Colorado Bureau of Investigation Releases Plan to Implement Findings from the Forward Resolutions Forensic Services Audit and Assessment Report

The CBI contracted with Forward Resolutions to conduct a detailed review of the practices, policies, and procedures of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Forensic Services (CBIFS) section. The multi-disciplinary Forward Resolutions team conducted extensive interviews and surveys with CBIFS staff and stakeholders over five months to develop its recommendations.

The report is a starting point for a forward looking strategy to enhance CBI’s operations so that they exceed, rather than meet, national standards.  As the report notes, “CBIFS is not an outlier when viewed through a national lens. Its operations, available resources, alignment with industry best practices, and the professionalism and integrity of its staff are consistent with the standards observed across forensic science laboratories nationwide.” Still, there are areas for improvement. Specifically, the report contains 52 recommendations meant to be implemented over a period of 5-10 years, some of which can be initiated administratively and at no cost and some that need resources and/or statutory changes.

The report makes a significant structural recommendation to establish the lab as a stand alone division in the Colorado Department of Public Safety. This recommendation is based on a national trend and is grounded in current industry best practices aimed at maximizing scientific impartiality. CDPS is actively considering this idea in collaboration with the Office of State Planning and Budgeting and will consult with the legislature given this would require statutory change.  

The Forward Resolutions report provides an independent assessment of Forensic Services and recommendations for improvement. CBIFS is prioritizing some key recommendations to implement over the next 18 months.

• Quality assurance: Prior to the release of this report, CBIFS implemented 20 procedural changes and is in the process of implementing 21 more. Additional measures CBIFS will implement based on this report include:

• Strengthening the CBIFS policy regarding standards for submitted evidence
• Increasing transparency around quality incidents
• Updating key laboratory instruments and technology, including an ongoing upgrade to CBIFS LIMS software
• Hiring 4 additional firearms examiners and 7 additional DNA analysts

• Communications: CBIFS continues to work on improving the strength of our communications with the public and engagement with key stakeholders. In addition to efforts already underway, CBIFS plans to undertake several key initiatives in this area recommended by the report, including:

• Establish a symposium for stakeholders to provide regular updates to law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges to increase accountability, transparency, and collaboration.
• Ongoing communications around improvements to the CBIFS Quality Assurance Program enhancements, including those noted above.
• Ongoing communications around continuing impacts of the Woods Quality Investigation.

• Organizational Culture and Leadership Development: Additionally, the report identified leadership, organizational, and cultural challenges as a contributing factor to the issues in question. In 2022, several key roles were vacated and taken over by new personnel which the evaluation notes has resulted in leadership and cultural improvements. There is still further work to be done, including:  

• Implementation of a values-driven leadership training course for the CBIFS management
• Clarifying performance expectations, roles and responsibilities, and internal communications, with a focus on workplace wellbeing and healthy team dynamics.

These initial recommendations will lay the foundation of the progress CBIFS will be making to ensure the type of issues we saw in the past never happen again.

The CBI is set to begin implementing recommendations through a phased schedule. That schedule includes three 18 month long phases over the next five years, the shortest timeline proposed by the evaluators. The CBI is prioritizing recommendations that can be implemented with existing resources, and will engage with the legislature and stakeholders to secure funding and input required for future phases. Regardless of timing, the CBI is committed to ensuring each step is thoroughly researched, developed, and implemented for maximum impact. This structured approach will be applied across all planned phases and includes:

• Detailed Review and Prioritization: Each recommendation is being analyzed and prioritized based on its potential impact and feasibility of implementation, including what, if any, resources or statutory changes are needed.
• Stakeholder Engagement: We will actively seek feedback from CBIFS staff, stakeholders, and other relevant parties to inform this prioritization process.
• Action Planning: Specific action steps will be developed for each prioritized recommendation, including timelines, responsibilities, and resource needs.
• Implementation and Monitoring: The action plans will be implemented, and progress will be monitored regularly. Adjustments will be made as needed based on the results of the monitoring and feedback received.
• Evaluation and Refinement: The overall effectiveness of the implementation process will be evaluated, and further refinements will be made as necessary.

The CBI thanks Forward Resolutions for their insightful and extensive review, based on which we have formed a comprehensive plan to continuously improve our forensic laboratory system. The thoroughness of this assessment reflects a commitment to providing responsible, forward-facing recommendations designed to support long-term organizational sustainability, enhance employee engagement, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and re-establish public trust in CBIFS.”

The CBI is fully committed to fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. The findings and recommendations presented in this report will be instrumental in guiding the efforts to strengthen the CBIFS and ensure it operates at the highest standards of scientific integrity and efficiency. This assessment is a constructive and positive step towards building an even more robust and trusted forensic science service for the State of Colorado.