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Other Links: MN DOC - Level 3 Predatory Offender Website
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Mission Statement
BCA Laboratory Celebrates 60 Years of Service to Minnesota
As the laboratory began to grow, it moved its location to 1246 University Avenue in 1962. In 1969, it became a division of the Department of Public Safety. Renovations took place at the University Avenue location from 1978-1980. In 1990, the BCA became one of the nation’s first forensic laboratories to offer DNA analysis. Shortly thereafter, the BCA was the first laboratory in the country to identify a suspect based solely on DNA.
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The
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Forensic Science Laboratory became operational
on January 1st, 1947 in the Shubert Building at 488 North Wabasha Street
in Saint Paul. The entire laboratory occupied 350 square feet. It began
as a one-person laboratory offering chemical analysis and microscopy.
With
the increasing demand for forensic services a 26,000 square foot regional
laboratory located in Bemidji was opened in 2001. In 2003, the Saint Paul
headquarters moved to its present location on Maryland Avenue. The Saint
Paul headquarters is a state of the art facility housing the BCA’s
Forensic Science, Investigative, CriMNet, and Criminal Justice Information
Services. The building is 224,000 square feet with almost 106,000 square
feet occupied by the laboratory.
In
2004, the laboratory became one of four laboratories in the nation selected
by the FBI to serve as a regional mitochondrial DNA laboratory. Today
both Saint Paul and Bemidji laboratories continue their efforts to be
leaders in developing and employing the latest in forensic technology
with a combined staff of almost 100.