Credit: New Orleans Police Department
The New Orleans Police Department's (NOPD) Crime Lab has earned full accreditation for the first time in its history.
The accreditation was officially awarded on Nov. 18, 2025 by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) after their assessors conducted a thorough review of the NOPD Crime Lab's procedures, equipment & equipment validation, casework, training and overall quality of the system.
Historically, the crime lab's accreditation only covered firearms and crime scene investigation. With this new accreditation, the scope has expanded to include all the labs programs including drug chemistry, forensic biology (serology) and friction ridge (latent prints).
Now, for the first time, all of the services the lab currently provides are accredited. And most importantly, serology is now available for the first time since Hurricane Katrina.
The full scope includes:
- Firearms
- Drug Chemistry
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Forensic Biology (Serology)
- Friction Ridge (Latent Prints)
This is accreditation means the crime lab has been officially audited by outside experts and meets national standards for providing high-quality, reliable forensic work.
"This builds confidence in the forensic evidence used in investigations and court proceedings and shows the city's commitment to trustworthy, scientifically sound forensic services," explains Crime Lab Director Shamika Kelley.
The crime lab's DNA testing lab is on track to be operational by Dec. 31, 2027.
Republished courtesy of New Orleans Police Department