An evaluation of criminalistic services provided by the Eastern Ohio Forensic Laboratory

Abstract

Three purposes were served by making an evaluation of the Eastern Ohio Forensic Laboratory. The primary purpose was to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the criminalistic services themselves. It was found that the equipment used in the E.O.F.L .is the best equipment available, and that the personnel employed by the E.O.F.L. are well-trained and experienced. There is, however, a need for additional equipment and additional personnel in order for the E.O.F.L. to render fully efficient service.

In addition to this initial analysis, a study was made of the relationship between the Eastern Ohio Forensic Laboratory and the law-enforcement agencies in the surrounding area, which includes Mahoning County, Trumbull County, Ashtabula County and Columbiana County. This aspect of the evaluation was implemented by sending questionnaires to the fifty-two law enforcement agencies in the four-county area. The questionnaires served the dual purpose of obtaining a general response of the agencies' awareness of the E.O.F.L. and its services and isolating individual offices-- e.g., coroner, prosecutor-- to obtain their respective opinions on the E.O.F.L. and its services. Unfortunately, a general lack of understanding of the E.O.F.L. and its services was uncovered, even though it has been in existence for over a year. Agencies are still using other facilities, citing reasons ranging from lack of knowledge of E.O.F.L. services to the fact of being used to other facilities' services.

During the evaluation specific problems were pinpointed in regards to both the criminalistic services themselves and the relationship between the E.O.F.L. and the surrounding law enforcement agencies and various solutions to these problems were offered. Recommendations for improvement ranged from the development of a code of ethics between the E.O.F.L. and cooperating agencies to the allotment of resources to insure future research. If these recommendations are carried out the E.O.F.L because a fully efficient operation the result can and should be an improvement in the quality of justice for the citizens of the four-county area.