The Alabama Forensic Sciences Department is again facing deep budget cuts due to the funding crisis in the state's general fund.

It started in 2009, when budget cuts forced 27 staffers statewide to be let go, mostly forensic scientists. All labs statewide are operating on $5 million dollars less a year, and three offices were forced to close in July.

The agency gets 65,000 cases every year statewide. Of those 17,000 drug and 1,500 toxicology cases are backlogged. Case loads have not decreased over the past several years, but budgets have been cut dramatically.

Now it looks as though things may get worse with a $400 million dollar cut expected for next year's general fund budget.

Sources: WSFA
WHNT NEWS 19
Times-Journal