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Tri County Regional Forensic Laboratory

Laboratory Services Guide

Introduction

In February of 2008, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office entered into a cooperative agreement with Wright and Sherburne Counties to make possible a Tri County Regional Forensic Laboratory.  This agreement combines the resources of the three counties in order to provide forensic laboratory services to its citizens.  Through a collaborative agreement with Hamline University, the laboratory is currently working with students who are interested in a career in forensic science.  Future plans include laboratory accreditation and DNA analysis. 

Forensic Services

The Tri-County Regional Forensic Laboratory offers services to local law enforcement agencies within the counties of Anoka, Sherburne, and Wright in the following forensic disciplines: 

Latent Prints

• Chemical development of latent prints to include DFO, Ninhydren, and Physical Developer
• Brush & Powder techniques
• Sticky side powder development
• Alternate Light Source (ALS) examinations
• Macro photography
• Ridge detail comparison and identification
• Cyanoacrylate (Superglue) fuming
• Midwest Automated Fingerprint Identification Network (MAFIN) participation is planned for the future

Drug Chemistry

• Preliminary testing of street drugs
• Confirmatory testing of street drugs
• Identification of pharmaceutical products
• Purity determination on cocaine and methamphetamine
• Weight and quantity determinations
• Blood Alcohol Content Testing for blood kits

General Guidelines for Evidence Submission

Evidence Condition: Before evidence is received into the laboratory, it must meet the following criteria:

• All cases submitted MUST be accompanied by a Request for Laboratory Examination form.  This form is also available in hard copy form at the lab.

• All items of evidence must be individually packaged
• Each package must be tape sealed
• Tape seals must be initialed and dated across the seal
• Each package must contain the following:
  • Case number
  • Evidence item number

Evidence Submission: Lockers are provided for evidence submitted by Anoka County Sheriff’s Office personnel only.  All other evidence will be accepted in-person between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Prohibited Items:

• Explosives
• Chemicals
• Gasoline, flammable liquids, or solvents
• Syringes with attached needles

Hamline University Student Internship Program

The Tri County Regional Forensic Laboratory provides a unique collaborative agreement between the laboratory and Hamline University.  The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office and the Tri County Regional Forensic Laboratory are excited at the prospects of this agreement and are proud to be one of the first in the nation to implement this type of partnership.  This agreement offers Hamline students an opportunity for observation, as well as hands-on instruction in the laboratory and at the crime scene. 

Hamline students who are interested in an internship are requested to: 1) contact their advisor who will provide a letter of recommendation, and 2) complete the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Application for Hamline University Student Internship.  In order to be considered, the letter of recommendation and application must be received by the Sheriff’s Office.

Anoka County Sheriff's Office Crime Lab

The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab provides services outside the scope of the Tri County Regional Forensic Laboratory.  Its main responsibility is crime scene processing.  For more information, please refer to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab page.