Arkansas Marks Milestone on New $200M Crime Lab in North Little Rock

The expanded facility is expected to improve turnaround times on evidence processing for law enforcement agencies across the state.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:40pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a fingerprint powder brush against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the investigative work of a crime lab.The new Arkansas State Crime Laboratory will expand forensic capabilities to support law enforcement investigations statewide.North Little Rock Today

State officials in Arkansas held a topping out ceremony on Friday to mark a major construction milestone for a new $200 million Arkansas State Crime Laboratory facility in North Little Rock. The 190,000-square-foot lab will replace the current crime lab, which has operated at capacity for years amid growing demand for forensic services such as DNA analysis, toxicology, digital forensics, and firearms examination.

Why it matters

The new crime lab represents a significant investment in public safety infrastructure that will strengthen forensic capabilities for law enforcement agencies across Arkansas, including those in rural areas that rely on the state lab for casework. Timely and accurate forensic analysis is crucial for criminal investigations and prosecutions.

The details

The Arkansas Department of Public Safety held the topping out ceremony to celebrate the placement of the final structural beam on the new facility. The state purchased a nearly 19-acre site in 2024 for just over $4 million to house the new lab, which is expected to be completed in 2027. The expanded space and updated tools will allow the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory staff to better support investigations and public health efforts statewide.

  • The state purchased the site for the new crime lab in 2024.
  • Construction on the $200 million project is expected to be completed in 2027.

The players

Arkansas Department of Public Safety

The state agency that oversees the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory and held the topping out ceremony to mark a construction milestone on the new facility.

Mike Hagar

The Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, who noted the importance of timely and accurate forensic work in criminal investigations.

Theodore Brown

The Director of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, who said the new building will give staff more space and updated tools to support investigations and public health efforts statewide.

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What they’re saying

“This project represents a generational investment in public safety.”

— Mike Hagar, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Public Safety

“The new building will give staff more space and updated tools to support investigations and public health efforts statewide.”

— Theodore Brown, Director, Arkansas State Crime Laboratory

What’s next

The new crime lab is expected to be completed in 2027, at which point it will begin serving law enforcement agencies across Arkansas with expanded forensic capabilities.

The takeaway

This major investment in Arkansas' public safety infrastructure will modernize the state's crime lab and improve the turnaround time for critical forensic analysis, strengthening the ability of law enforcement to investigate crimes and support prosecutions across the state, including in rural areas.