In a 1,000,000-population city, how many law enforcement computer investigators should staff the forensics lab?

• A. 4
• B. 1
• C. 8
• D. 2

Answer: (A)

A practical staffing guideline for a forensics lab uses a population-based ratio: roughly one computer investigator for every 250,000 residents. This helps keep caseload manageable, turnaround times reasonable, and ensures there’s enough coverage for investigations, evidence analysis, and court testimony.

For a city with 1,000,000 people, that ratio points to 1,000,000 ÷ 250,000 = four investigators. This level balances workload without overstaffing; having only one would likely create backlog and delays, while eight would represent more resources than typically needed for this city size. Two would be insufficient to handle the volume implied by the population.

So, four investigators is the sensible staffing level.