Avoiding Steep Costs

Limiting Courtroom Waiting Time for Laboratory Personnel

Many times, investigations and analyses must be delayed while waiting for court proceedings or additional case-related information (e.g., information regarding consensual sex partners, additional suspects). To reduce the amount of time an analyst spends away from the laboratory, courts must consider the impacts experienced by agencies when personnel are required to wait for extended periods before testifying. While these individuals are otherwise engaged, casework slows down and the backlog may potentially increase.

All parties involved in a case need to be responsive to requests for information. Waiting is unproductive and either slows down or halts the analysis of other cases.