Forensic Services Bureau

The Analytical Section is comprised of the Drug Analysis Unit and the Trace Evidence Unit. In the Drug Analysis Unit, the primary objectives are to conclusively identify any drug substance in a sample, including identifying opioids and its many forms such as fentanyl, and to develop methods to identify emerging drugs. The Trace Evidence Unit is responsible for the examination, analysis, and comparison of evidence that occurs when different objects come into contact with one another and cause a transfer of material during the commission of a crime. The forensic analyses provided by the Trace Evidence Unit include paint, gunshot residue, and fracture matches.

The following websites offer additional information on the testing performed by the Analytical Section:

• Zeno's Forensic Site
• American Academy of Forensic Sciences
• American Board of Criminalistics

For information on the internship program with the Analytical Section, email Laboratory Manager Melissa Darby at [email protected].

The Forensic Biology Section routinely examines evidence associated with property crimes as well as violent crimes in the County for the presence of biological material. The section utilizes conventional techniques and state-of-the-art robotics to screen biological evidence and conduct DNA analysis to develop investigative leads. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) provides the Section with the ability to search DNA profiles in the local, state, and national indices to determine if a DNA profile is associated with an individual and/or linked to another crime.

The following websites offer additional information and/or publications regarding the preservation of biological evidence, forensic DNA analysis, and CODIS:

• The Biological Evidence Preservation Handbook: Best Practices for Evidence Handlers
• DNA Evidence Basics from the National Institute of Justice
• Combined DNA Index System Overview from the FBI

For information on the internship program with the Forensic Biology Section, email Laboratory Manager Jeffrey Johnson at [email protected].

The Forensic Identification Section is comprised of three units. The Central Evidence Reception Facility is responsible for the care, custody, and control of all evidence received by the Bureau. The Firearm and Toolmark Unit analyzes firearms and ballistic evidence in order to identify the firearms involved in a shooting. The Firearms Testing Unit is responsible for the test firing and entry of all routine auto-loading firearms impounded by the Department and other municipalities into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, a computer imaging database which allows the examiner to determine if an evidence casing is linked to a firearm and/or linked to another crime. In addition, the Firearm and Toolmark Unit performs serial number restorations, shooting distance determinations, toolmark analysis, and shoe and tire track impression analysis.

For an introduction to Forensic Firearm Identification and to perform virtual comparisons, go to http://www.firearmsid.com/.

For information on the internship program with the Forensic Identification Section, email Laboratory Manager Gabriel Hernandez at [email protected].

The Fingerprint Identification Section is responsible for the criminal and civil identification of individuals through fingerprint and palm print identification services. The section maintains and manages fingerprint records for County applicants, known and unknown deceased persons, criminal registrants, and all subjects arrested in the County. The Section also examines, processes, and stores fingerprint and palm print evidence collected from crime scenes.

For additional information about fingerprint identification, read The Fingerprint Sourcebook from the National Institute of Justice.

For information on the internship program with the Fingerprint Identification Section, email Fingerprint Superintendent Igor Pacheco at [email protected].

• Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners
• International Association for Property and Evidence
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives National Integrated Ballistic Network
• What to do in case of a residential burglary (Español | Kreyòl)
• What to do in case of a commercial burglary (Español | Kreyòl)