Kaul makes pitch for crime lab funding as lawmakers craft state budget

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Criminal justice advocates that once ran against each other on the ballot are joining forces to fight more crime lab funding.

On Tuesday, June 6, Attorney General Josh Kaul and his former Republican opponent, Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney, called on lawmakers to fund more positions at the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) to continue their work to solve complex crimes. 

On Thursday, June 8, the Joint Finance Committee is scheduled to meet and decide how much funding to set aside in the next state budget for the state DOJ. 

Kaul says approving their request would ensure the crime lab has the tools to meet growing demands. 

"The less investments that are made in the department of justice, including the crime labs the longer delays were going to have and that slows down the justice process and it again not only impacts the lab it impacts the system as a whole," Kaul said. 

The DOJ is asking for about $2.3 million in the 2023-25 state budget. 

That includes hiring 10 additional DNA analysis, four toxicologist and two crime scene response members.