Marshall University may House State’s Second Crime Lab
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Posted: 9:08 PM Apr 28, 2008
Marshall University may House State’s Second Crime Lab
West Virginia has one crime lab for 55 counties, and that means it can take up to five months to get results back for a drug sample.
Reporter: Dave Benton
Email Address: dave.benton@wsaz.com
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- West Virginia has one crime lab for 55 counties, and that means it can take up to five months to get results back for a drug sample.

The forensics center at Marshall will be expanding, and there's a strong possibility it could be the new home for the second drug crime lab in the state.

The center already tests DNA. The state police have their digital forensics unit, and now an expansion to the building could offer drug testing.

Once the new building is complete, the first floor will have forensic classrooms, the second floor economic labs and hopefully the third floor will have room for the drug testing; if funding is available.

“Accreditation could take a year. Equipment would come from grants,” Terry Fenger, director of the forensics center, said.

Dr. Fenger said it would take close to $500,000 to have a drug crime testing lab.

“Right now we have one state police lab for all 55 counties,” Chris Childes, Cabell County prosecutor, said.

Chiles also suggests WVU look into building their own drug crime lab to help decrease the load at the state lab in Charleston.

A ground breaking ceremony on the new building is scheduled for next couple weeks. It should be complete by March. Then, the search for funding will begin.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 29, 2008 at 12:04 PM

sounds good~!
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Posted by: Anonymous on Apr 29, 2008 at 11:51 AM

If the lab were located in the north, a certain university would tarnish it with scandal.
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Joe on Apr 28, 2008 at 10:21 PM

Wouldn't it be better for a 2nd lab to be in northern WV. It could handle everything from Lewis County and the other counties north, and in the pannhandles. Lewis or Harrison County would be the most southern county the New lab would handle. The old lab would handle the other 27 or 28 counties in WV. Do you think the dummies in Charleston would think of this? NOT !!!!
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