| Public crime laboratories historically have suffered from low funding, understaffing, and high personnel turnover, leaving them in some cases with inconsistent standards, inexperienced personnel, and tremendous backlogs. Nevertheless, reliable and timely forensic analytical results from these labs are essential to solving crime. The equipment, training, and laboratory modifications required to increase State and local crime lab capacities and bring them up to national quality assurance standards come at a cost beyond the reach of most agencies. Federal funding support, in the form of grants to State and local agencies, is therefore critical to the improvement of crime laboratory services. |
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