Managing Forensic Science Backlogs in Nigerian State Police Laboratories: A Process Improvement Study

Case backlogs in forensic science laboratories undermine the timeliness of criminal investigations and compromise justice delivery, representing a management challenge requiring systematic process improvement approaches. This study examines the causes and consequences of forensic case backlogs in state police forensic laboratories across Nigeria's North Central geopolitical zone, developing evidence-based process improvement recommendations. A professional management research design was employed, conducting time-and-motion studies of laboratory workflows in four state forensic units, administering structured questionnaires to fifty laboratory staff and managers, and reviewing six months of case intake and output records across the participating facilities. The study applies lean management principles to identify bottlenecks, waste, and improvement opportunities within forensic case processing workflows. Findings reveal average case-to-report turnaround times ranging from forty-two to eighty-seven days across the four facilities, significantly exceeding the twenty-one-day target recommended in the NIFS operational guidelines. Primary bottlenecks identified include reagent procurement delays, single-analyst verification requirements, and manual paper-based case tracking systems. Lean analysis identifies seven distinct waste categories contributing to delays. A process improvement model incorporating digital case tracking, parallel processing protocols, and preventive reagent stock management is developed and validated through simulation modelling. Recommendations include implementation of the model in all participating facilities with phased rollout to other North Central laboratories. Keywords: laboratory backlog, process improvement, forensic management, North Central Nigeria, lean management.