Following a scandal in 2021, D.C.’s crime lab lost its accreditation due to errors in testing ballistics evidence in two homicide cases. However, after two years, the lab has regained this key accreditation, allowing the department to use forensic evidence in court prosecutions once again. This accreditation will help expedite investigations, resolve backlogged cases, and hire essential experts and staff. This is crucial as the city grapples with an ongoing crime wave. Notably, this is the second time the crime lab has faced such a suspension, with the first instance occurring in 2016.
The accreditation was reinstated for two DFS forensic science units by the ANSI National Accreditation Board. Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah expressed that this development will lead to swifter justice and improve the efficiency of the lab’s operations. With the ability to use forensic evidence once again, the District can better address criminal cases and deliver timely outcomes.
