The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory was created in 1977, by Act 517. Act 864 of 1979 placed the Crime Laboratory within the Department of Public Safety. Act 45 of 1981 reversed this action and the laboratory once again became a separate agency. In April 1981, the laboratory began moving into its current location at #3 Natural Resources Drive in Little Rock. At that time, the agency shared the building with the Arkansas State Police, occupying approximately 26,000 square feet on the third floor and the basement. In April 1997, State Police moved to their new facility and the Crime Laboratory began remodeling the building at #3 Natural Resources Drive allowing itself to occupy 80,000 square feet.
The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory is led by an Executive Director who is appointed by the Governor to serve at the will of the Governor. Act 383 of 1991, created a new Crime Laboratory Board, which is made up of eight members where the original board had only seven members. This act also gave the power to hire and terminate the Chief Medical Examiner to the Board. The Crime Laboratory Board has policy-making powers as to the operation of the Crime Laboratory. It is required to meet at least once each quarter. The Laboratory has no police powers. It is funded through general revenue, special revenue, and federal grants. However, in the past, Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance funds have been available and utilized for the purchase of equipment that can be attributed to fight the "war on drugs". There is no charge to any law enforcement agency for any analysis of evidence submitted or for testimony in criminal court. The agency can charge specific fees for testimony of its analyst in civil courts. The Crime Laboratory only accepts evidence from those agencies having law enforcement responsibilities. However, during the 79th Legislative Session, the Public Defender Commission was given the authority to utilize laboratory services.
Mission
The Mission of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory is to provide the highest quality scientific services and resources to the criminal justice community and others as authorized by law. The Mission will be achieved by a team of skilled and dedicated employees, utilizing innovative programs and state of the art technology in the fields of CODIS, Digital Evidence, Firearms/Toolmarks, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry- Illicit Labs, Forensic DNA, Forensic Toxicology, Latent Prints/AFIS, Physical Evidence, and the State Medical Examiners Office.
Objectives
- To maintain excellence in the quality of forensic science services provided to the criminal justice system
- To provide early identification and correction of problems and potential problems so that reoccurrence and/or more serious situations can be avoided
- To ensure the use of validated procedures that are reliable, reproducible and which serve their intended purpose with respect to precision, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity
- To provide scientific analysis reports that are clear and accurate
- To provide relevant, professional and impartial testimony in judicial proceedings
- To participate in a proficiency-testing program that monitors the capabilities of the analysts/examiners and the reliability of our analytical results
- To provide a system to ensure the integrity and security of evidence from its receipt to its return or disposal
- Ensure quality in every aspect of our work
- Ensure that the public has a quality laboratory in the State of Arkansas