Laboratory Time and Resources

Overview

Each laboratory has unique factors that affect the time required for testing.¹ Time requirements for evidence testing can be divided into seven phases:

• Phase 1: time between crime occurrence and submission of evidence to laboratory
• Phase 2: time between evidence submission and start of analysis
• Phase 3: time required to perform laboratory analysis
• Phase 4: time required to conduct post-analysis laboratory activities
• Phase 5: time involved in analytical report generation
• Phase 6: time between report delivery and return of evidence to submitting agency
• Phase 7: time between return of evidence and trial date

This section will examine the factors affecting each of these phases.

¹ Report to the Mississippi Legislature A Review of the Department of Public Safety’s Mississippi Crime Laboratory PDF download: 1MB • Visit the Mississippi Legislature PEER Report Titles 2000–2009 »