LASD's CSI lab now considered 'gold standard' in forensic science

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's CSI lab has been given accreditation for two new disciplines, making it the largest full-service, fully-accredited municipal crime lab in the country.

At a ceremony Tuesday, law enforcement officials and legal professionals celebrated the accreditation that now ensures that the best people, best equipment and best processes are being used when handling evidence to solve crimes and present in court.

The crime lab located at California State University, Los Angeles has been accredited since its opening, but now it has gone through rigorous inspection, added two new disciplines, state-of-the-art equipment and a higher level of validation.

"It's an opportunity for us to be able to show how deeply we respect the process. We want to be able to ensure that every time we test something for prosecution that we're sure that the results are what we present them as being," L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell said.

The crime lab features software that can be put into any detective's computer, giving them a virtual 3D look at the crime scene long after the scene has cleared. The software is one example of the tools that make this crime lab the "gold standard" in forensic science.

L.A. County District Attorney Jackie Lacey said the accreditation makes it easier for prosecutors to prove a case against someone who's guilty, but also allows them to have faith if someone is not guilty to dismiss the case.