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The Labs provide a broad spectrum of services: Criminal investigations, death investigations, crime scene response, clandestine lab services, training and mass casualty victim identification. The Marysville Lab helped with the identification of victims of the tragic March 2014 land slide in Oso. There are several types of tests that the scientists and analysts at the Labs conduct: DNA testing, materials analysis, firearms and toolmarks analysis, fingerprint ID, questioned documents and crime scene response analysis. In Marysville, they provide the DNA testing and materials analysis as well as responding to crime scenes when requested.
The number of sexual assault kit submissions has greatly increased in recent years. Fortunately, the Marysville Lab has been able to reduce the turnaround time for evidence analysis. Gene provided a comparison of three years--2014-2016 January through June of each year--showing a sharp decrease in the time that it took for DNA evidence to be processed from just under 90 days to just over 50 days. This is good news for us because now police agencies can forward cases on to prosecutors for charges against criminals sooner than before.
Gene wrapped up his presentation with a discussion of what is actually called the "CSI effect." Jurors expect to see "high tech" stuff from crime labs in order to convict criminals. There have even been cases were criminals were not convicted because of the CSI effect. He asked if we remembered the OJ Simpson trial and the "slow chase." Evidence analysis hasn't been the same since.
Gene Lawrence has served as the Manager of the Marysville Crime Lab since 2011 where he oversees a staff of 15. One of staff members is Mariah, wife of our own President Sam. Gene has a science degree and worked in the Texas Department of Public Safety for three years before moving to San Diego. In the twelve years he spent there he handled over 100 crime scenes and helped his Trace Evidence Section receive accreditation. He returned to Texas and as a member of the US Army Reserve and Texas National Guard he was deployed to Iraq for 2008-2009. We're glad he and his family decided to locate in Washington. Thank you for your presentation.
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