Welcome to the Vermont Forensics Laboratory
The VFL is the only forensic laboratory in the State of Vermont and provides services to the entire criminal justice system. Police officers representing local and state agencies, in addition to game wardens, state's attorneys' investigators and public defenders all bring evidence to the laboratory for examination.
The laboratory is relatively small but the VFL examiners conduct a wide range of forensic examinations. Some of the routine examinations conducted by the VFL are represented on this web site.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the VFL, please feel free to contact the laboratory Director, Margaret Schwartz.
News and Information
Public Safety Announces Vermont Forensic Lab Secure Following Flood
Posted: November 21st, 2011BURLINGTON, VT – 09/01/11 – The Vermont Department of Public Safety building was flooded by the Winooski River on Sunday night forcing an evacuation of the building, which is still uninhabitable. Among the divisions of DPS housed in the building is the Vermont Forensic Lab, and while the lab has been uninhabitable all necessary security is still in place. The building is secure and the evidence has not been compromised.
"We don't have general power or clean water so we cannot accept evidence right now," Vermont Forensic Lab Director Peg Schwartz said. "However, the floodwaters did not otherwise affect the lab, no evidence has been compromised, and the building is secure."
Public Safety Announced Appointment of New Forensic Lab Directory
Posted: November 18th, 2011Waterbury, VT – 09/06/11 – Commissioner of Public Safety, Keith Flynn, today announced the appointment of Margaret “Peg” Schwartz, Ph.D. to the position of Laboratory Directory for the Vermont Forensic Laboratory.
In making this appointment Commissioner Flynn said, “Peg brings breadth of experience, education, and scientific knowledge to manage our accredited laboratory and take it into the future.”
Grand Opening of the new Vermont Forensic Laboratory
Posted: September 16th, 2011On October 5, 2010, Vermont state officials unveiled a new Public Safety Forensic Laboratory on Tuesday, calling the $12.8 million facility in Waterbury a giant step over the existing lab in technology, space and equipment.
Among those on hand: David and Ann Scoville, of Canandaigua, N.Y., the parents of murder victim Patricia Scoville, whose 1991 slaying went unsolved for 17 years. The couple lobbied lawmakers to create Vermont's first DNA lab. This laboratory in the new complex is called the Patricia Scoville Memorial Codis Laboratory.
