This Day in History: November 24, 1932
Today's famed television series Bones, CSI and NCIS demonstrate the capabilities of a scientific laboratory. Whether forensic or physical evidence, it always ends up in the lab. For us in the 21st century, the tiniest bit of evidence can make or break a case. Even past evidence can be screened and scrutinized to the point of uncovering critical information. Yet, it has not always been this way.
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Special Agent Charles Appel |
On November 24, 1932, the FBI Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory officially opened in Washington, D.C. It did not contain any of the fancy modern equipment known today and operated out of a single room. That one room was selected simply because it contained the necessary sink. As for employees, no team, no different departments, simply one full-time employee, Agent Charles Appel.
John F. Fox, Jr. FBI Historian
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Technicians working in the FBI Technical Laboratory
In its early days, the FBI Crime Lab worked on about 200 pieces of
evidence a year. By the 1990s, that number multiplied to approximately
200,000. Currently, the FBI Crime Lab obtains 600 new pieces of criminal
evidence every day!
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