Overview
The Crime Laboratory Division (CLD) provides forensic science services to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies throughout the state of Washington. CLD functional areas provide analysis of fingerprint evidence, biological and DNA evidence, controlled substances, arson and explosives evidence, shoe and tire impressions, fibers, paint, and other trace evidence; firearms and tool marks analysis, forensic document examination, and crime scene reconstruction.
CLD contributes to and utilizes databases including the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), Integrated Ballistics Information System (IBIS), and Automated Biometric Information System (ABIS).
In addition to forensic testing of physical evidence, CLD also provides expert court testimony in state and federal courts, and evidence and crime scene training to criminal justice agencies throughout the state.
Key Measurements and Statistics
With the passage of Substitute House Bill 1166 (SHB1166), the CLD will be required to facilitate the testing of all the historical Sexual Assault Kits (SAK; those collected prior to July 24, 2015) by December 1, 2021, and eliminate the backlog of all SAKs and implement a 45-day turn-around time by May 1, 2022.
As of December 31, 2019, 3,832 of 9,232 historical SAKs were tested, leaving 5,400 remaining to be tested. In 2019, of the 4,299 DNA requests received, 2,651 included SAKs for testing, and of those, 1,109 were submitted as SAK-2, which are defined as those that will be submitted to the High-Throughput Lab (HTL) in Vancouver once that lab is operational.
In 2019, the CLD received a total of 32,150 requests for laboratory analysis across all disciplines.
Successes of 2019
CLD filled 15 new DNA forensic scientist positions that were included in SHB1166. Seven of those positions are allocated to the HTL, with the remaining working in the other DNA casework labs around the state to help with the DNA backlog statewide. These new scientists are undergoing training and will be turning SAK cases around later this year.
CLD underwent an on-site assessment for accreditation by ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) under ISO 17025:2017 standards, achieving accreditation to the new international standards for testing laboratories. The assessment team visited all laboratories, reviewed quality system documents and case records, interviewed staff, and observed operations at all levels of the division. The accreditation is effective for four years, during which CLD will be continuously monitored by ANAB for evidence of continued adherence to ISO requirements.
Since its inception, the Sexual Assault Kit Tracking System has recorded 5,734 total kits collected. Due to the passage of SHB1166, CLD began barcoding historical SAKs for entry into the tracking system. The overwhelming success of the program resulted in national recognition by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, bestowing on the development team the award for best IT project in the Digital Government: Government to Citizen category.
CLD staff completed a total of 30,627 requests in 2019 across all forensic disciplines. Of note, CLD staff reduced backlogs in seized drugs, latent print comparisons, latent print processing, and Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS). Along with backlog reductions, the CLD also reduced turn-around times for each of these categories.
The Crime Scene Response Team (CSRT) responded to 138 crime scene requests. The team responds to scenes across the state in support of local, county, and state law enforcement agencies.
The CODIS program provided 690 hits in 2019, breaking the previous year’s record of 644 hits. Of these, 62% were from sex offenses, 5% from homicide cases, 7% from robbery cases, and 19% from burglary cases.
In order to develop the capacity to achieve the mandated 45-day turn-around time for the processing of SAKs, CLD is building the High-Throughput Lab in the previously unfinished area of the Vancouver Crime Lab. The contracting process was completed, and work began in December.
Area of High-Throughput Lab in the previously unfinished area of the Vancouver Crime Lab.