January 16, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Ramit Plushnick-Masti
Public Information Officer
media@houstonforensicscience.org
713-929-6768
The Crime Scene Unit will begin training Jan. 20, 2015 on the Faro 3D Laser Scanner.
This device does a 360-degree scan of a crime scene, collecting millions of
measurements to help with crime scene reconstruction. The scanner is the most
advanced form of crime scene documentation, and will help the Houston Forensic
Science Center’s crime scene investigators fill in gaps from the pictures, measurements
and sketches they make when processing evidence. In the long-term, the scanner will
make documentation of a crime scene more efficient and may help eliminate the need
for manual measurement-taking and sketches. The scanner will also help crime scene
investigators create a 3D jury friendly image for when they testify in court.
The Crime Scene Unit has two 3D scanners that cost about $80,000 and were paid for
with grants from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office and the Houston Police
Foundation.
Houston’s forensic operations, formerly known as the Houston Police Department
Crime Lab, have been managed by Houston Forensic Science Center, Inc., since April 3,
2014.
HFSC is overseen by a board of directors appointed by the Mayor of Houston and
approved by the Houston City Council. HFSC manages the independent forensic
operations that currently operate in eight disciplines.
Further information regarding HFSC is available at hfsctx.gov.
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