a question for law enforcent- how long does it take to get forensics and ballistics?

[w8liftinglady]

...
a link to The department of justice recommendations

https://ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/234457.pdf

[spin]

1. I'm not in law enforcement but ...

from what I understand in talking to local LEOs much depends on the importance of the case and the area of the country where it occurs. It could be as long as two or three months before an investigation has all the results.

[TheWraith]

2. Depends on a lot of factors.

I'm not law enforcement, but...

The actual testing can be done fairly quickly. However, when it actually gets done is dependent on a lot of things. When evidence is submitted, how it's submitted, to where... crime labs typically have extensive backlogs running to several weeks. Add to that, not every lab has every type of expert, although generally any of them will probably have someone who does ballistics. Jobs can also be rushed in time-sensitive cases. So really it's highly variable, anywhere from a day or two to a month depending on circumstances and logistics.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. Usually by the next commercial break