The Placer County Board of Supervisors allocated $2.5 million for historic program in partnership with the CSU system. Courtesy photo

ROSEVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Placer County Board of Supervisors moved the Placer County District Attorney’s Office forensic crime laboratory forward by entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Board of Trustees of the California State University. 

This key agreement is necessary to bring a much-needed resource to Placer County and the surrounding area. Currently, Placer County must rely on outside agencies for forensic testing, often resulting in delays in investigations, prosecutions, and ultimately, justice for all of those involved in the process.  

“Today marks another major milestone in both the development of a forensic sciences laboratory in Placer County as well as the continued commitment between Placer County and Sacramento State to create the most innovative and collaborative forensic lab in the country,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. 

“We will localize forensic testing in a way that prioritizes access to justice and public safety and promotes academic innovation and educational opportunities for the region.” 

“Sacramento State is incredibly excited to move forward with Placer County to build a forensic crime lab that will serve as a catalyst for the development of Sac State’s Placer campus. We want to thank the Board of Supervisors and the County CEO for their vision and commitment. This project is an exceptional demonstration of public collaboration and how strategic partnerships can benefit both the county and our university,” said Vice President of Advancement at Sacramento State University Micheal Reza. 

“We are thrilled to take the next step in the design-build process, and we look forward to developing philanthropic, academic, and economic development partnerships with businesses and community members to fuel Placer County’s growth. This helps us continue to build our existing partnership with the county and Sierra College to meet the workforce needs of the region. The new crime lab will not only support vital regional forensic services, but it will also house academic classrooms and create unparalleled opportunities for student and faculty research, grants, and internships.” 

The forensic lab is anticipated to be approximately 30,000 square feet, and will include dedicated University space for academic, administrative and other associated functions. The laboratory will provide forensics students with hands-on experience and training opportunities through the University’s criminal justice and forensic science programs, while also being a key part of the solution to local criminal justice forensic needs. 

There will be tangible benefits to the citizens of the county by reducing backlogs in the investigation of criminal cases and reducing court case continuances, which will enhance public safety in our community. The lab will also be designed to serve counties around the region, similar to the model used with the county’s coroner’s facility. 

In July of 2022, numerous discussions with stakeholders, including key Placer One decision-makers at California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), revealed high-level agreement and strong support for the collaborative development of a forensic science laboratory plan. 

In January of 2024, the Board of Trustees of California State University approved the Placer Center Master Plan set forth the master planning document for the Sacramento State- Placer Center campus, including the potential forensic lab. In February of 2024, the Placer County Board of Supervisors heard a presentation about the construction of a forensic services laboratory building at the Sacramento State- Placer Center and a potential partnership with Sacramento State for its forensics program. 

Today, the board allocated $2.5 million for this historic program in partnership with the CSU system. In 2015, the creation of a forensic crime laboratory was identified as a top priority in the Placer County Criminal Justice Master Plan.