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Forensic Science Professionals Applaud U.S. Senate Support
CSIs, Medical Examiners and Crime Lab Directors Praise Senator Richard Shelby
WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- July 21, 2006 -- The Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (www.theCFSO.org) applauds the efforts of Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) and the U.S. Senate for supporting critical funding for all aspects of forensic science.

State and local crime laboratories are an integral part of the criminal justice system. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in the demand on the labs for forensic testing of a variety of evidence types, but funding has not kept pace. Crime lab backlogs cause significant delays in evidentiary analysis, resulting in delays in the investigation and solving of crimes, as well as delays in the courts. At last check, the largest 50 laboratories in the U.S. more than doubled their backlogs of unprocessed evidence.

The forensics community praises Senator Shelby for his understanding of the current situation in all forensic areas, including controlled substances, latent prints and DNA.

The issue of funding forensic science is currently being debated in Congress, as part of the federal government's criminal justice budget for fiscal year 2007. The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $18 million for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Act in the Senate Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill and an additional $175 million for DNA.

"Senator Richard Shelby, Chair of the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, is a great supporter of the forensics community," says Joseph Polski, Chair, Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations. "He understands that it is critical that funding support ALL aspects of forensic science, because major crimes are solved by a broad spectrum of forensic disciplines," stated Polski.

"In Washington State, we have experienced a massive increase in the number of forensic cases. Adequate crime lab funding is a constant battle," says Dr. Barry Logan, Forensic Science Laboratory Services, Washington State Patrol. "Forensic funding is a government responsibility at all levels."

"Funding for our crime labs is a national issue at a critical stage. What you see on television is not reality," says Barry A. J. Fisher, Crime Lab Director for the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department. "Crime labs are running large backlogs and simply don't have resources to get results out in a timely basis. This federal money will be a great help," he stated.