TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — In a dark room, the forensics unit at the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office works around the clock processing evidence through bioluminescence.
Lead crime scene investigator Christine Lawler told WFAA the unit is often law enforcement’s last hope in finding crucial evidence to bring criminal cases to a close.
“We only get one chance,” Lawler said. “Sometimes a case has no more leads, and we can find one.”
Piecing cases together through evidence is what motivated Lawler and her colleague Madison Doerr to pursue careers in forensics.
“It’s all just worth it in the end when you can build that whole case with evidence. We feel very proud of that,” Lawler said.
The two lead crime scene investigators are part of an eight-person team. The unit also happens to be made up entirely of women.
“Our Sergeant is currently female, our Chief is currently female,” Doerr said.
Prior to forming the female-dominated civilian unit in 2019, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office rotated deputies into the forensics unit.
Sheriff Bill Waybourn called the women-run forensics unit a game-changer.
“We started clearing more cases,” Waybourn said. “If you have a crime scene, and someone has left something… these women will find it.”
Waybourn said the department would be 30 years behind in solving cases without the unit.
“We’re kind of like fierce mama bears to our scenes,” Lawler said.
Data shows law enforcement is typically male-dominated. Last year, the FBI reported women make up only 12% of sworn officers and 3% of police leadership.
Science is also dominated by men.
However, the forensic science unit in Tarrant County and others nationwide tell a different story. They’re dominated by women.
It’s called the "CSI effect."
Women have flocked to forensics after watching TV shows that depict women in lead scientific roles.
“As a little girl, I was the one who always read the crime stories and the mystery novels,” Doerr said.
While they’re often the first to respond to crime scenes, sometimes, the forensic unit’s women are the last hope in bringing cases to a close.
“Getting to help get some solace for a victim’s family, ultimately at the end of the day, that’s why we’re here,” Doerr said.
Every fingerprint and every last trace of evidence is a chance to achieve justice.