Virginia Department of Forensic Science

What Virginia Department of Forensic Science does

The Virginia Department of Forensic Science (DFS) is a state government agency established under Virginia Code §9.1-1100 that provides accredited forensic laboratory services to Virginia's criminal justice system. It serves more than 400 law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, prosecutors, and courts across the Commonwealth. The agency operates four regional laboratories and is opening a consolidated Central Laboratory in Mechanicsville in June 2026.

Its service portfolio spans ten or more forensic disciplines, including DNA analysis, controlled substances identification, toxicology, digital and multimedia evidence, firearms and toolmarks, trace evidence, breath alcohol, and latent prints. A core technical asset is the Virginia DNA Data Bank, which holds more than 400,000 offender profiles integrated into the federal CODIS system and has generated tens of thousands of investigative matches. The agency has held continuous ANAB accreditation since 1989 and was the first state forensic laboratory in the U.S. to achieve national accreditation.

Operationally, DFS is funded through Commonwealth of Virginia appropriations rather than commercial revenue. It runs the Virginia Forensic Science Academy (117 sessions through 2026) training 600-700 officers annually and has expanded its educational reach to attorneys and judges. Recent product launches include the PERK Sexual Assault Kit Processing Unit (2024) and public-facing transparency dashboards for case statistics and seized drug data.

Name

Virginia Department of Forensic Science

Legal name

Virginia Department of Forensic Science

Website

https://dfs.virginia.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Virginia Department of Forensic Science is a state agency operating four accredited forensic laboratories plus a new Central Laboratory, providing DNA, drug, toxicology, digital, and trace evidence analysis to Virginia's law enforcement, medical examiners, prosecutors, and courts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forensic Laboratory Services

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Forensic Science & Crime Laboratories (Justice System Support) (BPAIAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Forensic laboratory services
• DNA analysis testing
• Controlled substances analysis
• Breath alcohol testing
• Crime scene evidence analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriation: DFS is a state government agency funded through Virginia state appropriations and budgets allocated by the General Assembly and Governor's Secretary of Public Safety.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Virginia Department of Forensic Science operates as a state government forensic laboratory system providing independent, science-based analyses of physical evidence submitted by law enforcement and the courts. Its core offerings include forensic biology (DNA), controlled substances identification, toxicology, breath alcohol testing, latent prints and impressions, firearms and toolmarks, trace evidence, and digital/multimedia evidence examination, supported by evidence receiving, a statewide DNA Data Bank, and forensic training through the Virginia Forensic Science Academy.

Product overview

Virginia Department of Forensic Science operates a system of four nationally accredited forensic laboratories (Central/Mechanicsville, Eastern/Norfolk, Northern/Manassas, Western/Roanoke) providing comprehensive forensic services to Virginia law enforcement agencies. The DFS portfolio includes core laboratory analysis services (Breath Alcohol, Controlled Substances, Digital & Multimedia Evidence, DNA Data Bank, Firearms & Toolmarks, Forensic Biology, Latent Prints, Toxicology, Trace Evidence) along with specialized products (Physical Evidence Recovery Kits, Narcotic Field Kits, Marijuana Field Tests). DFS also provides forensic training through the nine-week Virginia Forensic Science Academy and publishes public dashboards on case statistics and drug trends. The department maintains ANAB accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025 and FBI Quality Assurance Standards for DNA testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forensic Biology (DNA) Analysis Accredited DNA analysis and serology services performed on biological evidence submitted by law enforcement to support criminal investigations and prosecutions throughout Virginia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,000+ DNA matches recorded through CODIS leading to investigative leads and convictions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCJS provides data analysis for DFS drug trends reports and Criminal Justice Research Center supports dashboard visualization through the Office of Data Governance and Analytics.
• Virginia Department of Health - Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDFS regional laboratories are co-located with OCME district offices. The new Central Laboratory houses both DFS statewide offices and OCME statewide offices including the Central District office and State Anatomical Program.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)coreTechnology or IntegrationDFS participates in CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) - a national system of computer databases designed by the FBI to store DNA profiles. DFS provides DNA profiles for state and national level searches.
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)coreTechnology or IntegrationDFS participates in NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network) administered by ATF. DFS acquires digital images of cartridge cases for comparison against NIBIN database including ATF Zone 1 entries.
• Virginia State PolicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor law enforcement partner receiving DFS forensic services. Background investigations for DFS employees are completed through Virginia State Police. DFS Northern Laboratory serves Northern Virginia including State Police divisions.
• Virginia General AssemblycoreOthersDFS was created by state law in 1972 and became an independent Department in 2005 reporting to the Governor's Secretary of Public Safety. The General Assembly funds DFS through appropriations.
• Forensic Science BoardcoreOthersOversight board that specifies Director qualifications and functions under Virginia Code § 9.1-1100 et seq.
• Scientific Advisory CommitteecoreOthersAdvisory committee that the Director serves on; provides scientific guidance to DFS under § 9.1-1111 of Virginia Code.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• NMS Labs: Private commercial forensic laboratory providing toxicology, drug testing, and clinical forensic analysis to law enforcement, medical examiners, and legal clients nationwide. Comparable in toxicology and controlled substance analysis capabilities, but operates commercially and serves multi-state clients — providing contrast with DFS's state-mandated model.
• FBI Laboratory: FBI's federal forensic laboratory providing comprehensive forensic services across all major disciplines with national scope and authority. Broader incumbent operating at federal level with overlapping CODIS administration, DNA standards-setting, and multi-state case jurisdiction that intersects with state-level work.

Emerging players

• Bode Cellmark Forensics (Labcorp): Commercial forensic DNA testing laboratory providing paternity, criminal, and identification DNA analysis services. Comparable in forensic DNA analysis capability and CODIS participation, but operates as private commercial vendor rather than statutory state agency.

Direct peers

• Pennsylvania State Police Crime Laboratory: Pennsylvania state police-operated forensic laboratory providing multi-disciplinary forensic services to Pennsylvania law enforcement. Direct comparable in state-level forensic services delivery, ANAB accreditation, and regional laboratory network structure.
• Texas Department of Public Safety - Crime Laboratory Service: Texas state-operated forensic laboratory system providing multi-disciplinary forensic analysis (DNA, drugs, toxicology, firearms, digital evidence) to Texas law enforcement agencies under statutory authority. Direct comparable in operational scale and statewide service delivery model.
• New York State Police - Forensic Investigation Center: New York State Police-operated forensic laboratory providing comprehensive forensic services to New York law enforcement. Direct comparable in state-level law enforcement forensic services and ANAB accreditation standards.
• California Department of Justice - Bureau of Forensic Services: California's state-operated forensic laboratory system providing comprehensive multi-disciplinary forensic services (DNA, controlled substances, digital evidence, firearms, toxicology) to California law enforcement. Direct comparable in scope, statutory authority, and service breadth as the largest state forensic lab system.
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement - Crime Laboratory: Florida's statewide forensic laboratory system operating regional facilities providing DNA, drug, toxicology, firearms, and digital evidence analysis to Florida law enforcement. Direct comparable in regional laboratory network model and statutory mandate structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/vaforensicsci

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Virginia Department of Forensic Science