The Baltimore Police Department's (BPD) Crime Lab is making headlines once again, this time for being crowned with the 2024 FORESIGHT Maximus Award—a nod to its status as a top-tier forensic laboratory, based on findings obtained by the Baltimore Police Department. The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) has singled out the BPD’s Crime Lab for operating at an impressive level of over 90% peak efficiency, placing it among an elite group of fourteen forensic labs distinguished this year.
As the FORESIGHT Maximus Award increasingly attracts international participation, the accolade showcases peak-performing laboratories globally and was presented during ASCLD’s Annual Symposium. State's Attorney Ivan J. Bates commended the Crime Lab's role in upholding the integrity of Baltimore's criminal justice system and highlighted its contribution to effective prosecutions, as he stated, as per Baltimore Police news release, "Their exceptional work not only empowers us to construct robust cases for prosecution but also significantly enhances our capacity to deliver justice for victims, ensuring that offenders are held accountable."
Under the leadership of Chief Rana DellaRocco, the BPD’s Crime Lab encompasses 15 different laboratories and boasts one of the broadest scopes of accreditation in the nation, this summer the lab plans to continue its outreach programs which include hosting the 2nd Annual Forensic Science Summer Academy in conjunction with Loyola University Maryland for high school students and a Forensic Workshop aimed at facilitating the local educators in the state.
