U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Forensic Laboratory Operations

Description

In crime laboratories, scientists analyze evidence collected from ​crime scenes, suspects and victims. They may analyze anything from DNA or fingerprints to human remains or suspicious substances.

Due to the increasing reliance on scientific methodologies in criminal investigations, many laboratories have faced mounting workloads. NIJ has committed to helping crime laboratories increase their capacity by streamlining their processes and providing up-to-date training to keep up with technological capabilities in solving crime. NIJ also supports accessible resources for crime laboratory personnel, such as Web-based databases.