Forensic Science Week now underway

Monday, September 16, 2024 at 11:06 AM

By Wes Dehne

Scientists from the Indiana State Police Regional Laboratory in Indianapolis.

Always the third full week in September, National Forensic Science Week recognizes the contribution that forensic science makes to the criminal justice system.

Indiana State Police are spreading awareness for the 12th annual National Forensic Science Week, underway now through Saturday, Sept. 21.

National Forensic Science Week brings recognition to the role that proper forensic science plays in the investigation of crimes throughout the nation, from exonerating the innocent to identifying the guilty.

The concept of a national Forensic Science Week was raised during a meeting of forensic leaders in 2013 as a way to recognize and advance quality forensic science. Within a few months, National Forensic Science Week was transformed from a simple idea to a true national event.

For more information about National Forensic Week, visit www.forensicscienceweek.org.

For information about the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division and the services they provide, www.in.gov/isp/labs/

Below are some related statistics from the past year:

• There were 24,399 new cases submitted for analysis at the four Indiana State Police laboratories
• Crime Scene Investigators responded to 1,020 different crime scenes throughout the state
• Polygraph examiners conducted 761 polygraph tests
• Digital Forensic Unit completed 633 cases
• In 2023, there were 698 cases in Indiana linked to a potential suspect by a CODIS DNA match.

There are four Indiana State Police laboratory facilities statewide and for additional information, contact the public information officer listed with the named laboratory location:

• Lowell Laboratory, PIO contact is Sgt. Glen Fifield at gfifield@isp.in.gov
• Fort Wayne Laboratory, PIO contact is Sgt. Brian Walker at bwalker@isp.in.gov
• Evansville Laboratory, PIO contact is Sgt. Todd Ringle at tringle@isp.in.gov
• Indianapolis Laboratory, PIO contact is Sgt. John Perrine at jperrine@isp.in.gov or Captain Ron Galaviz at rgalaviz@isp.in.gov.