1927: The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is established

The Minnesota Legislature created the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) in 1927 as a division of the Office of the Attorney General to assist Minnesota peace officers in solving local crimes and apprehending criminals. The Division of Statistics, (now called Minnesota Justice Information Services (MNJIS)), was added in 1935, as were additional personnel and full police power for the bureau's agents. Adding staff made it possible for the BCA to establish field offices throughout Minnesota. 

The BCA forensic science laboratory became operational on Jan. 1, 1947. The laboratory was located in the Shubert Building at 488 North Wabasha Street in St. Paul. The entire laboratory occupied 350 square feet and began as a one-person lab offering chemical and microscopic analysis of evidence.

1962: BCA expands to meet a growing need

The need for laboratory services continued to grow, and so in 1962 the BCA moved its lab to 1246 University Avenue in St. Paul. In 1969, the BCA and several other agencies became part of the newly created Department of Public Safety. 

Renovations took place at the University Avenue location from 1978-1980. In 1990 the BCA became one of the nation’s first forensic laboratories to offer DNA analysis. 

2001: BCA establishes Bemidji Regional Office to better serve northern Minnesota

To meet increasing demand for forensic science services, the BCA opened its Bemidji Regional Office and Forensic Science Laboratory in 2001. The new facility at 3700 Norris Court NW contained a 26,000 square foot regional laboratory.

The CriMNet Program Office was added to the bureau in 2002, providing a framework for sharing information between criminal justice information systems. 

2003: BCA headquarters moves to current St. Paul location

In 2003, the BCA moved its St. Paul headquarters to its present location on Maryland Avenue. The state-of-the-art facility houses the BCA’s Forensic Science Services, Investigative Services, Minnesota Justice Information Services, and Professional Services. The building is 224,000 square feet with almost 106,000 square feet occupied by the laboratory.

In 2004, the bureau became one of four laboratories in the nation selected by the FBI to serve as a regional mitochondrial DNA laboratory. In 2016, the BCA opened a third laboratory location in St. Cloud to provide more convenient testing access for agencies in central Minnesota. Today, the lab partners with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs, to further testing to learn the identities of unidentified remains across the U.S. The St Paul and Bemidji labs’ combined staff of more than 200 continue to be leaders in developing and employing the latest in forensic technology.

The BCA today

Nowadays the BCA employs over 750 people, has 13 field offices across Minnesota, and its forensic lab has an international reputation as one of the finest in the country. The BCA’s Crime Scene Team of criminal investigators and laboratory specialists responds to requests from Minnesota law enforcement agencies for assistance in investigating suspicious deaths.

Leaders in technology

The BCA has been a trailblazer in many areas of its work due to its focus on innovation. Here are a few examples:

• The BCA was the first laboratory in the nation to identify a suspect based solely on DNA.
• The BCA was first in the nation to implement an Automated Fingerprint Identification System, allowing electronic fingerprint submissions. 
• The BCA serves as a national model with its Minnesota Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse, the Minnesota Crime Alert and the Amber Alert programs. 

The continued growth of the BCA has enabled it to better serve local law enforcement agencies. The BCA is proud to be a leader in the criminal justice services it provides.