Crime Laboratory
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Laboratory is an internationally accredited forensic laboratory serving all criminal justice agencies in Santa Clara County. Our examiners evaluate and analyze evidence, interpret results, provide expert testimony related to the full spectrum of physical evidence recovered from crime scenes, and offer technical assistance and training to all user agencies. Accredited services are provided in the major analytical forensic disciplines of: controlled substance analysis; firearms; forensic biology (DNA); forensic toxicology (including breath alcohol calibration); latent print processing; trace evidence; digital and multi-media evidence (computer forensics, audio and video analysis); bloodstain pattern analysis; footwear/tire impression evidence; and fire debris analysis. Crime scene analysis and reconstruction is also performed (currently this is an unaccredited function). The laboratory employs over 60 criminalists, plus support staff, and analyzes thousands of evidence items each year.
The Crime Laboratory is accredited to international standard ISO/IEC 17025 in both Forensic Testing and Calibration by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board (ANAB).
Monthly Crime Laboratory "Virtual Tours"
The Crime Laboratory provides "virtual tours" each month, consisting of a 2-hour presentation on the forensic work performed in the laboratory. This presentation "virtually walks through" all the different areas of the Crime Laboratory via photographs and case examples. However, it does not include actually touring the facility itself due to the sensitivity of our work and the potential for contamination.
Presentations are free and open to the public. There is no age restriction; however, there may be some material that is inappropriate for children under 14.
Anyone interested in attending a presentation or organizing a group to attend should contact Criminalist Cordelia Willis at [email protected] with the subject: Crime Lab Tour.
For More Information, Please Contact:
Crime Laboratory
250 West Hedding Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Ian Fitch, Director
Phone: (408) 808-6999
Email: [email protected]
Lisa Stenback, Assistant Director
Phone: (408) 808-5901
Email: [email protected]