MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice on Wednesday announced that the Division of Forensic Sciences’ (DFS) new Milwaukee Crime Lab has achieved accreditation and is now fully open for processing evidence. The lab replaces the former lab located at South 11th Street​ in Milwaukee.

“The opening of this new lab is a reflection of our commitment to remaining on the cutting edge of forensic science,” said AG Kaul. “The accreditation of this lab is the culmination of years of work. Thank you to the many people who helped get this new lab built and up and running.”

The laboratory achieved accreditation earlier in July from the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board, a non-governmental organization that provides accreditation services to public and private-sector organizations.

The new laboratory is more than 70,000 square feet and housed within the new Forensic Science and Protective Medicine Facility, which will also be home to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Officer, the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, and Versiti Wisconsin’s Organ Procurement Organization and Tissue Bank, which will relocate from its current space within the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s facility. The building is located nearby the Medical Colleges of Wisconsin (MCW).

The close proximity of the Crime Lab to these institutions will aid DFS’ Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories (WSCL) in expanding partnerships and training opportunities, such as DFS’ hosting of forensic pathology fellows from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office; increase efficiencies; and aid in coordination during mass casualty events.

Discussions of a new lab have been long-running, and several previous attempts to launch the project stalled, until funding for the project was approved under AG Kaul and Gov. Evers. The State Building Commission approved approximately $115 million for the project, and Gov. Evers approved an additional grant of more than $23 million.

The state-of-the-art facility will help to keep DFS at the cutting edge of scientific advancement, ensuring that it has adequate space for crime lab employees to create and maintain efficient workflows, examine evidence, and integrate the latest in forensic technologies.

As a symbol of Wisconsin’s investment in innovation and technology, the new facility is likely to help attract top talent to the Crime Lab and improve public safety outcomes.

The new facility replaces the former Southeast Regional Crime Laboratory in Milwaukee, which was constructed in 1983-84 and updated with an addition in 1992-1993.

In addition to providing additional space for staff, storage, and housing new technologies, the building is also more secure and more accessible. The WSCL primarily test evidence in felony cases.

DFS staff from across the state have put a significant effort into collaborating on the design of the new facility and in managing the transfer of equipment and evidence during the move.

WSCL employs forensic scientists, technicians, evidence specialists, and crime scene response professionals and offers scientific testing and impartial forensic analysis of evidence in criminal cases for every community in Wisconsin. More information about the WSCL can be found here.