Onondaga County

Update to Laboratory Scope of Accreditation: Distance Determination

The Onondaga County Forensic Laboratories has formally removed distance determination from its scope of accreditation. As a result, the laboratory will no longer perform accredited casework involving firearm distance determination examinations.

While distance determination analysis will no longer be available through our laboratory, we remain committed to supporting our law enforcement partners in obtaining the forensic services they need. If an investigation requires distance determination analysis, agencies are encouraged to contact the laboratory as they normally would. Laboratory staff will assist in identifying and coordinating with an appropriately accredited forensic service provider capable of performing the examination. We will continue to work closely with our partners to help ensure evidence is submitted to a qualified laboratory and that the referral process is as seamless as possible.

Reminder: Evidence Release Requirements

To ensure the integrity of the judicial process and maintain proper chain of custody, the Onondaga County Forensic Laboratories requires authorization from both the District Attorney’s Office and the submitting law enforcement agency before forensic testing can be canceled and evidence released.

Once approval has been received from both parties, the laboratory will coordinate the return of the evidence to the submitting law enforcement agency.

Please note that the laboratory does not release evidence directly to property owners, victims, defendants, attorneys, or other private individuals. All evidence is returned exclusively to the submitting law enforcement agency, which is responsible for determining the appropriate disposition of the property in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and court orders.

We appreciate the cooperation of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in following these procedures, which help preserve the integrity of evidence handling and ensure consistent, secure, and accountable evidence management.

Forensic Science Training August 25 & 26

The Onondaga County Forensic Laboratories is offering Forensic Science Training on Tuesday, August 25, and Wednesday, August 26. Representatives from each laboratory section will provide an overview of evidence submission requirements specific to their discipline, helping ensure evidence is submitted correctly and efficiently. More information, including a registration link will be sent to agency leads. If you have questions, please contact forensics@onondaga.gov.