Memphis, Shelby County Gain Two Dedicated Forensic Scientists at Jackson Crime Lab

Memphis and Shelby County have reached an agreement with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to have two forensic scientists dedicated exclusively to handling Memphis Police Department cases at the TBI's Jackson crime lab, aiming to expedite evidence testing, especially DNA and ballistics analysis. This arrangement, supported by Tennessee Senator Brent Taylor and Memphis Mayor Paul Young, is seen as a cost-effective and collaborative solution to address the backlog of evidence processing without the need to build a new crime lab in Memphis. The estimated first-year cost per scientist is approximately $156,700, with recurring annual costs around $140,200, which the city will cover either by directly hiring the scientists or reimbursing the state. The initiative originated from discussions among Shelby County mayors, police chiefs, and TBI leadership earlier this year and has been incorporated into the city's budget proposal. Mayor Young has expressed strong support for embedding two scientists, doubling the initial suggestion of one, to speed up lab results for Memphis cases. This development has been publicly communicated through letters, city council meetings, and news outlets, highlighting the importance of collaboration in enhancing local crime lab capabilities.