The 8th Annual National Forensic Science Week is September 20-26, 2020, and the Governor of Indiana has issued a proclamation in recognition of the crime scene investigators and forensic examiners and scientists that serve Hoosiers every day.

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 information about the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division and the services they provide, visit: http://www.in.gov/isp/labs/

Below are some interesting stats from the past year (2019):

There were 24,517 new cases submitted for analysis at the four Indiana State Police laboratories
Crime Scene Investigators responded to 1,263 different crime scenes throughout the state
Polygraph Examiners conducted 770 polygraph tests
The total number of Indiana offender samples being searched in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) was more than 351,500. In 2019, there were 958 cases in Indiana linked to a potential suspect by a CODIS DNA match

There are four Indiana State Police laboratory facilities statewide.

Below is the text of Governor Holcomb’s Proclamation:

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 September 20-26, 2020, as National Forensic Science Week; and individuals across the country will be celebrating; and

Whereas, individuals all across the country will be celebrating this event; and

Whereas, the hard-working people that comprise our forensic science organizations deserve universal regard and appreciation for their commitment to proper scientific investigations for the cause of justice;

Now, therefore, I, Eric J. Holcomb, Governor of the State of Indiana, do hereby proclaim September 20-26, 2020 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 4th day of September the year of our Lord 2020 and of the Independence of the United States 245.

By The Governor: Eric Holcomb