A second, and better equipped crime lab is necessary for one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the U.S.

There is only one crime lab in southern Nevada. That lab is operated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). LVMPD does as much as can be expected with a laboratory of its size, and does it well. However, a single lab does not have the capacity to support the entire region, and to do otherwise is not a reasonable or practical expectation.

Due in large part to the recent advances in forensic technology and crime scene investigation, there are unique processes available today, that were not possible a decade ago. Processes that can now help identify suspects (and their victims when necessary) much faster and more reliabily. These critical state-of-the-art processes and techniques start from the first response to a scene by patrol officers; to subsequent crime scene investigation, evidence collection, and forensic evidence processing/analysis.

Blood alcohol, narcotics, DNA, and other forensic analyses; crime scene processing; and other forensic capabilities are critically limited in Clark County and Southern Nevada. Gun shot residue analysis (scanning electron microscopy) is conducted out-of-state.

There is one additional forensic laboratory in Nevada. It is a small lab managed by the Washoe County Sheriff, in Reno, Nevada.

In contrast to the limited forensic laboratory capability in Nevada, the U.S. Department of Justice reported that in 2002, there were 203 State or regional labs, 65 county, and 50 municipal labs. As of March 2006, there were 309 laboratories accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/ Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB). In comparison to Nevada, the State of Utah with a similar population, has 4 ASCLD/LAB accredited forensic crime labs; Idaho, with a population smaller than the Las Vegas Valley has 3; Arizona has 8; New Mexico 3; and California has 33 (17 of them in areas with populations smaller than Clark County, 7of those are in cities smaller than Henderson).

Southern Nevada and the City of Henderson need a state-of-the-art facility to house a modern, full-service Forensic Crime Lab. This is a necessity, not a luxury. We need facilities to house equipment and personnel, and to develop or improve the following critical services for our residents, businesses and visitors: 

• DNA evidence collection
• DNA evidence processing and analysis
• Crime Scene Investigation (current crime scene processing capabilities are extremely limited)
• Blood/alcohol analysis
• Illegal narcotics and substance analysis
• Firearms evidence examination and comparison
• Gunshot residue collection and analysis (currently sent out of State; analysis is not available in Nevada)
• Fingerprint processing and database search
• Fingerprint comparison and identification
• Arson evidence analysis
• Trace evidence analysis
• Microscopic evidence analysis
• Evidence handling and storage
• Questioned document examination
• Computer Forensics analysis
• Vehicle and major case evidence processing (current capabilities limited)
• Digital photo processing
• Audio and video evidence processing and analysis
• Training and research

The majority of the evidence related to crimes that occur in Henderson is not analyzed because we do not have adequate facilities, equipment or staffing. Much of the potential forensic evidence is often not collected for the same reasons. We have only one opportunity to recover and analyze evidence in most cases.

References:

"Laboratories Accredited by ASCLD/LAB", www.ascld-lab.org/legacy/ aslablegacylaboratories.html. American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD/LAB), March 2006.

"Census of Public Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories, 2002", U.S. Department of Justice, February 2005.

2005 projected populations from www.factfinder.census.gov