Credit: Idaho State Police
Two recently released reports are showcasing the efforts of the Idaho State Police Forensic Services (ISPFS) in fiscal year 2024.
The Impact Report, issued by ISPFS itself, highlights programs, initiatives and specific cases that ISPFS championed. Meanwhile, the Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit Annual Report, issued by the Idaho State Legislature, details ISPFS’s ongoing commitment to the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.
Impact Report
In 2024, ISPFS created a drug overdose pilot project to assist state coroners with the financial burdens of toxicology testing. Under the program, the ISPFS lab performs a rapid toxicology screening on suspected or potential drug overdose deaths with a two-business day turnaround time at no cost to the submitting agency. ISPFS personnel then input the results into ODMap, a program that collects data on drug-related hotspots across the state and nation, and is available to all enrolled first responder agencies. In it’s inaugural year, 19 county coroners participated in the program, and the 2025 program is already operational and available for all counties who are interested—new and old.
Under the lawfully owned DNA initiative, ISPFS identified all DNA samples of sex offenders for each of the 44 counties in the state, and referred back to county sex offender registry for collection. In all, 1,414 DNA collection kits have been distributed under the program, with 498 of those returned.
Idaho trained 61 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) this year, totaling 261 trained nurses in the state—exceeding the goal of 250 nurses by 2024, which was originally set in 2019. Of those trained, Idaho has 21 SANE-A (adult) and 4 SANE-P (pediatric) certified providers. The ISPFS SANE program has also facilitated the development of three formal sexual assault response teams serving five counties.
Digital forensics has transitioned to ISPFS with anticipated accreditation coming in 2025. ISPFS Digital Forensic Scientists are International Association of Computer Investigative Specialist-certified and continue to serve the state by providing forensic examination of all digital media; onsite imaging capabilities; digital evidence search warrant and subpoena assistance; expert witness court testimony; and video/audio enhancement.
In addition to these programs, the report highlights the following data:
- 13,806 controlled substance samples analyzed
- 28,117 items of evidence analyzed
- 15,408 cases worked
- 481 DNA cases completed
- 4,213 entries into CODIS
- 271 forensic
- 3,444 offenders
- 498 lawfully owned
- 99 contacts made by ISPFS Victim Services Specialist
“Timely forensic science analysis is vital to the success of the Idaho judicial system. Support from Idaho policymakers has been essential in the successes of the state laboratory system,” said ISPFS in the report. “The lab system employees will continue to work for Idaho citizens and other criminal justice stakeholders. Many new and ongoing forensic science initiatives will keep our Idaho forensic science lab system leading the country with innovative ideas.”
Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit Annual Report
For years, Idaho has been a national leader in the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. In January 2017, the state became the first to implement a sexual assault evidence collection kit tracking system. The innovative system, which provides transparency and accountability, allows survivors and the public to track kits without requiring a login.
“It also empowers survivors to engage with law enforcement, forensic laboratories, and Idaho legislators. It has fostered a more transparent and supportive environment for those impacted by sexual violence,” said Matthew Gamette, ISPFS Laboratory Systems Director. “Our commitment to justice for survivors and the integrity of forensic processes is unwavering.”
The report highlights the following data:
- 427 kits tested by ISPFS
- 640 sexual assault evidence collection kits purchased
- 579 sexual assault evidence collection kits distributed
- 457 kits collected statewide
- 78 kits not submitted to ISPFS laboratory under subsection 8
- 40 DNA database hits from kit evidence results
- 32 unresolved DNA database hits
- 178 kits completed without required reference samples
- 101 SAKI cold case cases triaged
- 15 SAKI code case cases opened
“This annual report underscores ISPFS’s dedication to continuous improvement in forensic processes, transparency, and service to the public, instilling confidence in our stakeholders and the public,” the laboratory said in a statement.