Large vs. Small Forensic Units: The Hidden Gaps No One Talks About

In forensic science, we love to talk about evidence… testimony… technical skills.

What we don’t talk about enough??

The structural gaps between large and small forensic units – and how those gaps impact training, quality control, and case outcomes.

In a recent episode of Forensics Unfiltered, recorded live at the International Association for Identification conference, we sat down with Gabrielle Wimer — crime scene investigator, latent print examiner, and host of The Walls Do Talk podcast.

Her experience working in both large forensic units and small forensic units revealed something that many forensic professionals quietly experience:

Where you work can dramatically shape the standard of your work.

Watch the full podcast episode below and then keep reading to dive deeper into the lessons we learned about small forensic units, networking, and collaboration!

Why Small Forensic Units Face Unique Challenges

Working in a small forensic unit can be more exciting than you think. You get to wear many hats. You see the cases from start to finish. You often have more freedom to innovate. But it’s also lonely and can be risky at times.

Gabrielle shared that at her smaller agency, there were often only two crime scene investigators covering an entire city. Sometimes she worked alone on major homicide cases. There was no built-in quality control. No partner to catch mistakes. No system to verify reports.

That’s the reality for many small forensic units across the country. The professionals in these teams are skilled, but without structure and support, mistakes can happen. And the impact can be huge!

Common Gaps in Small Forensic Units

Some of the biggest challenges small teams face include:

1. Limited staffing: Often one or two people cover every crime scene. When someone is sick or on vacation, the remaining staff must carry the load.
2. Minimal funding: Advanced equipment, software licenses, and training budgets are often nonexistent.
3. Lack of peer review: Many small forensic units do not have another qualified professional to verify work.
4. Inconsistent training: New team members may have to learn on the job without structured programs.
5. Isolation: Professionals don’t have access to colleagues who can share expertise or advise on difficult cases.

Gabrielle’s story highlights another hidden gap: even when smaller units do have talented staff, they often lack connections to larger systems or networks that could provide training, equipment, and mentorship.

The Advantages and Challenges of Large Forensic Units

On the flip side, large forensic units come with their own set of pros and cons. Gabrielle worked in a big team with eight investigators. There was structure, hierarchy, and access to county-level funding for training and equipment. There were formal processes for quality control, SOPs, and professional development.

The advantages of large forensic units often include:

• Dedicated budgets for training and equipment
• Access to advanced tools like ABIS terminals and imaging systems
• Standardized procedures and report formats
• Peer review built into daily operations
• Opportunities to learn from experienced colleagues

But there are also challenges. Changes can be slow due to bureaucracy. Implementing new procedures often requires memos, approvals, and layers of red tape. Even innovative ideas can stall.

For small forensic units, the opposite is true. Change is possible, but at a personal cost. You may have freedom, but you also carry responsibility. Every decision matters. Every case may rest on your shoulders.

The Critical Role of Forensic Collaboration

Gabrielle’s experience illustrates a critical point: success in small forensic units often depends on forensic collaboration.

Instead of waiting for resources to magically appear, she took initiative:

✅ Organized county-wide forensic meetings
✅ Reached out to neighboring agencies
✅ Advocated for funding to support multiple small agencies
✅ Shared best practices and SOPs
✅ Secured equipment for agencies that otherwise had none

Through forensic collaboration, she not only strengthened her own team but also elevated the standards of the surrounding agencies.

How Forensic Collaboration Works in Practice

If you’re in a small forensic unit, here are actionable ways to start collaborating:

1. Reach out to nearby agencies: Find out who’s doing similar work in your area. Invite them to informal meetings.
2. Share resources: Manuals, training materials, and templates can be swapped between agencies.
3. Coordinate training: Pool funds to sponsor a shared course or workshop.
4. Develop peer review networks: Even if you’re the only person in your agency, find someone elsewhere who can review your work.
5. Document lessons learned: Create case study reviews and share insights to prevent repeated mistakes.

It takes effort, but the payoff is priceless. Not only do you improve your own work, but you also create a culture of accountability and learning across multiple agencies.

The Power of Forensic Networking

Closely tied to collaboration is forensic networking. Gabrielle credits much of her success to relationships she built early in her career, even during internships.

Why networking matters:

• You gain access to mentors and experts
• You can benchmark your reports and procedures
• You learn about cutting-edge tools and techniques
• You build a support system for challenging cases

Networking isn’t just about attending conferences. It’s about consistent, meaningful contact. Reach out to colleagues, ask for guidance, share your challenges, and provide value in return. Over time, these relationships become lifelines for small forensic units.

Actionable Steps for Small Forensic Units Today

Here’s what you can do immediately to improve your small forensic unit:

1. Assess your gaps: Identify where your unit is isolated. Staffing? Training? Equipment?
2. Identify partners: Which agencies have complementary skills, funding, or experience?
3. Start a meeting: It doesn’t have to be fancy. Even a short virtual or in-person gathering can kick things off.
4. Document standards: Use manuals and SOPs from larger agencies as a baseline.
5. Share knowledge: Conduct training sessions with nearby units. Encourage peer review.
6. Leverage funding boards: County-level programs or grants often exist but go unused.
7. Create a network culture: Make collaboration a habit, not an afterthought.

Small steps lead to massive impact. Even one proactive professional can change the culture of an entire region.

Your Career and Your Community

Working in a small forensic unit can feel isolating. But it doesn’t have to be. You can:

• Build networks
• Share resources
• Learn from others’ successes and failures
• Improve standards in your own team

That’s why we created our free private community for forensic professionals.

Inside, you’ll find:

✨ Access to all free resources in one place
✨ Networking opportunities with other forensic professionals
✨ Job and training postings
✨ File and template sharing

This community exists because no professional should navigate these challenges alone.

👉 Join our free private community today and start connecting, collaborating, and growing with other forensic professionals.

Final Thoughts

The biggest difference between thriving and struggling forensic units often isn’t budget. It’s connection.

Large agencies may have built-in infrastructure. Small forensic units have flexibility and adaptability. But the true multiplier is forensic collaboration.

Your network, your peers, your mentors – they can provide guidance, resources, and accountability that no single agency can sustain alone.

By intentionally building relationships, sharing knowledge, and advocating for standards, small forensic units can punch well above their weight.