University Fast Links Academic Affairs Academic Calendar Academic Community Engagement (ACE) Academic Planning and Assessment Accepted Students Admissions (Undergraduate) Admissions (Graduate) Admission Requirements Analytical Laboratory Advising (Medical/Dental Related) Advising (SAM Center) Agricultural Sciences and Engineering Technology Alumni Association Alcohol and Drug Abuse Initiative Army ROTC - Military Science Athletics Banner Banking Bearkat Camp Bearkat Express Payment Bearkat Marching Band Bearkat OneCard Bearkat Transfer Scholarship Blackboard Blinn College Transfers Bookstore Books & Supplies Budget Office Bursar's Office Business Administration Calendars Campus Map Career Services Catalogs Class Schedule Computer Account Creation Computer Labs Continuing Education Controller's Office Correspondence Course Division Counseling Center Criminal Justice Current Students Dean of Students' Office Departments Department of Dance Dining Services Directory Education Educator Preparation Services Emergency Management Employment Opportunities English Language Institute Enrollment Management Environmental, Health and Safety Office Exchange Mail Facilites Management Facilities Space Management Faculty Senate Faculty/Staff Directory Final Exam Schedule Finance and Operations Financial Aid Fine Arts and Mass Communication First-Year Experience General Information Graduate Studies Great Names Health Sciences Honors College Homecoming Human Resources Humanities and Social Sciences IT@Sam IT@Sam Service Desk Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC) Institutional Effectiveness Internal Grant Program Institutional Review Board (IRB) International Programs Joint Admission Students KatFacts Library (NGL) Lone Star College Transfers Lowman Student Center Map - Campus Marketing & Communications Math CAMP Medical & Allied Health Programs McNair Program Military Science Mobile Go Center Music Music Choir News Nursing Office of Business Services Office of the President Online Information Request Organization Chart Orientation - New Student PACE Parent Relations Office Parking Payroll Office Procurement and Business Services Procurement Opportunities Project Connect Property Prospective Students Public Safety Quality Enhancement Plan Reading Center Recreational Sports Registration Registrar's Office Research and Sponsored Programs Residence Life Risk Management Sam Shuttle SACS Reaffirmation Sam Houston Memorial Museum SamMenu (Download) SamWeb Sciences Services for Students with Disabilities Schedule of Classes Scholarships SHSU Marketplace Spirit Programs Staff Council Student Activities Student Government Association Student Health Center Student Legal Services Student Money Management Center Student Services Student Services Calendar Summer Camps Technology Tutorials Testing Center Theatre and Dance Today@Sam Tour the University Transcripts Transfer Equivalency Guide Transfer Students TRIES University Advancement University Center University Hotel University Park - Northwest Houston Campus University Police Department Veterans Visitor & Alumni Center The Woodlands Center Writing Center

Today@Sam Article

SHSU Regional Crime Lab Opens

Jan. 12, 2011
SHSU Media Contact: Beth Kuhles

The Sam Houston State University Regional Crime Lab in The Woodlands is now open and accepting evidence. The new crime lab received its accreditation in October 2010 and began accepting evidence from state and local agencies just before Thanksgiving, according to university officials.

“We were excited to be able to accept evidence in time for the busy holiday season,” said Sarah Kerrigan, laboratory director and Scotland Yard-trained forensic scientist.

The 5,000-square-foot facility offers laboratory services for controlled substances and toxicology in criminal and civil cases, as well as death investigations. It also provides support services, including courtroom testimony, expert testimony and consulting services.

The laboratory will ease the backlog of criminal cases in Texas by serving the basic needs of nearly 100 state and local agencies in 10 counties in Southeast Texas. The lab, staffed by 10 employees, is expected to handle up to 5,000 cases annually.

The regional crime lab will offer fee-based services to attorneys, medical examiner’s offices, law enforcement agencies, the public and other laboratories and organizations. Examiners at the lab will test for controlled substances and provide toxicology testing in biological specimens for alcohol, as well as illicit, prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

“The laboratory is part of the comprehensive criminal justice program at Sam Houston State University,” said Vincent Webb, dean of the College of Criminal Justice and director of the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center. The Criminal Justice Center also houses professional and research institutes, including the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, the Correctional Management Institute of Texas, the Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science Facility and the Crime Victims’ Institute.

During the first two months of operation, the laboratory has been processing requests for controlled substances and blood alcohol levels in about three days. Drug toxicology cases are taking only seven to 14 days, according to Michael Manes, laboratory manager.

“We are fortunate to be able to offer quality forensic services in a timely manner,” Manes said.

The laboratory recently implemented an information management system that will streamline operations and allow clients to access reports remotely via the web.

The lab was funded through a $1.5 million federal grant secured by U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady. The university secured The Woodlands facility in August 2009. After the laboratory opened in October 2009 it took a full year for it to go through the accreditation process and meet the necessary statutory requirements.

“It’s been a challenging project, but we are pleased to be finally offering independent forensic services to the criminal justice community,” Kerrigan said.

For more information on the Regional Crime Lab, visit www.rcl-shsu.org or call 936.294.2501.

 

 

- END -

 

This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office
Director: Bruce Erickson
Assistant Director: Julia May
Writer: Jennifer Gauntt
Located in the 115 Administration Building
Telephone: 936.294.1836; Fax: 936.294.1834

Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu.