Forensic Services

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Who Are We?

The Utah Bureau of Forensic Services Laboratory System (aka, the State Crime Lab) by statute (Utah Code 53-10-402) provides quality, timely, and comprehensive analysis of physical evidence from crime scenes and crime-related incidents submitted by federal, state, county, and municipal criminal justice agencies.

The Bureau of Forensic Services is located within the Utah Department of Public Safety and has been accredited since 1996 by ASCLD/LAB and transitioned to the ASCLD/LAB International  program in 2007. The UBFS’ current Scope of Accreditation by ANAB can be found here.  The current Certificate of Accreditation can be found here.

NOTICE TO LABORATORY CUSTOMERS

Laboratory accreditation requirements dictate that customers (law enforcement, attorneys, court personnel, etc.) be notified of certain laboratory procedures and policies. This notice serves as a general notification to customers of these practices. Any customer submitting evidence to the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services accepts these terms.

By using laboratory services, user agencies agree to receive simplified reports. Please click the following link for details.

Simplified Laboratory Reports

Outsourcing DNA casework: The Utah Bureau of Forensic Services may outsource DNA testing to a contracted accredited laboratory on select cases.
 
Materials removed or collected from an original item of evidence, such as but not limited to, DNA swabs, testfires, casts, and/or trace evidence are packaged separately and considered “derivative evidence”.  These types of items will be sub-itemized to establish a chain of custody.  Evidence not separated from the parent item will also be sub-itemized, placed into the original packaging, and returned to the submitting agency.  Sub-itemized evidence will be listed on the Evidence Transfer receipt when evidence is returned to the submitting agency.
Note that for firearms and toolmark comparison cases prior to 9/24/2024, where DNA swabs, test fires, casts, and/or trace evidence were collected from items during analysis, the derivative evidence was packaged and included in the original item packaging.  These sub-items may have been collected and returned with the parent item without being listed separately on the chain of custody.

 

Services

The Bureau provides its services from three separate laboratories.  These laboratories are the Central Laboratory located in Taylorsville, UT, the Northern Laboratory in Ogden, UT, and the Southern Laboratory located in Cedar City, UT. The Bureau is the only full-service, forensic science provider in the State and provides the following services:

  • Scientific Consulting: Our scientists are available for laboratory consultation during normal business hours or after hours through the crime scene call out phone.  We encourage contact and believe that constructive discussions between laboratory scientists, crime scene personnel, investigators and prosecutors greatly assist in the criminal justice fact finding mission.  For complex cases, we ask that a meeting between all applicable entities be held prior to the submission of evidence.  This meeting will greatly assist in expediting the most probative samples for laboratory testing
  • Law Enforcement Training: The laboratory is the sole provider of comprehensive forensic science training for Utah law enforcement.  We provide training for minimal or no charge.  The following is a list of trainings offered:
    • Field Investigation Drug Officer (FIDO)
    • Marijuana Leaf Identification
    • Basic Crime Scene Specialist
    • Advanced Crime Scene Specialist
    • Shooting Scene Reconstruction
    • Evidence Preservation and Packaging
    • DNA Academy
    • Latent Print Detection, Documentation and Collection Course
  • Crime Scene Response: We do not have a separate crime scene unit but rather our employees serve a dual role as both forensic scientists and crime scene responders.  This service is available to law enforcement agencies during all hours.  We encourage calls, even if it is a submission question.
  • Courtroom Testimony: The criminal justice must have accurate facts in which to make its determinations.  Hence, the ultimate success of the scientific consultation, law enforcement training, and laboratory testing resides in how well the final report and examiner testimony is received in the courtroom.  Consequently, all of the Bureau’s scientific staff are court-qualified forensic experts in their respective disciplines.  We encourage all legal entities with questions to contact the laboratory for further information.

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