FORENSIC LABORATORIES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT SINCE THEIR ESTABLISHMENT IN THE EARLY PART OF THE CENTURY. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FACILITIES HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE ADVANCES OF SCIENCE AND BY IMPORTANT NONSCIENTIFIC FACTORS, INCLUDING THE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS IMPOSED UPON LABORATORY FUNCTIONS. A QUESTIONNAIRE RETURNED BY 44 OF THE 141 LABORATORIES CONTACTED REVEALED THAT VAST DIFFERENCES EXIST IN THE BUDGETS OF THE VARIOUS FACILITIES. PER CAPITA EXPENDITURES RANGED FROM $.03 TO $1.65 FOR STATE AND LOCAL FACILITIES. STATE LABORATORIES APPEAR TO BE MAJOR RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL AID, WITH SUCH SUPPORT GENERALLY BEING USED TO IMPROVE EXISTING FACILITIES, RATHER THAN TO CONSTRUCT NEW ONES. DATA FURTHER REVEAL THAT FORENSIC SCIENCE PRACTITIONERS TEND TO BE YOUNG AND HAVE RELATIVELY LITTLE EXPERIENCE, BUT THEIR SALARIES ARE COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF NONFORENSIC LABORATORY SCIENTISTS WHOSE JOBS REQUIRE SIMILAR EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE. FEW OF THE FACILITIES REQUIRED A MASTER'S DEGREE FOR ANY OF THEIR POSITIONS. THESE MINIMUM EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS ARE NOT CONDUCIVE TO IMPROVING THE SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE OF FORENSIC SCIENTISTS. WHILE A MAJORITY OF THE RESPONDENT FACILITIES HAVE EXPERTISE OF A LABORATORY IS DEPENDENT UPON THE ABILITIES OF AN INDIVIDUAL TECHNICIAN, RATHER THAN ON A QUALIFIED TEAM OF SCIENTISTS. TABLES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (TWK)