NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A report from the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations is encouraging state leaders to invest in more crime lab space for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to deal with evidence backlogs that are delaying the justice process.

TACIR, the state government's think tank, finalized an 84-page report covering issues with evidence processing and crime lab testing turnaround in each of the three Grand Divisions. According to the report, there is a backlog of thousands of pending forensic, toxicology and firearms analysis requests.

"Every piece of forensic evidence helps tell a story, yet too many stories are left unresolved in part because of delays in forensic evidence testing. Evidence backlogs affect investigations; prosecutions; and justice for

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