(WIAT-TV) Hoover, AL - From ballistics, to drug analysis, to analyzing DNA: forensic evidence can make or break a case. Thanks to shows like CSI juries expect to see it, but with budget cuts looming: "We are very much at a critical point," explains Michael Sparks, Director of Alabama's Department of Forensics.

He says they simply cannot afford anymore cutbacks. Over the past few years 33 percent of his budget has been slashed. He's closed three labs and lost 15 percent of his workforce, many of them highly trained experts. "We've tightened our belt, if we tighten again we're going to be looking at core functions we've always provided," says Sparks.

The labs analyze evidence from 450 law enforcement agencies all across the state.There is always the worry that while DNA sits in the lab, a suspect could victimize another person.

"That's a fear of ours and victims they want the person caught and don't want anyone else hurt," says Wanda Miller of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department who works with crime victims.

The process of analyzing and testing evidence has gotten so backlogged, some cases are being delayed and rolled over to a later grand jury. The DNA division has 1,000 cases that need to be worked up. Add to that more than 17,000 drug and toxicology cases still pending.

And it's not just victims who are suffering from the back log. Thirty percent of DNA samples that come through the state labs, exclude a suspect.

"I had another rape case, rape of a child and once DNA came back my guy didn't do it. He was in jail on no bond," says Defense Attorney Charles Salvagio.

For now, Sparks is taking his case to lawmakers and the public, hoping the bottleneck of evidence held up in his labs, won't get any worse.