(UNDATED) - Governor Mike Pence has proclaimed August 10-16 as Forensic Science Week.
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.
For more information about National Forensic Week, visit: http://www.forensicscienceweek.org/
For information about Indiana State Police Laboratory Services, visit: http://www.in.gov/isp/labs/
Below are some interesting stats from the past year:
- 18,601 new cases submitted for analysis
- Responded to 871 investigations involving 1,197 different crime scenes
- Conducted 736 polygraph tests
- The Convicted Offender Database contains over 225,000 DNA samples of which there were 548 matches made in 2013 that aided ongoing criminal investigations
One notable case involved a 2003 bank robbery during which an Anderson police officer exchanged gun fire wounding the suspect. The suspect escaped but left blood at the scene. A DNA profile was entered into CODIS resulting in a match in December 2010. The CODIS identification led to a conviction in 2014.
Indiana State Police laboratory facilities are located in the following cities:
- Indianapolis Laboratory
- Lowell Laboratory
- Ft. Wayne Laboratory
- Evansville Laboratory
Below is the text of Governor Pence's Proclamation:
State of Indiana
Executive Department
Indianapolis
Executive order: PROCLAMATION
To All To Whom these Presents May Come, Greetings:
Whereas, forensic science is a vital public service; and
Whereas, access to quality forensic analysis dramatically improves the investigation of criminal activity, leading to the exoneration of the innocent and the prosecution of the guilty; and
Whereas, forensic science plays a critical role in public outreach and crime prevention, and is evolving in its role as an important member of the criminal justice community; and
Whereas, crime scene investigators, forensic examiners, and forensic scientists provide unbiased, accurate, and reliable analyses of evidence recovered from across the nation; and
Whereas, numerous professional organizations have recognized August 10-16, 2014, as National Forensic Science Week; and
Whereas, individuals all across the country will be celebrating this event; and
Whereas, the hard working people that compose our forensic science organizations deserve universal regard and appreciation for their commitment to proper scientific investigations for the cause of justice;
Now, therefore, I, Michael R. Pence, Governor of the State of Indiana, do hereby proclaim August 10 - 16, 2014 as Forensic Science Week in the State of Indiana, and invite all citizens to duly note this occasion.
In Testimony Whereof, I hereto set my hand and cause to be affixed the Great Seal of State. Done at the City of Indianapolis, this 28th day of July in the year of our Lord 2014 and of the Independence of the United States 238.
By The Governor: Michael R. Pence
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