Onondaga County

Evidence Collection & Submission Manual Sections

The Center for Forensic Sciences – Forensic Laboratories, a part of the Wallie Howard, Jr. Center for Forensic Sciences (hereafter referred to as CFS), is a bureau of the Onondaga County Health Department headed by a Commissioner of Health.

The mission of the CFS is to provide accurate, reliable, timely and objective scientific analysis and subsequent expert testimony in a variety of criminal matters and death investigations.

The CFS provides high quality scientific laboratory services in support of the administration of justice and public safety programs for the citizens of Onondaga and surrounding counties. This service is provided primarily to the law enforcement agencies of Onondaga County in regard to the evidence submitted by them.

The CFS will carry out its testing activities in such a way as to meet the requirements of the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) ANAB 17025:2017 Forensic Science Testing Laboratory Accreditation Requirements, the Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories issued by the FBI Director, and the New York State Commission on Forensic Science.

The CFS Laboratories are comprised of five disciplines: Latent Prints, Firearms, Digital Evidence, Forensic Biology/DNA, Forensic Chemistry (Controlled Substances & Fire Debris/Ignitable Liquids)

J. Ryan McMahon, II, Onondaga County Executive

Dr. Katherine Anderson, Commissioner of Health

Ranee Ho, MS, MBA, Director of Laboratories

The Wallie Howard Jr. Center for Forensic Sciences
100 Elizabeth Blackwell St., Syracuse, NY 13210
Phone (315) 435-3800