2005 Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories

The 2005 Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories is part of a continuing effort by BJS to expand statistical activities related to the forensic sciences. The first crime laboratories census, administered in 2002, established baseline information on the operations and workload of the Nation's public crime labs. The 2005 census will document changes in workload and backlog since the 2002 census and will include an additional range of more detailed questions relating to DNA analysis. Information generated by this data collection will help to improve the Nation's understanding of the level of work performed and resources committed to criminal forensic science analyses. The information will be useful for Federal, State, and local governments to assess the areas in which additional resources for development, improvement, or expansion of forensic capabilities may be necessary. The information will also assist State and local laboratories in identifying technology disparities across laboratories and targeting equipment, supplies, training and technical assistance to such labs.

ca/ncf