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Digital forensic examiner tells Appropriations panel Connecticut lab needs staff, tools and procurement changes
Summary
A digital forensic examiner told the Appropriations Committee that Connecticut’s Division of Scientific Services is understaffed and under-resourced, urged creation of hybrid IT/forensic roles, and said procurement rules requiring purchases through state contracts raise costs and slow modernization.
Carmelo Rizza, a digital forensic examiner with the Division of Scientific Services at the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, told the Appropriations Committee on Monday that his unit needs more staff, specialized equipment and greater procurement flexibility to keep pace with modern investigations.
Rizza said the division’s work helps secure convictions and contributes to exonerations, and stressed that “scientific neutrality is essential to the integrity of the justice system.” He described digital forensics as a rapidly changing discipline where each device, operating system and encryption method can pose new technical challenges for examiners.
The examiner said the unit is consistently underfunded and understaffed. “Approximately 6% of our case load involves exploitation of children,” Rizza told the committee, adding that exposure to such material can cause long-term mental-health strain for examiners. He said delays in examinations have “real-world consequences” for victims and investigations and urged the committee to consider investments that would speed casework.
Rizza also urged the creation of a hybrid forensic-science/IT position, arguing that current IT structures and job classifications are not designed for laboratory operations and that the unit lacks staff who combine forensic science experience with advanced IT knowledge. He said that requirement contributes to hiring and retention challenges and complicates deployment and maintenance of specialized systems.
On procurement, Rizza told lawmakers that the division is often required to purchase essential forensic tools through third-party vendors under state contracts, which he said adds a significant markup and limits the unit’s ability to modernize quickly. He framed that as an administrative bottleneck rather than a legal determination and asked the committee to examine whether procurement practices impede timely access to laboratory tools.
No other registered speakers appeared online or in the hearing room; the committee waited until 2:15 p.m. and then adjourned the public hearing. Committee members clarified that Rizza’s testimony was an appeal for resources and procedural flexibility; the hearing record does not include a committee vote or an immediate funding decision.
The Appropriations Committee is scheduled to meet again Monday and Tuesday; any follow-up on requests for procurement or staffing changes would be handled through the committee’s regular budget and review process.
