A new Illinois State Police forensic laboratory has officially opened in Decatur, a move that should further ease the state’s backlog of processing DNA evidence in rape cases and other criminal investigations.
The new four-story facility will specialize in what’s known as “high-throughput” DNA testing, which comprises about 20% of the forensic cases handled by state police. The lab will use robotics for faster results.
The new lab, which has received final accreditation, has space for 27 staffers, including forensic scientists, evidence technicians, and crime scene investigators.
