Wisconsin DOJ releases 2023 report through State Crime Lab

MADISON, Wis. (WSAW) – Attorney General Josh Kaul has released the 2023 annual report for the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Forensic Sciences Division (DFS) crime labs.

Attorney General Josh Kaul said, “The work of our state crime labs is critical to protecting public safety and ensuring that criminal investigations and prosecutions lead to justice.”

AG Kaul adds that the upcoming state budget must invest in crime laboratories in order to provide them with sufficient staff.

Annual report 2023 based on DOJ findings:

• Progress has been made in improving the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories' infrastructure and technology. The first phase of a new laboratory information management system is expected to be fully implemented in 2025. It will significantly improve the way cases are prosecuted and improve processes. The new Southeast Regional Crime Laboratory broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled to open in 2026.

• In 2023, DFS continued to track significant drug trends, including an increase in fentanyl-related cases. There were a total of 765 fentanyl cases. Xylazine was identified in 64 cases. More than one in four cases sent to the Controlled Substances Division involved mixtures.

• A Legislative Audit Bureau report on the timeliness of the Wisconsin State Crime Lab's (WSCL) analysis contained no recommendations to shorten turnaround times, providing further evidence of the need for the state Legislature to invest in crime labs and authorize more staff .

DFS provides forensic analysis in many areas including toxicology, drug identification, biology/DNA analysis, DNA database, trace analysis, firearms examination, tool mark examination, latent print examination, shoe analysis, ten print comparison, forensic imaging and video analysis. In addition, DFS has crime scene response units in each laboratory to support law enforcement at key crime scenes.

The Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory is the only full-service forensic laboratory system in Wisconsin.

Click here to view the full 2023 Crime Lab Annual Report.

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