IN AN IDEAL SENSE, A CRIME LABORATORY PROVIDES INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION TO POLICE AGENCIES, PROSECUTORS, COURTS, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, BASED ON THE APPLICATION OF NATURAL SCIENCES TO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS USE FIELD EVIDENCE TECHNICIANS WHO SPECIALIZE IN THE RECOGNITION, COLLECTION, AND PRESERVATION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE. THE PROBLEM IS, HOWEVER, THAT THESE TECHNICIANS RARELY HAVE A BACKGROUND IN NATURAL SCIENCES. A COMBINED TEAM EFFORT BY ALL PERSONNEL IS ESSENTIAL, WHETHER SUCH PERSONNEL BE FIELD TECHNICIANS, SWORN VERSUS CIVILIAN INDIVIDUALS, AND SCIENTIST VERSUS NONSCIENTIST INDIVIDUALS. TRAINING FOR LABORATORY PERSONNEL, SEMINARS AND MEETINGS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE SOCIETIES, PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT, AND TRAINING FOR UNDERQUALIFIED PERSONNEL ARE NECESSARY FOR AN EFFECTIVE CRIME LABORATORY TO FUNCTION. TECHNICIAN COMPETENCE CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH PROFICIENCY TESTING. ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT, SPACE, AND BUDGET SUPPORT ARE NECESSARY, AS WELL AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND THE SELECTION AND RETENTION OF WELL-QUALIFIED CRIMINALISTS. (DEP)