HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The old Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences Lab in Huntsville was built in 1965. The new building is far larger, able to accommodate more workers ... and more evidence.
Angelo Della Manna, ADFS director, says they're excited to open a state-of-the-art crime laboratory and medical facility in Huntsville, and there's no doubt the old facility hampered the ability of forensic scientists to be fully functional.
Forensic science plays a huge role in the justice system. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall says, "Science comes through the courtroom doors and it's a wonderful thing. It shows the guilt of that person if it exonerates somebody."
Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard says the new facility will help with the growing workload in the region and state, as the volume of work increases every year.
"Quicker results are now possible with more space, and timing is a big factor, whether it's in prosecution or getting results on an autopsy. Many times forensic science results are what dictate individuals being arrested, individuals being excluded from consideration in arrest, drug cases and DNA cases and violent crime cases can all be completed in a timely manner for all the citizens in North Alabama."