D.C. Council approves creating forensics agency

The D.C. Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the creation of the Department of Forensics to oversee the city’s $250 million crime lab that’s set to open next year.

At-large Councilman Phil Mendelson introduced the bill creating the department earlier this year because, he said, the executive branch was having trouble deciding who would run the lab. By creating an independent department, Mendelson said he believes the city will be able to bring greater weight and accuracy when prosecuting criminal cases in the courtroom.