New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory – providing “state-of-the art” scientific analysis every day

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory stands as a "model of scientific precision and integrity, where expert analysts, rigorous training, cutting-edge technology, and state-of-the-art facilities" unite in pursuit of justice.

From firearms and toolmark analysis to DNA, latent fingerprints, controlled substances, and evidence processing, every examination reflects an "unwavering commitment to accuracy and veracity," per Forensic Laboratory Director Katharina Babcock, MBA.

From right to left is Roslynd Archuleta, Kayla Lopez, Seth Torres, Minuet Whitney (all Forensic Scientists in the DNA Unit) discuss findings in the laboratory.

"Our mission is to deliver unbiased, science-based results that inspire confidence and serve the people of New Mexico," said Babcock.

"I think the lab is extremely important to all communities in New Mexico. I don't know anyone who's not touched by crime in one way or another, from the lowest level of crime to the most heinous offense," said Babcock, who herself has been affected by burglary and other crimes involving loved ones. "We take our work very seriously knowing that the results may be used to determine someone's guilt or innocence and sentencing in a New Mexico court of law."

"We play a support role for law enforcement, but we are not law enforcement," said Forensic Laboratory Quality Assurance Director Dr. William Watson, who transitioned from research to forensic science. "We play a support role for the judicial system, but again, we're not the legal system. We're scientists that act as advocates for the evidence."

Forensic Laboratory Director Katharina Babcock and Quality Assurance Director Dr. William Watson at the lab in Santa Fe.

Laboratory employees come from diverse professional and educational backgrounds. Most of the positions require at least a bachelor's degree in science, such as biology or chemistry, or even physics, though exceptions do exist. Analytical skills and the ability to exchange constructive feedback are essential, according to Babcock, who has a background in forensic firearms and tool marks identification and takes pride in providing "stellar" scientific analysis to clients, and ultimately the courts.

The Forensic Laboratory operates three regional forensic labs - in Santa Fe, Las Cruces and Hobbs, serving about 300 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies, as well as 13 judicial district and federal courts throughout New Mexico. The workload is heavy, and the mission is always in the forefront.

Teresa Vigil-Miranda of the Forensic Scientist Latent Fingerprint Unit does a visual examination of evidence for latent fingerprints.

"Not only do the forensic laboratories receive cases from 300 law enforcement client agencies, but all court-qualified scientists testify throughout the state, so we're very busy," said Babcock, who enjoys solving complex problems and has always had a calling for public service and helping others.

In Fiscal Year 2025, the laboratory's forensic scientists analyzed more than 17,539 evidence items from 6,746 criminal cases submitted from agencies statewide.

"The New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory has a great reputation, and we've worked hard in achieving this in many different ways," said Babcock, a graduate of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms National Firearms Examiner Academy.

Laurie Washington of the Forensic Scientist DNA Unit - transfers reagents from a microcentrifuge tube with a micropipette.

Excellence through training and technology

Continuous training ensures that employees maintain technical proficiency, testify effectively in court and mitigate cognitive bias. Training for each specialty is intensive and can take from one to four years to complete. Additionally, the lab provides outside training such as cognitive bias in forensic decisions with Dr. Itiel Dror and mock trial testimony training with real attorneys in a courtroom. Each scientist goes through the necessary training to be fully certified to conduct independent casework. Scientists are competency tested after initial training and then proficiency tested each year by outside vendors to ensure ongoing proficiency. Finally, laboratory employees are encouraged to join professional associations to network with outside forensic experts to supplement their experience and skills.

"There's not a single person here who's conducting casework that is not an expert witness," said Babcock. "The mock testimony portion of a trainee's career progression to the next level as a signed off forensic scientist is really important - it is a culmination of all of their training here at the lab."

Seth Torres of the Forensic Scientist DNA Unit transfers reagents with a micropipette.

In addition to the training, the lab has top-of-the-line equipment needed to ensure precise information to support results of findings according to Watson.

"Our laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art forensic technology, from genetic analyzers to precision firearms comparison microscopes," said Watson. "Each piece of equipment has a different purpose in essentially meeting the mission. We have gas chromatograph mass spectrometers in the chemistry unit that are the gold standard for chemistry analysis; without this type of equipment, much of our testing would not be possible."

Adam Wolff of the Forensic Scientist Chemistry Unit does a calibration check of a balance.

Chemistry Unit - Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer.

Watson noted that recent advances in forensic technology have significantly enhanced the lab's capabilities. Along with the advanced equipment, there is also a first-class forensic laboratory building in Santa Fe, which opened in 2024 and is four times the size of the previous lab.

"For anyone that's not familiar with the previous laboratory, it was much smaller," said Watson. "It was more restrictive and spread out, making it difficult to interact well as a group. Having a larger, and less segmented facility allows greater collaboration between all the different forensic disciplines than was previously possible."

Another advantage is the new lab has its own in-facility shooting range and water recovery tank, which has helped save time with firearms testing. With the quadrupled additional space, more equipment was added; this has helped with efficiency, per Babcock.

"The new lab has allowed us to add technical and support staff, which has resulted in turning around cases much faster and decreasing backlogs," said Babcock. "We've also added new DNA, controlled substances and firearms equipment and there is more room to store large items for the Latent Prints Unit, allowing the Evidence Unit more space to do their work to serve client agencies as well as the scientific staff."

Firearm & Toolmark Unit - water tank bullet recovery system.

Watson summed up his overall perspective of the mission of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory: "The people that work in this laboratory are detail oriented and focused. My job wouldn't be possible without their dedication. Everyone here works very hard to do the best job they can. That's what I like most about my job, the great people I get to work with. We serve the citizens of New Mexico, and it is critical for us that they understand and trust in the work that we do for them. We are advocates for the evidence, for the results that the tests generate; we are not for one side or the other."

Kevin Streine, Forensic Scientist Supervisor, Firearm & Toolmark Unit - examining cartridge cases on a comparison microscope

Myths about Forensic Laboratories

Contrary to Hollywood portrayals, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory is not a shadowy world of badge-wielding scientists and dramatic experimentation, but a bright, disciplined environment where highly trained professionals follow precise, validated protocols to deliver credible, science-based results.

First, employees at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory largely do not go out to crime scenes and are not armed with badges. Another myth is that the lab is in the dark, strangely lit. For the most part, employees work in bright and open spaces.

"Also, a lot of people think that we're introverts," said Watson. "I tend to find that most of the people that work in this field are not introverted at all, they are just like everyone else - they enjoy interacting with others.

"One of the things pop culture often gets wrong is the idea that we do a lot of experimentation, that we're going to try a bunch of different things that we've never done before to get an answer. That's not the way it works. We work with very specific protocols and procedures that have been validated and tested hundreds of times before they're ever used on evidence and that's because testing of evidence must be done in a controlled way. Mad scientists don't exist in our field."

Story by New Mexico Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer John Heil. Photos by DPS Media Relations Unit - Curtis Althaus and Payton Santillanes.

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