Forensic Laboratory

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Laboratory is responsible for the independent, objective, and accurate examination of physical evidence. The laboratory serves over twenty police agencies including federal, state, and local police departments. Our scientists are highly professional and well trained to provide a behind the scene supporting role to the criminal justice system.

We are a full service laboratory with national and state accreditation. Our mission is to provide quality and timely service to the law enforcement agencies and citizens of Niagara and surrounding counties.

The Forensic Laboratory is a unit within the Niagara County Sheriff's Office. The laboratory is divided into five (5) sections and an administrative section.

Services are offered to law enforcement agencies in the following disciplines:

Chemistry:

analysis of submitted evidence to determine the presence of controlled substances, tampered objects or food, caustic agents, and marijuana.

Firearms/Toolmarks:

analysis of weapons, ammunition, and those objects that are affected by either. Test firing of weapons and establishing operability. Restoring weapon identification markings and numbers. Examine tool marks to establish type, size, and unusual features of suspect tool.

Serology: recover, examine, and type blood and body fluids, hair and fibers encountered as evidence in criminal cases. Determine the source of physiological material by identification of its biological nature and genetic marker types by the use of appropriate immunological, biochemical, microscopial, and electrophoretic methods.

Toxicology:

perform a standard series of tests to assist the coroners and medical examiners determination of the cause of death. Quantitative analysis of biological fluids to determine BAC and drug levels. Analysis of probation department cases for presence of controlled substances or their metabolites.