab" has become a part of popular culture, largely due to the TV dramas. Some of the more famous shows are: *''Bones'' *''Castle'' *''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' and spin-offs ''CSI: Miami'' and ''CSI: NY'' *''NCIS'' *''Quincy, M.E.'' – a 1970s television show featuring crime lab personnel and procedures.

Several non-fiction television programs, document the resolution of criminal cases based on the scientific analysis of the evidence: *''Forensic Files''

==Backlogged evidence issues== Due to the lack of funding and staff, delays in the ability to test cases has occurred creating a backlog in the analysis of evidence.<ref>Houck, M. M. (2020). Backlogs are a dynamic system, not a warehousing problem. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 2, 317-324. doi:10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.10.003</ref>

=== Rape kit backlog === {{Main|Rape kit backlog}} Rape kit backlog refers to the problem of untested sexual assault kits.<ref name="Untested Kits">{{cite journal|last1=Campbell|first1=Rebecca|last2=Feeney|first2=Hannah|last3=Fehler-Cabral|first3=Giannina|last4=Shaw|first4=Jessica|last5=Horsford|first5=Sheena|title=The National Problem of Untested Sexual Assault Kits (SAKs): Scope, Causes, and Future Directions for Research, Policy, and Practice|journal=Trauma, Violence, & Abuse|volume=18|issue=4|date=December 23, 2015|pages=363–376|doi=10.1177/1524838015622436|pmid=26698602|s2cid=35057287}}</ref> The problem is twofold: it involves both the issue of rape kits not being submitted to crime labs for testing and the related issue of crime labs not having enough resources to test all of the submitted kits.<ref name=TestedAtLast>{{cite journal|last1=Campbell|first1=R.|last2=Feeney|first2=H.|last3=Pierce|first3=S. J.|last4=Sharma|first4=D. B.|last5=Fehler-Cabral|first5=G.|title=Tested at Last: How DNA Evidence in Untested Rape Kits Can Identify Offenders and Serial Sexual Assaults|journal=Journal of Interpersonal Violence|volume=33|issue=24|pages=3792–3814|date=March 27, 2016|issn=1552-6518|doi=10.1177/0886260516639585|pmid=27021733|s2cid=32860558}}</ref><ref name="RAINN backlog">{{cite web|title=Addressing the Rape Kit Backlog|url=https://rainn.org/public-policy/legislative-agenda/fighting-sexual-violence-with-DNA |publisher=Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) |access-date=13 May 2016}}</ref>

==See also== * Combined DNA Index System

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/labhome.htm FBI Crime Lab] *[http://www.state.ar.us/crimelab/ Arkansas State Crime Lab] *[http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=244 Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories] Bureau of Justice Statistics *[https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo45476 Forensic Science Laboratories: Handbook for Facility Planning, Design, Construction, and Relocation] National Institute of Standards and Technology *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721074329/https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/aboutus/lab.aspx US Postal Inspection Service Forensic Lab] *[http://www.forensicpage.com/new07.htm Reddy's Forensic Page] - link to US and international forensic laboratories

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crime Lab}} Category:Forensic facilities