The North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory (NLCL) Board of Directors met last week in Shreveport to discuss key initiatives and approve the operating budget for 2025, pending approval from local governing bodies across the 29 parishes it serves.

Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington, a board member, commented on the lab’s impact. “The North Louisiana Crime Lab is indispensable to our criminal justice system. The forensic services it provides—such as DNA analysis, firearms examinations, forensic toxicology, and drug chemistry—are crucial to ensuring justice is served accurately and fairly. Supporting the lab is essential for the continued integrity of our law enforcement efforts.”

Board Chairman Don Burkett, joined by NLCL System Director Dr. Joseph Jones, led the meeting, which included the participation of 25 law enforcement professionals from North Louisiana, including sheriffs, district attorneys, and coroners. Together, they oversee the laboratory’s operations and strategic direction.

Founded in 1970, the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory provides essential forensic services to law enforcement agencies across 29 parishes in the region. The lab is funded primarily through fees collected from court fines in criminal cases, with additional financial contributions from sheriffs and district attorneys.

During the meeting, the board approved the laboratory’s 2025 operating budget, which will be subject to ratification by the governing bodies in each of the 29 parishes.

The laboratory continues to serve a high volume of cases. Over the past four years, it has processed more than 900 cases for law enforcement in Natchitoches Parish alone. These cases included firearms examinations, criminal DNA tests, chemistry tests, and toxicology tests.

Editor’s Note: The Natchitoches Parish Council voted down adding the funding item to last Monday’s agenda for consideration.