Governor Holcomb Issues Proclamation for
Forensic Science Week, September 19-25, 2021

The Indiana State Police would appreciate media support informing the public about the 9^th Annual National Forensic Science Week occurring September 19-25, 2021.

National Forensic Science Week brings recognition to the role that proper forensic science plays in the investigation of crimes throughout the nation, from exonerating the innocent to identifying the guilty.

For more information about National Forensic Week, visit: http://www.forensicscienceweek.org/

For information about the Indiana State Police Laboratory Division and the services they provide, visit: http://www.in.gov/isp/labs/

Below are some interesting stats from the past year (2020):

• There were 24,048 new cases submitted for analysis at the four Indiana State Police laboratories
• Crime Scene Investigators responded to 1,388 different crime scenes throughout the state
• Polygraph Examiners conducted 444 polygraph tests
• The total number of Indiana offender samples being searched in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) was more than 373,000.  In 2020, there were 708 cases in Indiana linked to a potential suspect by a CODIS DNA match

There are four Indiana State Police laboratory facilities statewide and for additional information, please contact the Public Information Officer (PIO) listed adjacent to the named laboratory location:

• Lowell Laboratory PIO contact is Sgt. Glen Fifield at gfifield@isp.in.gov
• Fort Wayne Laboratory PIO contact is Sgt. Brian Walker at bwalker@isp.in.gov
• Evansville Laboratory PIO contact is Sgt. Todd Ringle at tringle@isp.in.gov
• Indianapolis Laboratory PIO contact is Sgt. John Perrine at jperrine@isp.in.gov or Captain Ron Galaviz at rgalaviz@isp.in.gov

Below is the text of Governor Holcomb’s Proclamation

Whereas, forensic science is a vital public service; and

Whereas, access to quality forensic analysis dramatically improves the investigation of criminal activity, leading to the exoneration of the innocent and the prosecution of the guilty; and

Whereas, forensic science plays a critical role in public outreach and crime prevention, and is evolving in its role as an important member of the criminal justice community; and

Whereas, crime scene investigators, forensic examiners, and forensic scientists provide unbiased, accurate, and reliable analyses of evidence recovered from across the nation; and

Whereas, numerous professional organizations have recognized September 19-25, 2021, as National Forensic Science Week; and individuals across the country will be celebrating; and

Whereas, individuals all across the country will be celebrating this event; and

Whereas, the hard-working people that comprise our forensic science organizations deserve universal regard and appreciation for their commitment to proper scientific investigations for the cause of justice;

Now, therefore, I, Eric J. Holcomb, Governor of the State of Indiana, do hereby proclaim September 19-25, 2021 as Forensic Science Week in the State of Indiana, and invite all citizens to duly note this occasion.

In Testimony Whereof, I hereto set my hand and cause to be affixed the Great Seal of State.  Done at the City of Indianapolis, this 13^th day of September the year of our Lord 2021 and of the Independence of the United States 246.

By The Governor: Eric Holcomb

From L to R: ISP Superintendent Doug Carter, Forensic Scientist Hailey Newton, Assistant ISP  Laboratory Division Commander Captain Sid Newton and ISP Laboratory Division Commander Major Steve Holland.