Interacting With Crime Laboratories

Addressing Backlog Issues

Addressing the issue of backlogs within laboratories and investigative units requires developing open lines of communication between the parties.⁷ Methods that can be employed to achieve efficient communication include:

• Conducting multi-disciplinary team (MDT)⁸ meetings (online, via telephone or through e-mail groups)
• Training between fields: investigators, prosecution, laboratory, medical (medical examiner and sexual assault nurse examiners⁸), property custodians, advocacy staff, etc.
• Including communication methods in continuing in-service training modules
• Identifying MDT roles in the process

⁷ Richard Williams and Sarah Hammond, Building Forensic Technology Capacity, National Conference of State Legislatures (2009) PDF download: 1.4MB • Visit the National Conference of State Legislatures »
⁸ “What Does It Take to Make a Collaboration Work? Lessons Learned Through the Criminal Justice System Project”, NIJ Publication (2004) PDF download: 284kB • Visit the National Criminal Justice Reference System »