Reference Shelf

The official sources behind the work: federal agencies and standards, every state's boards, codes and courts, and the profession's own associations. Every link was opened before it was listed, and USCLI's source monitor keeps re-checking them.

By state

For each state: the board that certifies peace officers, the body that oversees forensic science (or the state crime laboratory where no oversight body exists), the private investigator licensing authority, and the official statutes, administrative rules and courts. Where a site refused our automated check and no second official source confirmed the address, the name is given without a link.

State boards, codes and courts, 50 states and DC
State	Officer standards	Forensic oversight or crime lab	Investigator licensing	Law and courts
Alabama	Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC)	Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences	Alabama Private Investigation Board (APIB)	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Alaska	Alaska Police Standards Council	Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory (DPS Crime Lab)	None at the state level. Anchorage and Fairbanks license investigators.	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Arizona	Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST)	Arizona DPS Scientific Analysis Bureau	Arizona Department of Public Safety, Licensing Unit	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Arkansas	Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST)	Arkansas State Crime Laboratory	Arkansas State Police, Regulatory Services	Statutes · Rules · Courts
California	Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)	California DOJ Bureau of Forensic Services	Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS), Department of Consumer Affairs	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Colorado	Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)	Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Forensic Services	None. The Office of Private Investigator Licensure in the Division of Professions and Occupations closed August 31, 2021.	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Connecticut	Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST)	Division of Scientific Services	Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, State Police Special Licensing and Firearms Unit	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Delaware	Police Officer Standards and Training Commission	Division of Forensic Science	Delaware State Police, Professional Licensing Section, with the Board of Examiners of Private Investigative, Private Security and Armored Car Agencies	Statutes · Rules · Courts
District of Columbia	None found	Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS)	Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), Security Program, with approval by the Metropolitan Police Department	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Florida	Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission	FDLE Forensic Services	Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Division of Licensing	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Georgia	Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST)	GBI Division of Forensic Sciences	Georgia State Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies, Secretary of State	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Hawaii	Law Enforcement Standards Board	None found	Board of Private Detectives and Guards, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Idaho	Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)	Idaho State Police Forensic Services	None at the state level. Some cities license investigators.	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Illinois	Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB)	Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services	Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Indiana	Indiana Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA)	Indiana State Police Forensic Services Division	Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board, Professional Licensing Agency	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Iowa	Iowa Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA)	Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory	Iowa Department of Public Safety	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Kansas	Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (KSCPOST)	KBI Forensic Science Laboratory	Kansas Attorney General, Private Detective Licensing Unit	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Kentucky	Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT)	Kentucky State Police Forensic Laboratories	Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Louisiana	Louisiana Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council	Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory	Louisiana State Board of Private Investigator Examiners (LSBPIE)	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Maine	Maine Criminal Justice Academy	Maine State Police Crime Laboratory	Maine State Police, Weapons and Professional Licensing Unit	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Maryland	Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission (PTSC)	Office of Health Care Quality: Forensic Laboratories	Maryland Department of State Police, Licensing Division	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Massachusetts	Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission	Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory	Massachusetts State Police, Certification Unit	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Michigan	Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES)	Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division	Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Minnesota	None found	BCA Forensic Science Services	Minnesota Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Mississippi	Office of Standards and Training	Office of Forensic Laboratories	None. Mississippi has no state private investigator licensing law.	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Missouri	Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Program	Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory Division	Missouri Board of Private Investigator and Private Fire Investigator Examiners	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Montana	Public Safety Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council	Montana Forensic Science Division	Montana Department of Labor and Industry, Private Security Program	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Nebraska	Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center (NLETC)	Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory	Nebraska Secretary of State, Licensing Division	Not reachable at check · Rules · Courts
Nevada	Nevada Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (POST)	None found	Nevada Private Investigators Licensing Board	Statutes · Rules · Courts
New Hampshire	None found	None found	Department of Safety, Division of State Police, Licensing and Permits Section (Saf-C 2202.01)	Statutes · Rules
New Jersey	Police Training Commission	New Jersey State Police Office of Forensic Sciences	New Jersey State Police, Private Detective Unit	Statutes · Rules · Courts
New Mexico	New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy	New Mexico DPS Forensic Laboratory Bureau	Regulation and Licensing Department, with the Private Investigations Advisory Board	Statutes · Rules · Courts
New York	Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS): Police and Peace Officer Resources	Commission on Forensic Science (DCJS)	New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services	Statutes · Rules · Courts
North Carolina	North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission	North Carolina State Crime Laboratory	Private Protective Services Board, North Carolina Department of Public Safety	Statutes · Rules · Courts
North Dakota	North Dakota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board	North Dakota State Crime Laboratory	North Dakota Private Investigative and Security Board	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Ohio	Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC)	BCI Laboratory Division	Ohio Department of Public Safety, Private Investigator Security Guard Services (PISGS)	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Oklahoma	Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET)	OSBI Criminalistics Services Division	Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET)	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Oregon	Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST)	Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division	Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST)	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Pennsylvania	Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC)	Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Forensic Services	No state agency. Each county’s court of common pleas issues licenses; applications go to the county clerk of courts, and the district attorney investigates applicants.	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Rhode Island	Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy	Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Forensic Sciences	City and town licensing authorities under the state Private Detective Act; apply where your business is based.	Statutes · Rules · Courts
South Carolina	South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy	SLED Forensic Services	South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Regulatory Services	Statutes · Rules · Courts
South Dakota	Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission	South Dakota Forensic Laboratory	None. The Attorney General’s office says no state license is required.	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Tennessee	Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission	TBI Forensic Services Division	Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Private Investigation program	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Texas	Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)	Texas Forensic Science Commission	Texas Department of Public Safety, Regulatory Services Division, Private Security Program	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Utah	Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)	Utah Bureau of Forensic Services	Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Department of Commerce, since September 1, 2026. Before that, the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Identification.	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Vermont	Vermont Criminal Justice Council	Vermont Forensic Laboratory	Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Virginia	Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), Division of Law Enforcement	Virginia Department of Forensic Science	Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS)	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Washington	Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission	Washington State Forensic Investigations Council	Department of Licensing	Statutes · Rules · Courts
West Virginia	Law Enforcement Professional Standards, Justice and Community Services	West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory	West Virginia Secretary of State, Licensing Division	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Wisconsin	WILENET (Wisconsin Department of Justice, Training and Standards)	Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories	Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)	Statutes · Rules · Courts
Wyoming	Wyoming Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission	Wyoming State Crime Laboratory	None at the state level. Cities may license businesses (W.S. 15-1-103).	Statutes · Rules · Courts

For investigator licensing requirements and how to verify a license, see the licensing directory. For what changed in each state's law, see the State Desk.

Federal and national

Statistics and research

Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
Federal source of criminal justice statistics, including law enforcement, courts and corrections data. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
Research, development and evaluation agency of DOJ on crime and justice issues. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
Crime Data Explorer
Online tool for FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data, including NIBRS. Federal Bureau of Investigation
NCJRS Virtual Library
Searchable library of criminal justice publications and research. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
FBI publication with articles for law enforcement professionals. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Training Division
National Registry of Exonerations
Data and case stories on exonerations in the United States. Independent research project (university-affiliated)
National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
Nonprofit that provides research, data and services to state courts. Private nonprofit

Forensic science standards

OSAC Registry
Repository of selected published and proposed forensic science standards that passed technical and quality review. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
NIST Forensic Science
NIST research, standards and reference work in forensic science. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
National Commission on Forensic Science (2013–2017)
NIST page on the former DOJ–NIST commission, with links to the DOJ archive of its meetings and work products. The DOJ archive (justice.gov/archives/ncfs) is blocked to automated check; it is linked from this NIST page. NIST and U.S. Department of Justice
Uniform Language for Testimony and Reports (ULTR)
DOJ guidance documents on the scientific statements DOJ forensic examiners may make in reports and testimony, by discipline. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Policy

Officer standards and training

FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division
FBI division that runs national criminal justice information systems such as NCIC, NICS and fingerprint identification. Federal Bureau of Investigation
CJIS Security Policy Resource Center
Current CJIS Security Policy, which sets the rules for protecting criminal justice information. Federal Bureau of Investigation
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office)
DOJ office that funds and publishes resources on community policing. U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
DOJ grant and policy office supporting state, local and tribal justice programs. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)
Training provider for federal law enforcement agencies; also offers some state, local and tribal training. U.S. Department of Homeland Security
National Decertification Index (NDI)
National registry of officer certificate or license revocation actions reported by participating state agencies. Access is limited to authorized users. Run by a private association, not a government agency. IADLEST (private nonprofit association)
National Institute of Corrections (NIC)
Training, publications and technical assistance for corrections agencies. U.S. Department of Justice

Law, rules and court records

PACER
Electronic access to federal court records and filings; fees apply. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
CourtListener
Free search of case law, PACER documents in the RECAP Archive, judges and oral arguments. Free Law Project (nonprofit)
RECAP Suite
Free browser extension and archive that shares PACER documents users have bought. Free Law Project (nonprofit)
Federal Register (FederalRegister.gov)
Daily federal rules, proposed rules and notices. The site says the official legal edition is on govinfo.gov. Office of the Federal Register and U.S. Government Publishing Office
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR)
Continuously updated online version of the Code of Federal Regulations. Office of the Federal Register and U.S. Government Publishing Office
Congress.gov
Federal bills, laws, and congressional records. Blocked to automated check (403); URL confirmed from links on uscode.house.gov. Library of Congress
GovInfo
Official published federal documents, including the U.S. Code, CFR, Federal Register and some court opinions. U.S. Government Publishing Office
United States Code (uscode.house.gov)
Searchable text of the U.S. Code. Section-level links were showing a maintenance page during the check. Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives
Federal Rules of Evidence
Current text of the Federal Rules of Evidence. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure
Current text of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
FTC page on the FCRA (15 U.S.C. 1681–1681x), with the statute text. Blocked to automated check with curl; confirmed live with a second fetch tool. Federal Trade Commission
Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. 2721
Text of 18 U.S.C. 2721, which limits release and use of personal information from state motor vehicle records and lists permitted uses. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (nonprofit)
LEOSA, 18 U.S.C. 926B
Text of 18 U.S.C. 926B: concealed carry by qualified law enforcement officers. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (nonprofit)
LEOSA, 18 U.S.C. 926C
Text of 18 U.S.C. 926C: concealed carry by qualified retired law enforcement officers. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (nonprofit)
Legal Information Institute (LII)
Free online text of the U.S. Code, CFR, federal rules and some state law. Cornell Law School (nonprofit)

Missing persons and wrongful convictions

NamUs
National clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified and unclaimed person cases. National Institute of Justice
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
Nonprofit clearinghouse and reporting center on missing and exploited children; runs the CyberTipline. Private nonprofit
Innocence Project
Nonprofit that litigates wrongful conviction cases and advocates for criminal justice policy changes. Private nonprofit advocacy organization

Professional associations

Independent associations, listed so you can find them. USCLI has no affiliation with any of them, and listing one is not an endorsement.

Private investigation

National Council of Investigation and Security Services (NCISS)
National association for investigation and security businesses; tracks legislation.
National Association of Legal Investigators (NALI)
Association of legal investigators, with professional canons of ethics.
World Association of Detectives (WAD)
International membership association of licensed investigators and security professionals.
Council of International Investigators (CII)
International membership association of private investigators.

Law enforcement

International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
Membership association of police leaders.
National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA)
Membership association for sheriffs, deputies and other criminal justice professionals.
Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
Organization of sworn law enforcement officers organized in local lodges.
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
Membership association of law enforcement executives with chapters in regions across the country.
International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST)
Association of state POST directors and training managers; runs the National Decertification Index.

Forensic science

American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
Membership society for forensic scientists, organized in discipline sections.
International Association for Identification (IAI)
Forensic association for physical evidence disciplines such as fingerprints.
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD)
Nonprofit society of crime laboratory directors and forensic science managers.
ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
Accreditation body; its programs include forensic service provider accreditation.
American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT)
Board that certifies forensic toxicologists.
American Board of Criminalistics (ABC)
Board that certifies criminalists.
Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (AFTE)
Association for firearm and toolmark examiners.
Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT)
Membership society for forensic toxicologists.
National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
Professional organization for medical examiners, forensic pathologists and medicolegal staff; publishes autopsy performance standards.

Fire investigation

International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)
Membership association for fire investigators.

Attorneys

American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section
ABA section for prosecutors, defense lawyers, judges and others in criminal justice.
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
Membership association of criminal defense lawyers.
National District Attorneys Association (NDAA)
Membership association of prosecutors; offers training and resources.
National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA)
Association of public defense and civil legal aid providers.
National Association for Public Defense (NAPD)
Membership association of public defense practitioners.

Legal staff

NALA
National paralegal association.
National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)
Federation of paralegal associations.

Corrections

American Correctional Association (ACA)
Corrections association; publishes standards and runs accreditation and certification.
American Jail Association (AJA)
Association for jail professionals; offers news, training and professional development.

Community corrections

American Probation and Parole Association (APPA)
Association for probation, parole and community supervision staff.

Security

ASIS International
Membership association for security management professionals.

Fraud investigation

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
Anti-fraud membership association; offers the Certified Fraud Examiner credential.

Free research tools

Free to use. Some are run by companies; the description says so.

Open States (Plural)
Look up state legislators and bills in all 50 states. openstates.org now redirects to Plural (pluralpolicy.com/open), a commercial company that offers paid bill tracking.
Google Scholar (case law)
Free search of court opinions (choose “Case law”) and scholarly articles. Commercial (Google).
Caselaw Access Project
Harvard Law School Library project with U.S. court decisions published free.
Justia
Free state and federal case law, codes and regulations. Commercial company.
CourtListener
Free case law search and PACER documents from the RECAP Archive. Free Law Project (nonprofit).

How this list is kept

Every address was opened and confirmed on October 20, 2026. Each is then re-checked continuously by USCLI's source monitor, which flags a page that moves, disappears or stops answering. Agencies rename and move pages often; if a link here is wrong, write to contact@uscli.org.

Some state codes are published for the state by a commercial publisher (LexisNexis, for example); those are still the state's official public access. The full list is also available as JSON.

Last updated October 20, 2026Source: United States Council for Law & Investigation