§ 12-12-305 - Housing and equipment -- Functions. - Arkansas Statutes

12-12-305. Housing and equipment -- Functions.

(a) There shall be established under the supervision of the Executive Director of the State Crime Laboratory a central office and laboratory facility sufficient and adequate to house the various functions of the laboratory as set out in this subchapter and as may be necessary and proper for the laboratory to perform in carrying out its official duties and functions as provided by law.

(b) The laboratory shall have such equipment and personnel as is necessary to respond to the needs of all law enforcement agencies in the State of Arkansas with respect to the following functions:

(1) Forensic toxicology, which shall include, but is not limited to, chemical testing and analysis of body fluids and the performance of procedures to determine the presence and significance of toxic agents both in the investigation of death cases authorized by this subchapter and in other appropriate cases;

(2) Criminalistics, which shall include, but is not limited to, chemical testing of trace evidence, physical and microscopic analysis of evidence, questioned document examination and classification, latent fingerprint identification and classification, firearms and toolmarks identification and analysis, and serology;

(3) Drug analysis, which shall include, but is not limited to, analyzing and identifying substances suspected as being controlled, illicit, or contraband drugs;

(4) Pathology and biology, which shall include investigating and making a determination of the cause and manner of deaths which become subject to the jurisdiction of the State Medical Examiner as set out in 12-12-318 and shall include the general application of the medical sciences to assist the criminal justice system in the State of Arkansas; and

(5) Any other laboratory divisions, sections, or functions which, in the opinion of the State Crime Laboratory Board, may serve the needs of law enforcement in the State of Arkansas for laboratory analysis.