On October 23, 2006, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office unveiled its state- of-the art Crime Scene Unit facility.  The 15,000-square-foot building was designed to enhance the collection, processing, and packaging of forensic evidence in Essex County.

The facility includes a vehicle processing bay equipped with a hydraulic lift, allowing the Crime Scene detectives to examine vehicles from all angles; a forensic processing room designed to assist detectives in locating and identify fingerprints on a wide range of evidence; and a drying chamber room designed for the proper processing and packaging of blood-soaked clothing. Additional features include a digital photography room and a large evidence storage area capable of handling more than 50 times the volume of evidence accommodated by the previous facility.

The Crime Scene Unit is equipped with a high-speed computer system that enables detectives to communicate instantly with other law enforcement agencies. The system also includes 3D animated crime scene sketch and reconstruction software allowing detectives to visually reconstruct crime scenes. In addition, the Unit deploys three fully stocked field vehicles for processing on scene evidence. These vehicles are equipped with portable lighting systems and alternate light sources that enable detectives to detect bodily fluids, hair, fibers, and latent fingerprints not invisible under natural light.