WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – An initiative to deliver justice for victims of violent crime in the Wichita area is prompting a proposed expansion of the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center.
The county said that this expansion is necessary to meet the increasing demand for lab services, address advancements in science, and tackle challenges related to preventing DNA contamination.
The additions to the forensic science center are estimated to cost over $20 million. Commission Chair Ryan Baty warned that without this expansion, there could be a growing backlog of cases and potential quality control issues, as well as limitations on technological advancements at the center.
“Anytime we can increase capacity, be it that space, or staffing capacity, lab work, it’s going to help on backloads,” Baty said.
Currently, the forensic science center serves multiple functions, ranging from the county morgue to ballistic testing.
“This is where they do fire burn analytics, where they do DNA work, this is where they do toxicology work,” Baty said. “Over and over and over again, we see services that the community doesn’t realize are concentrated in this one building with the staff in this building, and they need more resources. The biggest resource they need right now is more space.”
The new building will provide dedicated space for DNA analysis, firearms testing, drug identification, and fire debris laboratories. This will allow the existing DNA lab to be repurposed for toxicology, medical investigations, and autopsies. The expansion is also expected to modernize workflows, accommodate robotics, and improve caseload analysis.
“So the biggest objective is space and giving them more capacity with more lab work, more lab functions and more capacity to turn these things over quicker, remember when you’re talking about toxicology, when you’re talking about DNA work that’s being done, our entire criminal justice system is dependent on the efficiency, and the effectiveness and the speed in which we can turn these things over, so we are very proud of the work that they do,” said Baty.
It was noted that 40% of violent crimes in Kansas occur in Sedgwick County. The county believes that the proposed changes will enhance resources available to the forensic lab.
The new addition is set to be built across the street from the current forensic center near 10th and Minneapolis in northeast Wichita. The commission is expected to vote on the project during budget adoption day this August.
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