The Investigations and Forensic Science Program manages, coordinates, and provides investigative and forensic services through headquarters and seven regional operations centers located in Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa Bay, Miami, and Ft. Myers. The program conducts independent investigations and coordinates multi-jurisdictional and major impact criminal investigations with local, state, and federal authorities within FDLE’s major focus areas: domestic security, major drugs, violent crime, public integrity, and fraud/economic crime.

The program coordinates and directs counterterrorism and domestic security preparedness efforts for the state of Florida, through seven Regional Domestic Security Task Forces, the Office of Statewide Intelligence, and regional counterterrorism squads. The program also offers forensic services on physical evidence collected and submitted for analysis by law enforcement agencies and/or collected by FDLE’s crime scene teams through six regional crime laboratories.

• Crime Laboratory Services offers forensic services on physical evidence collected and submitted for analysis by law enforcement agencies and/or collected by FDLE’s crime scene teams. Through six regional crime laboratories, it provides expert and professional examination of evidentiary materials to aid in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses by using the latest technology and techniques in the following forensic disciplines: biology/DNA, chemistry, crime scene, digital evidence, DNA database, firearms, latent prints, impression evidence, questioned documents, toxicology, and trace evidence. The crime laboratories are located in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando, Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Tampa.
• Investigative Services conducts independent investigations and coordinates multi-jurisdictional and major impact criminal investigations with local, state, and federal authorities within FDLE’s major focus areas: violent crime, economic crime, drug crime, public integrity, computer crime, and domestic security/counterterrorism. The program is responsible for administering the Florida Mutual Aid Plan, which coordinates state and local law enforcement response during a declared state of emergency, including natural or man-made mass disasters. In addition, FDLE serves as the agency responsible for coordinating and directing counterterrorism efforts for the state of Florida, and works closely with the Division of Emergency Management and other federal, state, and local agencies to implement Florida’s Domestic Security strategy.

In Fiscal Year 2021-22, FDLE’s crime labs received over 75,000 service requests, a decrease from over 82,000 received the previous year.  The crime labs completed 68,765 of these requests. The average turnaround time across all laboratory disciplines, which include drugs, firearms, and toxicology, increased by 41% due to salary and budget restrictions, new member training, vacancies and COVID-19 absences.

The Florida Convicted Felon DNA Database is a statewide automated personal identification system capable of classifying, matching and storing analyses of DNA molecules. The database uses DNA samples from individuals arrested or convicted of crimes as mandated under s. 943.325, Florida Statutes, including, but not limited to, sexual assault, lewdness/indecent exposure, murder, robberies, kidnapping, assault/battery, burglary, felony firearm violations, and thefts. FDLE uses the database to compare these samples to DNA from unresolved cases in an attempt to identify perpetrators.

In Fiscal Year 2021-22, FDLE added approximately 58,600 samples to the database and reported 4,835 matches, similar to the 58,898 samples added and 5,238 matches reported in Fiscal Year 2020-21.  The department reported that staff vacancies and COVID-19 absences created a backlog which contributed to the decreased sample submissions.

In Fiscal Year 2021-22, FDLE program staff conducted 2,327 criminal investigations, compared to 2,470 criminal investigations in Fiscal Year 2020-21.

Rapid DNA Grant Program. The 2023 Florida Legislature passed Ch. 2023-234, Laws of Florida, creating the Rapid DNA Grant Program within the FDLE. The program allows FDLE to annually award funds to county jails or sheriff's offices to cover expenses related to the purchasing of DNA testing machines and other necessary supplies.  

DNA Evidence Collected in Sexual Offense Investigations. The 2021 Florida Legislature passed Ch. 2021-213, Laws of Florida, also known as Gail's Law.  It requires FDLE to create and maintain statewide database for tracking sexual offense evidence kits, the purpose of which is to track the location, processing status, and storage of sexual assault evidence kits (SAKs). Beginning with SAKs collected after the database is implemented, they will be tracked from evidence collection throughout the criminal justice process. The database must be created no later than July 1, 2023, and is subject to appropriation by the Legislature. Law enforcement agencies and the alleged victim who reported the crime will have access to the database and be notified of matches between the SAK evidence and a person's DNA stored in local, state, or federal databases. The department is required to notify each alleged victim or their representative about the database with instruction on how to access it. In implementing the database, in Fiscal Year 2021-22, FDLE staff procured a tool, received a federal grant, and began a four-county pilot project. In May 2023, the department implemented a final state-wide web-based tracking system, allowing survivors to monitor the location and processing of their sexual assault kits.

Other Reports
DNA Database Brochure, Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Crime Laboratory Evidence Submission Manual, Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Auditor General reports on department operations are available on its website

Websites of Interest
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies

Performance Information

850-410-7000
Website