Operations have begun on the Illinois State Police (ISP) company’s new forensic science laboratory in Decatur, which is anticipated to develop DNA testing capability.

ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly stated, “The brand new lab will additional scale back backlogs and permit us to resolve crimes sooner and produce justice to all concerned.” The lab was accredited final week, which allowed the leased facility to formally open.

The brand new four-story ISP Decatur Forensic Science Laboratory positioned alongside the U.S. Route 51 on the south facet of Decatur will present testing for legislation enforcement all through the state. Forensic scientists on the laboratory will study proof collected from crime scenes and analyze organic materials to determine DNA profiles from suspects.

The ability is the state’s seventh forensics lab and also will home Crime Scene Providers.

In line with the ISP, backlogs in testing for hint chemistry, drug chemistry, latent prints, firearms, toxicology, and footwear have all decreased by roughly 37% since 2021.

“This top-tier facility will improve capability to considerably scale back turnaround time for DNA testing, produce speedy outcomes, and additional scale back the case backlog,” stated Gov. JB Pritzker.

In June final yr, the state had no pending sexual assault kits older than 180 days, which marked the primary time the company was in a position to adjust to the 2010 legislation geared toward eliminating the backlog. Now, Illinois State Police say the typical turn-around-time for a DNA case to be accomplished is 3.6 months.

The ISP laboratory system processes proof from felony instances in seven disciplines: drug chemistry, hint chemistry, toxicology, biology/DNA, latent prints, firearms/toolmarks, and footwear/tire tracks.