The washoe county sheriffs office forensic science division (wcso-FSD) is one of only two full-service forensic laboratories in the state of nevada and serves as the primary forensic service…

The washoe county sheriffs office forensic science division (wcso-FSD) is one of only two full-service forensic laboratories in the state of nevada and serves as the primary forensic service provider for thirteen counties in central and northern nevada, as well as one county in central california. The latent print section of wcso-FSD is currently experiencing a backlog due to short staffing and a temporary reduction in case working activities while training a new analyst. This has significantly impacted the laboratorys ability to provide timely forensic services to its client agencies. This latent print comparison backlog reduction project seeks funding through the paul coverdell forensic science improvement grant to contract with an accredited private forensic laboratory to perform latent print comparison testing on backlogged cases. The goal of this project is to reduce the backlog of latent print cases and improve turnaround times, allowing internal staff to focus on current and high-priority submissions. This initiative will enhance the timeliness, effectiveness, quality, and efficiency of forensic services provided to law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.