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: violent crime, economic crime, drug crime, public integrity, computer crime and domestic security/counterterrorism.

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.

For Fiscal Year 2019-20, FDLE’s crime labs completed 76,970 service requests compared to 85,338 service requests in Fiscal Year 2018-19.

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 2019-20, FDLE added 91,561 samples to the database and reported 5,138 matches, compared to the 79,426 samples added and 5,012 matches reported in Fiscal Year 2018-19.

In Fiscal Year 2019-20, FDLE program staff conducted 2,093 criminal investigations, compared to 2,100 criminal investigations in Fiscal Year 2018-19.

DNA Evidence Collected in Sexual Offense Investigations. The 2021 Florida Legislature passed Chapter 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.

DNA Database. The 2019 Florida Legislature enacted Ch. 2019-91, Laws of Florida, which makes it possible to use a match between casework evidence DNA samples from a criminal investigation and DNA samples from a state or federal DNA database to establish probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant. A judge must still determine that the initial DNA match is sufficient probable cause for an arrest, and has the option to issue a search warrant to acquire a second sample when deemed necessary.

Other Reports
DNA Database Brochure, Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Crime Laboratory Services Brochure, 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