SACRAMENTO – In the world of forensic science and criminal justice, there is a group of public safety professionals that sometimes goes unnoticed.  These professionals respond to homicide scenes, they are involved in rape investigations, and investigations into crimes against children.  They have seen the tragedy and pain of school and mass shootings.   Their jobs involve gathering latent print evidence, making impressions of latent prints, taking fingerprints from unknown deceased persons, conducting cold case searches in an automated database, preparing court exhibits, and testifying in court.

“California Department of Justice latent print analysts are an incredible asset to law enforcement, the criminal justice system and public safety,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “These professionals work day and night to assist in the identification and prosecution of the guilty and to exonerate the innocent.  Without their work, many cases would remain unsolved and prosecutions would be unsuccessful.”

California Governor Jerry Brown recognized National Forensic Week, with the letter below: