Welcome

Welcome to the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensics web site. We hope that the information contained herein will serve as a useful resource for the state criminal justice community and that it will also serve to educate the public about the Forensic Laboratory’s important role in crime investigation.

Mission

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS) Forensic Laboratory is committed to providing reliable, accurate, and unbiased forensic scientific support services to all criminal justice agencies throughout New Mexico.

History

Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory was first established in 1972, as part of the State Police, at Headquarters, in Santa Fe. One latent print examiner and two chemists provided latent print examinations and chemical analyses of controlled substances. The laboratory served the entire state, and by the summer of 1973, laboratory examiners were traveling throughout the state to provide expert testimony and to process crime scenes. As the caseload grew, additional forensic scientists were needed.

By the late 1970’s, the Chemistry and Latent Print Units had expanded, and Trace Evidence, Firearms, Questioned Documents, and Serology Units had been added. All of these disciplines were busy with increasing case loads, as more law enforcement agencies became aware of the forensic analytical services available.

In 1987, the Forensic Laboratory was separated from the State Police, to become part of the Technical and Emergency Support Division of the newly created Department of Public Safety.

The Laboratory expanded in 1989, with the establishment of the Southern Forensic Laboratory, in Las Cruces. This lab was funded in part by High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) grant funds and incorporated a Chemistry Unit and a Latent Print Unit, to serve law enforcement agencies in the southern half of New Mexico.

Today, the Headquarters and Southern Forensic Laboratories employ thirty three forensic scientists and support staff and provide forensic analysis of biological evidence, firearms, tool marks, controlled substances, latent prints, footwear and fire debris for the New Mexico criminal justice system.

Important Law Enforcement Agency Updates

Online Forensic Lab Evidence Receipt