Public Funding of a Regional Crime Lab: Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Work Together to Build Regional Crime Lab

• NCJ Number: 202984
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2003 Pages: 633-638
• Author(s): Janis Cavanaugh
• Date Published: November 2003
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This paper was presented at the 88th educational conference of the International Association for Identification held in Ottawa, Canada, July 6-11, 2003.

Annotation

This article discusses the importance of developing a regional crime lab in Los Angeles.

Abstract

The public must be better informed of the importance of regional crime labs in order for construction bonds to be passed by voters. This article describes the need for a regional crime lab in Los Angeles, CA. Following a discussion of the shoestring budgets under which Los Angeles has been operating, the article notes that the public should be informed about the technological and crime fighting advances that are made possible by the presence of a modernized crime lab. The advancement of forensic science requires funding for labs and equipment through city, State, and Federal budgets, and that crime laboratory staff need to be prepared to go through rigorous scrutiny procedures in order to meet the standards of excellence mandated by the ASCLD-LAB accreditation process. 9 References