Connecticut General Statutes 29-7b – Division of Scientific Services
(a) There shall be within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection a Division of Scientific Services. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall serve as administrative head of such division, and may delegate jurisdiction over the affairs of such division to a deputy commissioner.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 29-7b
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
(b) The Division of Scientific Services shall provide technical assistance to law enforcement agencies in the various areas of scientific investigation. The division shall maintain facilities and services for the examination and analysis of evidentiary materials in areas including, but not limited to, chemistry, arson, firearms, questioned documents, microscopy, serology, toxicology, trace evidence, latent fingerprints, impressions and other similar technology. The facilities, services and personnel of the division shall be available, without charge, to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and all duly constituted prosecuting, police and investigating agencies of the state.
(c) The Division of Scientific Services: (1) May investigate any physical evidence or evidentiary material related to a crime upon the request of any federal, state or local agency, (2) may conduct or assist in the scientific field investigation at the scene of a crime and provide other technical assistance and training in the various fields of scientific criminal investigation upon request, (3) shall assure the safe custody of evidence during examination, (4) shall forward a written report of the results of an examination of evidence to the agency submitting such evidence, (5) shall render expert court testimony when requested, and (6) shall conduct ongoing research in the areas of the forensic sciences. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection or a director designated by the commissioner shall be in charge of the Division of Scientific Services operations and shall establish and maintain a system of case priorities and a procedure for submission of evidence and evidentiary security. The director of the Division of Scientific Services shall be in the unclassified service and shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner.
(d) In accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d, 4-38e and 4-39, all powers and duties of the Department of Public Health under the provisions of sections 14-227a, 14-227c, 15-140u and 21a-283 shall be transferred to the Division of Scientific Services within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.