Replacement & Enhancement of Lab Instrumentation and Equip.

Project Summary for 2001-RC-CX-K005

The Vermont Forensic Laboratory (VFL) is the only public forensic facility in the State of Vermont and all evidence of a criminal nature is submitted to this laboratory for analysis. The Vermont Forensic Laboratory offers a wide range of forensic analyses and its aim is to offer additional services as instrumentation and personnel become available. The purpose of this project is to replace as well as add a variety of laboratory instrumentation and equipment in order to enhance and expand the services currently provided by VFL. The implementation of this project will benefit several sections of the Vermont Forensic Laboratory, including Firearms, Trace, Drugs, Latent prints, and Serology/DNA. Additionally, the evidence tracking process will be improved through the purchase of a laboratory information management system (LIMS), which will allow electronic tracking of evidence from receipt through return or destruction. This project will also result in additional tests being offered by VFL (e.g.,fiber examinations), as well as an increased number of cases being analyzed and reported in a more timely manner.