DOFS OPERATIONS

The Division of Forensic Sciences (DOFS) provides scientific support to criminal justice agencies, enabling them to detect, apprehend and prosecute criminals by utilizing accurate, useful and timely laboratory analysis and testimony. Except for limited services provided by local and federal laboratories, DOFS crime laboratories are the only forensic services available for the criminal justice community of Georgia.

Personnel Growth

The Georgia State Crime Laboratory (Division of Forensic Sciences) was formed by Legislative Act of 1952. The laboratory had five full-time staff members who processed 651 cases that year. In FY01, 272 scientists and technicians processed more than 109,900 cases.

Backlog Reduction The backlog of unworked cases was reduced to less than 1,400 cases by July 2001. The laboratory receives and processes about 9,000 cases per month. The high watermark for unworked cases occurred in October 1999 when the laboratory had 35,857 backlogged cases. In the initial phases of training DOFS new scientists in FY00, training was concentrated for three to four months to give the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform 80 to 90 percent of the complex scientific testing necessary at the crime lab. During FY01, additional instruction was given to the scientists to complete their training in their respective fields of forensic science. A more expeditious case turnaround time and expanded services by DOFS crime laboratories have reduced the delays in the court system and aided the criminal justice community in solving cases. In FY01, DOFS labs processed almost 106,000 cases.

LABORATORY SERVICES

Established in 1952 as the second statewide crime laboratory in the United States, the Division of Forensic Sciences provides scientific support to the criminal justice system in Georgia. Using the most recent technologies and highly sophisticated equipment, lab scientists and technicians in specialized disciplines collect, analyze and interpret all aspects of physical evidence for law enforcement and prosecutors through the state. They also offer expert testimony on their findings.

Implied Consent

The Implied Consent Section provides training in the operation of the Intoxilyzer 5000, an instrument used in the detection of blood alcohol levels of those operating motor vehicles and boats.

The section administers the quality control and assurance programs for Georgia's breath alcohol testing program.
In FY01, 43 Intoxilyzer Basic Certification classes were held at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), including four basic classes for the Georgia State Patrol cadets; one for the Department of Natural Resources Basic Ranger class, and one class in conjunction with the federally-funded Police Corp class.

Renewal classes were conducted at seven regional training centers as well as at GPSTC. This decentralized training increases access and reduces costs for local agencies. The training also provides Georgia with approximately 8,000 certified Intoxilyzer operators.

GBI-DOFS participated in the General Assembly DUI Commission hearings in recommending the reduction of DUI limit to 0.08 grams. This reduction will make Georgia highways safer and help reduce the number of alcohol related traffic accidents.

Questioned Documents

In addition to conducting routine examinations and comparisons of handwriting involved in forgery cases of checks and other financial records, the Question Document Section examines documentary evidence involved in more serious violent crimes.

As in past years, school bomb threat cases continue to be problematic to authorities that rely on crime lab analysis for assisting in identifying the students responsible for writing the notes. Just as important is the elimination of students through handwriting comparison wrongly accused of these types of crimes.

One notable case during FY01 that involved expert testimony by the Questioned Document’s Section is a case from Madison County. A former deputy sheriff was on trial for homicide, and she claimed that a note had been written by the victim explaining his sudden disappearance. However, the Crime Lab’s handwriting experts determined that the note was penned by the defendant and not the victim. The evidence was introduced at trial and assisted in obtaining a conviction.

Forensic Photography

The Forensic Photography Unit of the Questioned Documents Section of the laboratory has moved into the digital age by adopting new techniques to record and transmit images vital to the prosecution of criminals. Routinely, evidence bearing latent prints can be digitally recorded and enhanced through sophisticated software programs in ways previously not possible. Surface backgrounds that obscure a latent fingerprint image vital to an investigation can usually be subtracted to clarify the area of interest. This is not always the case using conventional photographic techniques.

In a GBI investigation of an unidentified female body, a blouse found on the decedent was submitted to the Forensic Photography Unit. The photography unit took overall photographs as well as a close-up shot of the blouse's label. With photos in hand, agents canvassed the area where the deceased may have lived hoping that someone would recognize the blouse or label. Traditional techniques not only would have been time consuming but the logistics in getting the finished prints back to the regional office would have delayed the investigation.

By digitally recording and transmitting the images via the GBI LAN network, the field agents had these images in a matter of hours, thus greatly expediting the investigation.

Toxicology Section

The Toxicology Section has completed training of seven new scientists, bringing the total to 34 toxicologists statewide. This has resulted in improved case production. During calendar year 2000, the Headquarters Toxicology Section worked a record 19,930 services and had a completion rate of 93 percent within the target date of thirty days or less.

The Toxicology Section has faced a wide range of new analytical requests relating to the changing nature of drug use and abuse in the state and the nation. More emphasis has been placed on improving our analytical techniques for detecting drug-assisted sexual assaults or as the media has dubbed it "the date rape drug" phenomena.

This has required the development not only of new analytical techniques but fundamental research on the stability and time frame over which the drugs can be detected in a victim of sexual assault. The work has been presented at several conferences and has been extremely well-received by the forensic toxicology community.

Having developed these methods, the lab is now involved in teaching the medical and law enforcement communities about what types of samples are necessary and over what time frame samples must be collected so that these fast-acting metabolized drugs may be detected.

Oxycodone (OxyContin) abuse in Georgia, mirroring the larger national trend, has skyrocketed, resulting in numerous DUI and overdose related cases. Again, due to the new nature of the drug and the ways that it is being abused, the Toxicology Section has undertaken basic research on the required analytical procedures and the patterns and levels of abuse seen in these cases. This work has been published in a major toxicology journal and also will be presented at several upcoming meetings.

For the first time in many years, the Toxicology Section has the ability to analyze specimens for a wide variety of heavy metals. Arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, to name a few, can be analyzed using new, state-of-the-art inductively coupled plasma - mass spectroscopy (ICP/MS) analyzers. This represents not only an increase in the number and types of heavy metals that can be analyzed, but also a 100-fold increase in sensitivity over previous methods.

Trace Evidence

The Trace Evidence Section provides the identifications, comparisons and analysis of hair, fibers, paint, plastic, glass, footwear, tire impressions, fractured materials and other miscellaneous materials. The forensic analysis, interpretation, and courtroom testimony play critical roles in the investigation and prosecution of serious/violent crimes such as homicide, sexual assault, armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary. The timely analysis of trace materials is critical to the successful apprehension and prosecution of criminals.

The Trace Evidence Section currently has a backlog of approximately 200 violent criminal cases. Due to an increase in demand for services, and in spite of an increase in section productivity by 30 percent, the current backlog is 33 percent higher than last year. Because of the labor-intensive analysis involved in Trace Evidence examinations, current turnaround time is approximately 10 months for most cases. Additional staff is needed to meet the current statewide demand for service in a timely manner.

Chemistry Section

The Chemistry Section has virtually eliminated the backlog of drug cases statewide. Almost all the cases are completed within 30 days and most within 21 days.

In addition to completing submissions on-time, additional items are also analyzed on most drug cases. This procedure is in response to requests from the prosecuting attorneys across the state.

The Chemistry Section still receives cocaine and marijuana as the majority of cases. However, some alarming trends have been noted. The most concerning trend is in the rising number of methamphetamine cases, especially those derived from the increasing number of clandestine laboratories being discovered in Georgia. In FY01, DOFS received requests to assist in the processing and cleanup of approximately 20 clandestine lab sites. DOFS responded to these requests by forming the Clandestine Laboratory Response Team (CLRT). The goal is to have at least 20 scientists and 20 special agents strategically located across the state and specially trained to deal with clandestine laboratories. The manufacturing of meth can be extremely hazardous because it involves mixing chemicals and then cooking them. Police officers around the country have been injured investigating and seizing meth labs. With the CLRT team in place, the injuries to law enforcement investigating and dismantling meth labs will be minimal.

Forensic Biology/DNA

Since July 2000 the Forensic Biology Section has undergone many changes and faced many challenges. Some of these include hiring and training new staff, implementation of the expanded DNA database law (Senate Bill 318), a refocusing on customer needs, and dealing with a backlog of more than 400 rape cases.

Four new scientists were trained in specific areas of serology analysis. Once training was successfully completed, this group immediately targeted the backlog of rape kits. Between the efforts of existing staff and the newly trained group, by May 2001, the backlog of rape kits was reduced to zero.

Procedures for handling rape kits also were revamped and streamlined. New testing protocols were validated and implemented regarding seminal fluid. In doing so, these new procedures allow for a faster analysis time without compromising quality.

Effective July 1, 2001, the DNA database law was expanded from sex offenders to all felons. Resources for additional staff, robotics and high-throughput genetic analyzers also were made available with this legislation. Georgia was the eighth state to amend its offender law to all felons.

Samples are collected by the Department of Corrections and submitted to this unit for analysis. The purpose is to store the convicted offender DNA profiles in a database called CODIS (Combined DNA Index System). CODIS also contains DNA profiles from casework specimens collected from crime scenes or sexual assault cases. CODIS searches these profiles against each other both in Georgia and nationwide. If the computer program detects a common DNA donor, a match report is generated then verified by a trained analyst. Matches may occur as cases linked to each other (forensic hit) or unsolved cases linked to an offender (offender hit).

The impact of expanding the Georgia's database law has been phenomenal. As of August 2001, CODIS has provided leads on 54 previously unsolved cases. From 1998 to 2000, 13 offender hits were observed. Since January 2001 approximately 41 offender hits have occurred. National searching has produced matches to several states, including Texas, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas and Virginia.

The GBI Crime Laboratory continues to be the only lab of its kind in the world to receive both prestigious registration with the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) to the ISO 9002:1994 Standard and national accreditation by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors-Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD-LAB). During FY01, the lab made adjustments and plans to be accredited under the ISO 17025 Standard, which is a worldwide standard for all testing laboratories. Outside of the United States, most of the world's forensic laboratories have or are seeking this ISO 17025 Standard accreditation.
The quality program represents a commitment to providing the best product based on customer needs and good business practices. DOFS operates the laboratory as a business, making Georgia's forensic laboratory one of the most efficient and most professional forensic laboratories anywhere in the world. Georgia's citizens should be proud of the worldwide respect and recognition that their forensic laboratory has obtained.

With the workloads growing at the GBI Division of Forensic Sciences laboratories, renovations, upgrades, and construction of new modern laboratory facilities are needed to keep pace with demand.

The new Western Regional Lab in Columbus was completed in October 2000. The staff moved scientific equipment and established operations for receiving cases by mid-November 2001. This 14,000-square-foot modern laboratory represents state-of-the-art technology.

New laboratories to replace existing obsolete buildings for the Eastern Regional Crime Laboratory in Augusta and the Central Regional Crime Laboratory in Macon are scheduled for completion in 2002. Toxicology and morgue additions to the Coastal Regional Crime Laboratory in Savannah and the Southwestern Regional Crime Laboratory in Moultrie also are scheduled for completion in late 2002. The Northeastern Regional Crime Laboratory in Cleveland is the newest lab scheduled to be completed in early 2003. The total forensic laboratory system will soon have eight locations strategically located throughout the state.

Scheduled for completion in mid-2002, the new addition to the existing Headquarters Crime Laboratory in Decatur will house chemistry and toxicology sections, a new evidence receiving area and a 15,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art medical examiner’s facility.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

FY01 was an eventful and productive year in the implementation of the DOFS LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System). Several major milestones were reached after substantial effort of both DOFS staff and the contractor.

In October 2000, the final version of the software as specified by the original contract was installed. This version provided several operational enhancements that improve the overall usefulness of the system. Principal among these improvements was modification of the security system and evidence handling modules of the program. Changes to the security system allowed system administrators to exercise much greater control over access to various program features. The evidence system was modified in a way that permitted the program to more closely emulate the physical reality of how evidence is handled in the laboratory.

Another significant achievement was the implementation of the Web site for retrieval of DOFS reports. This secure Web site allows agency representatives to view and print copies of the reports that would previously have been mailed or faxed. All DOFS reports generated after July 2000 have been posted to the Web site. A massive effort was undertaken by DOFS staff to contact all major customers and train representatives from each agency in the use of the Web site. This single project has saved DOFS hundreds of hours and significant funding through the elimination of mailing reports. As of June 2001, more than 1,100 customers are connected to the Web site.

While the effort was underway to move the issuance of current reports to the Web, a simultaneous project was capturing the data contained on microfilm of reports and files from cases prior to 1992. In the spring of 2001, images of all microfilm records back to the early 1980s were inserted into LIMS. The images can be accessed through names of individuals on the cases or the DOFS case number. This not only provides a valuable resource to DOFS staff, but also enhances the effectiveness of staff doing searches for information in response to open records requests.

Finally, initial phases of the implementation of imaging all evidence and data submitted to or produced by DOFS has begun. To achieve this, approximately 30 digital video imaging stations have been purchased to document evidence and certain lab test results, such as firearms or trace evidence comparisons. Flatbed scanners will be used to scan in documentation produced by scientists during analysis and documents submitted by DOFS customers.

Custom software in final development allows insertion of instrumental data directly into the appropriate case on LIMS. All of this will improve the record keeping functions of the lab and eventually enhance other critical functions such as case review and preparation for court.