Porter Lee

What Porter Lee does

Porter Lee Corporation is a privately held forensic software vendor founded in 1995 and headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. The company develops the Crime Fighter BEAST (Bar Coded Evidence Analysis Statistics and Tracking) platform, an integrated forensic Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for crime laboratories and an Evidence Management System (EMS) for police agencies. BEAST uses PDF417 barcode technology and an Oracle database backend to maintain chain-of-custody records from the crime scene through property room, laboratory analysis, and final disposition, and is positioned by the company as the only provider offering this full end-to-end tracking capability.

The product portfolio has expanded into adjacent modules including a DNA Analysis Module (with Tecan Freedom EVO and BioMek 2000 integrations), MedEx Medical Examiner System, COBIS Combined Ballistic Identification System, CODNA Convicted Offender Database, CHECKPOINT Sexual Assault Kit Tracking, and a QMS Quality Management System. Porter Lee also resells and bundles complementary hardware from Zebra, Janam, and Topaz Systems, and consumables (barcode labels and ribbons), making it effectively a software-plus-hardware vendor for forensic and law enforcement workflows.

Porter Lee operates a direct, sales-led go-to-market targeting state, county, and municipal police agencies as well as ANAB/ASCLD/LAB-accredited forensic crime laboratories. The company reports more than 1,068 customers across 680+ police departments and 95+ crime labs spanning the United States and international markets. Revenue is generated through software licenses and subscriptions, hardware sales, recurring consumables, and professional services (installation, training, and support). The firm is ISO 9001:2015 certified. The co-founders, Mike Evans and Tim Smith, originally built the product under contract to the Northern Illinois Police Crime Lab and have operated as a small (1-10 employee) bootstrapped private company for over 25 years.

Name

Porter Lee

Legal name

Porter Lee Corporation

Website

https://porterlee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Porter Lee Corporation provides the Crime Fighter BEAST forensic LIMS and evidence management system, serving U.S. and international police departments and accredited crime laboratories with barcode-based chain-of-custody tracking and related software, hardware, and supplies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forensic Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS)

akta.pro primary industry

Criminal Investigations & Forensics (Detectives, Crime Labs, CSI) (BPAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Forensic LIMS software
• Evidence management system
• Chain of custody tracking
• Law enforcement software
• Crime lab solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaumburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Core software products including LIMS, EMS, DNA Analysis Module, Medical Examiner System, CODNA, COBIS, QMS, CHECKPOINT - sold to law enforcement and forensic lab customers
2. Hardware Sales: Sale of barcode hardware including Zebra barcode scanners, barcode printers, portable scanners (TC21), and signature capture pads (Topaz SignatureGem)
3. Supplies: Consumable supplies including barcode labels (various sizes including 3.25x0.875" and 4x5") and Zebra barcode ribbons for desktop and warehouse printers
4. Professional Services: Installation, training, and ongoing support services provided to customers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Porter Lee Corporation sells the Crime Fighter BEAST platform, which combines a Forensic Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for crime laboratories and an Evidence Management System (EMS) for police agencies, using PDF417 barcode technology to maintain chain-of-custody records from crime scene through property room, crime lab, and final disposition. The company also offers add-on modules (DNA Analysis, MedEx Medical Examiner, CODNA Convicted Offender Database, COBIS Ballistic Identification, QMS Quality Management, CHECKPOINT Sexual Assault Kit Tracking) plus complementary hardware (Zebra scanners/printers, Janam portable scanners, Topaz signature pads) and consumable supplies.

Product overview

Porter Lee offers the Crime Fighter BEAST (Bar Coded Evidence Analysis Statistics and Tracking) as a unified integrated software platform combining Forensic LIMS for crime laboratories and Evidence Management System (EMS) for police agencies. The BEAST platform utilizes PDF417 barcode technology for evidence tracking and chain-of-custody management. The product ecosystem includes specialized add-on modules: DNA Analysis Module for DNA workflow automation, MedEx Medical Examiner System for coroner case management, CODNA Convicted Offender Database for DNA databanking, COBIS Ballistic Identification System for firearm evidence, CHECKPOINT Sexual Assault Kit Tracking for multi-stakeholder kit management, and QMS Quality Management System for document control. The company also provides complementary hardware including Zebra barcode scanners, portable Janam scanners, barcode printers, labels, ribbons, and Topaz signature capture pads. All products are specifically designed for law enforcement and forensic science environments, serving crime labs, medical examiners, police departments, and courts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BEAST (Bar Coded Evidence Analysis Statistics and Tracking): The Crime Fighter BEAST software program provides Forensic Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for crime labs and Evidence Management System (EMS) for police agencies.
• COBIS (Combined Ballistic Identification System)
• CODNA (Convicted Offender Database)
• MedEx (Medical Examiner System)
• CHECKPOINT (Sexual Assault Kit Tracking)
• Crime Fighter BEAST
• PLC Remote Inventory Software

Products and services

• Crime Fighter BEAST (Bar Coded Evidence Analysis Statistics and Tracking) Integrated Forensic Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) for crime laboratories and Evidence Management System (EMS) for police agencies, using PDF417 barcode technology to maintain an unbreakable chain-of-custody record from crime scene through property room, crime lab, and final disposition. Designed for law enforcement agencies and forensic crime laboratories.
• LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) Forensic Laboratory Information Management System providing complete laboratory management capabilities for crime laboratories, including sample data entry, screening, extraction, quantitation, amplification, analysis, and report writing.
• EMS (Evidence Management System) Evidence Management System for police agencies to track property and evidence, facilitating chain-of-custody, transfer to forensic laboratories, and reporting.
• DNA Analysis Module DNA processing workflow module integrated with the BEAST LIMS that automates sample data entry, screening, extraction, quantitation, amplification, analysis, and report writing, with interfaces for automation workstations such as Tecan Freedom EVO and BioMek 2000.
• MedEx (Medical Examiner System) Medical Examiner and Coroner system providing case management, body tracking, autopsy sample management, toxicology ordering, and integrated lab evidence submission and chain-of-custody tracking.
• CODNA (Convicted Offender Database) Automated convicted offender DNA databank fully integrated with the Crime Fighter BEAST LIMS, providing imaging of submission forms, CMF file transfers to outside labs, and website submissions and searches.
• COBIS (Combined Ballistic Identification System Database) Automated electronic pistol and revolver ballistic databank fully integrated with the Crime Fighter BEAST LIMS, providing complete chain-of-custody history for ballistic submissions with automated reporting and tracking.
• QMS (Quality Management System) Quality Management System providing document version management, access control, and workflow management that integrates with the LIMS for complete quality management from evidence collection through analysis, return, and final disposition.
• CHECKPOINT (Sexual Assault Kit Tracking Module) Sexual Assault Kit Tracking module with web portals for Sexual Assault Kit Vendors, Health Care Facilities, Victims, Law Enforcement Agencies, Laboratories, and States Attorney Offices, featuring barcode-based kit tracking, anonymous victim login, status updates, and custody documentation.
• TC21 Portable Scanner Mobile handheld device for capturing remote transfers and inventories in BEAST system and asset management packages, featuring signature capture, batch uploads, and reconciliation reports.
• Zebra Barcode Scanners Barcode scanner hardware including LS2208, LI4278, DS8178, DS2208, DS2278, and DS3678 models from Zebra for various scanning requirements.
• Barcode Labels Standard barcode labels in various sizes (3.25x0.875 inches, 4x5 inches) for identifying evidence packages, storage locations, and containers, available in white and yellow stock colors.
• Barcode Ribbons Resin cartridge ribbons for barcode printers providing solvent resistance for harsh environments, including 200/300 DPI desktop printer ribbons and high volume warehouse ribbons.
• Signature Capture Pads Topaz SignatureGem LCD signature capture tablets with electronic signature capture capability for use with BEAST applications on PC devices with touch screens.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ laboratory customers comprising 97 laboratory sites using LIMS system
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• OraclecoreTechnology or IntegrationOracle provides a scalable and reliable backend database solution which can interface seamlessly with all PLC applications. Database information may be stored on Oracle servers.
• ZebracoreTechnology or IntegrationZebra provides technology to bring seamless and dependable barcode printing and reliable point-and-shot barcode scanning. Porter Lee uses Zebra barcode scanners (LS2208, LI4278, DS8178, DS2208, DS2278, DS3678) and Zebra printer ribbons.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JusticeTrax: Forensic LIMS provider serving law enforcement crime labs with workflow, case management, and evidence tracking functionality. Closely comparable to Porter Lee's BEAST LIMS in target customer and product scope.
• STACS (STACS Inc.): Provides forensic LIMS software to law enforcement and crime laboratories, including track evidence and case management. Direct competitor to Porter Lee's BEAST LIMS in the public-safety forensic market.
• FileOnQ: Evidence management software for law enforcement agencies, covering property room, chain of custody, and digital evidence workflows. Direct peer in the police-side evidence tracking space that Porter Lee's EMS targets.
• Tracker Products: Evidence tracking and property management software built for law enforcement agencies, including chain-of-custody and case management. Comparable to Porter Lee's EMS and CHECKPOINT modules in workflow and customer profile.
• QueTel: Offers property/evidence management and asset management software for law enforcement, corrections, and government agencies. Direct peer in the police evidence management market served by BEAST EMS.
• EvidenceOnQ: Evidence management software vendor serving police agencies with chain-of-custody and property room functionality. Closely comparable to Porter Lee's core EMS offering in both product and target customer.
• Mideo Systems: Provider of evidence management and digital evidence tracking solutions for law enforcement. Direct peer in the police evidence software market where Porter Lee's BEAST EMS competes.

Broad incumbents

• LabWare: Major enterprise LIMS vendor serving pharmaceutical, environmental, and forensic laboratories. Less specialized in law enforcement than Porter Lee, but competes in the same forensic LIMS RFPs and has far greater scale.
• STARLIMS: Established LIMS provider covering multiple industries including public health and forensics. A broader incumbent with greater resources than Porter Lee, but less domain-specialized in ASCLD/LAB-aligned law enforcement workflows.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific (SampleManager LIMS): Global scientific instruments and LIMS provider (SampleManager) used across regulated laboratory environments including forensics. Overlaps with Porter Lee's BEAST LIMS in the lab information management layer, but from a much broader portfolio perspective.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/porterleecorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/porter-lee-corporation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Porter Lee