Attorney General Josh Kaul has expressed his excitement as the groundbreaking of the new Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory takes place in the Milwaukee area. The current crime lab, which has been in operation since 1983, has become outdated and insufficient to meet the demands of modern scientific advancements.
Speaking about the project, Attorney General Kaul stated, "Efforts to build a new crime lab in the Milwaukee area began well before I was first sworn in as Attorney General, and I'm thrilled that we're now able to put shovels in the ground to get this done. My top priority is public safety, and ensuring the state crime labs have the facilities they need to keep up with scientific and technological advancements will help with the crucial work of keeping our communities safe."
The need for a new crime lab in the Milwaukee area has been recognized for over a decade due to capacity constraints and structural concerns with the current facility. The number of personnel has significantly increased over the years, with close to 70 scientists, technicians, and managers currently working in the lab. The limited space has hindered the scientific capacity of the laboratory, requiring a more spacious and modern facility.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Forensic Science (DFS), which oversees the state crime labs, was established as an independent division in 2019. However, the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory has been in operation since 1947. DFS employs over 190 individuals, including forensic scientists, technicians, evidence specialists, and crime scene response professionals.
The new crime lab will provide improved resources and capabilities to address a wide range of forensic science disciplines. The DFS crime laboratories in Madison, Milwaukee, and Wausau are the only full-service forensic science laboratory system in Wisconsin. These labs offer impartial forensic analysis in areas such as toxicology, drug identification, biology/DNA analysis, trace evidence analysis, and firearms examination, among others.
The new facility will ensure that the state crime labs can continue to provide unbiased scientific testing and analysis for every community in Wisconsin. Additionally, the labs' on-call Crime Scene Response Units, located at each facility, will assist law enforcement at major crime scenes by processing and photographing the scene, providing documentation, and maintaining evidence integrity.
The groundbreaking of the new Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory in Milwaukee marks a significant step forward in enhancing the forensic capabilities of the state. With a modern and spacious facility, the crime lab will be better equipped to handle the demands of scientific advancements and contribute to keeping communities safe.
To learn more, click on this link: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/attorney-general-kaul-celebrates-groundbreaking-new-wisconsin-state-crime-laboratory