The Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services was created in 1937 by the North Carolina General Assembly. The chartering legislation can be found in Chapter 535 of the Public-Local Laws of 1937. This legislation established a “Bureau of Identification for Wake County” for the “better enforcement of criminal laws in Wake County”. On December 1, 2024, the agency was renamed the Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services to better reflect its mission and services.

The Bureau now provides multidisciplinary forensic services to any criminal investigation having original jurisdiction within the geographical County of Wake. In addition, the Bureau fingerprints and photographs all persons arrested in Wake County in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes and provides civil fingerprinting services to the public for a fee. The Bureau is currently comprised of three divisions: the Identification Division, the Crime Scene Science Division, and the Laboratory Sciences Division.

The Bureau has been accredited to the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 17025 Standard since 2013.

Mission

The Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services will continuously strive for perfection while setting the highest standards in crime scene investigation, forensic analysis of evidence and collection of criminal arrest information.

Core Values

Employees of the Bureau are committed to maintaining and performing their roles in accordance with the following values:

• Integrity
• Honor
• Character
• Truthfulness
• Fairness
• Accountability
• Professionalism
• Courage
• Compassion
• Public Trust
• Respect for Others

Accreditation

The Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services has been an ISO accredited agency since 2013. Stakeholders use accreditation to confirm or recognize competence, impartiality and consistent operation.

View the Bureau’s current Accreditation Scope and Certificate

Employment

The Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services does not accept resumes directly. To view and apply for job openings at the Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services, check the main Wake County jobs site.