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
The CLD completed 26,896 total requests for laboratory analysis across all disciplines in 2021. The Division saw increases in demand in several services offered, including DNA, firearms, and crime scene response. 2021 saw a new record for responses to crime scene calls, including a record number of responses to officer-involved incidents.
Although seized drug submissions declined, the samples being submitted are more complex, requiring more testing per sample than in previous years. While the number of requests for testing was 4,131 statewide, the number of identifications was 11,062 (compared to 14,675 identifications in 10,153 requests in the previous year). This demonstrates an increase in the number of items being submitted per request, and also an increase in the number of items showing multiple drugs being identified.
Additionally, the testing of submitted seized drug exhibits shows that the opioid epidemic continues to grow. 2021 data shows that heroin and fentanyl-related samples are the second-most common drugs identified in CLD laboratories. The gap between opioids and the most common drug identified, methamphetamine, has narrowed significantly in the past year.
The DNA analysis lab’s continue to focus on the sexual assault evidence kit (SAK) backlog elimination in order to meet legislative mandates, to test all backlogged SAKs and achieve 45 day turn-around times on SAKs in 2022. The CLD completed 3,878 requests for DNA testing in 2021, including 2,377 sexual assault requests. The CLD also continued efforts to facilitate testing on all backlogged SAKs collected prior to July 24, 2015 (SAK3) and SAKs submitted after July 24, 2015, but classified by law enforcement agencies as non-active investigations (SAK2) through outsourcing.
Successes of 2021
The Crime Laboratory Division provided timely investigative information to law enforcement agencies across the state through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) databases. The number of CODIS hits increased in 2021 by 48% to 946 hits.
There were 8,466 cartridge cases entered into NIBIN in 2021, providing 1,103 leads and 40 confirmed hits (linking previously unrelated shooting incidents).
The information provided by CODIS and NIBIN assist law enforcement in identifying suspects in unsolved crimes and providing investigative leads in gun-related crimes.
The Vancouver Crime Laboratory added firearms to its services offered, expanding this service into the southwest region of the state and increasing capacity in the firearms functional area statewide.
Additional Information and Resources:
For more information about the WSP Crime Laboratory Division, visit the WSP Forensic Laboratory Services web site. Information regarding submission and testing of sexual assault kits can be found at the following links: