NKU to house state Medical Examiner and crime lab; NKU pledges $3.7 million

The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice, Public Safety, & Judiciary heard an update June 3 on Northern KY University's Civic Center renovation, which state and university officials said is being adapted to house the Office of State Medical Examiner and the state crime laboratory. Chris Calvert, Chief Financial Officer for NKU, told the subcommittee that "NKU is contributing $3.7 million to the project."

Rebecca Norton, Budget Director for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, said a full project timeline will be provided later but emphasized proximity to the current Northern Kentucky crime lab as a major factor in site selection. Natalie Brawner, Executive Director of the Division of Real Properties, said the state preference is to utilize existing state properties when feasible and that earlier plans (including a 2022 budget allocation) were delayed because available hospital space was not adequate at the time.

Presenters noted the project will need specialized laboratory build-outs to meet Medical Examiner and crime-laboratory requirements; they said additional details about staffing, utilities and final costs will be shared once the project proceeds to bidding. No formal vote or budget action occurred at the meeting.