Crime Lab

The Lab Division is supervised by Assistant Director Jerry Richardson.

AD Richardson joined the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in March of 1987 and was initially assigned to the Identification Section of the Division of Criminal Information. In January of 1989 he was promoted to the Latent Evidence Section of the Crime Laboratory and graduated from the 21st Session of the Special Agent Academy in December 1989. During his tenure in the Latent Evidence Section, he served as a Forensic Impressions Analyst, Assistant Supervisor, and Special Agent in Charge of the Section and was responsible for the forensic analysis of numerous criminal cases throughout the state of North Carolina.

Troy Hamlin is the Deputy Assistant Director for the Crime Laboratory Division. Agent Hamlin received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Central Florida and his Masters from North Carolina State University. He became employed by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation in 1981 and completed its 12th Academy. He was assigned to the Trace Evidence Section, where he became Special Agent in Charge in January 1996. In December of 2005 he was promoted to his present position. Agent Hamlin is past president of the Southern Association of Forensic Scientists and currently on the ASLCD Board of Directors. He is an ASLCD/Lab Inspector and has participated in a number of accreditation inspections.

The NC State Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory Division maintains a full service laboratory in Raleigh, North Carolina and a limited service laboratory in Asheville, North Carolina for the purpose of examining all types of evidence related to criminal investigations. Specially trained personnel staff both laboratories providing laboratory services free of charge to any public law enforcement agency in North Carolina, including local, state, federal, military, and railroad police organizations. The laboratory provides, consultation on the value, use, collection, and preservation of evidence; analysis of evidence; and expert testimony in court proceedings. Additionally, assistance is available by request for collecting evidence and processing crime scenes. Both laboratories are normally open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services are available twenty-four hours a day for emergency situations.

The Crime Laboratory is a participant in The Crime Laboratory Accreditation Program, established by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD). Accreditation is part of the Crime Laboratory's quality assurance program in maintaining standards in management, operations, personnel, procedures, equipment, physical plant, security and health/safety procedures. The SBI Crime Laboratory initially met the accreditation criteria in 1988 and is reaccredited every five years with a full review of the laboratory including an on site inspection of the forensic disciplines.

Approximately 30,000 submissions are analyzed annually. Highlights of these individual sections as well as the Western Regional Laboratory are as follows:

Specialized Units

Western Laboratory - Special Agent in Charge Joseph D. Reavis.
Documents and Digital Evidence Section - Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Dilday.
Drug Chemistry Section - Special Agent in Charge Deena Koontz.
Forensic Biology Section - Special Agent in Charge Mike Budzynski.
Trace Evidence Section - Special Agent in Charge Chuck McClelland.
Firearm & Tool Mark Section - Special Agent in Charge Pete Ware.
Latent Evidence Section - Special Agent in Charge John Byrd.
Evidence Control Section - Supervisor Debra Burwell.