By Kevin Callahan
Records Portal Program Supervisor, Department of Public Safety’s Crime Laboratory Division
When the Texas District and County Attorneys Association (TDCAA) first introduced readers to the Texas Crime Lab Records (CLR) Connect initiative,[1] the project was still early in development. At the time, the Department of Public Safety (DPS), guided by the framework established by Senate Bill 991 (88th Legislative Session) and codified in Texas Government Code §§411.161–164, was preparing to design a statewide, centralized portal for managing crime laboratory discovery under Art. 39.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. That foundation remains unchanged, but the project has advanced significantly and is now approaching full implementation.
As the system moves into its final pre-launch phase, engagement from district and county attorney offices is crucial, particularly in identifying each office’s initial prosecution admin. This role will be central to onboarding, training, user management, and ensuring attorneys have proper access to discovery materials from day one. With the statewide rollout scheduled to begin in late August 2026, now is the time for prosecutor offices to prepare for the transition and understand what will be required during implementation.
What is Texas CLR Connect?
Texas CLR Connect (pronounced “Clear Connect”) is a secure, centralized, digital portal designed to streamline the request and transfer of crime laboratory records between laboratories, prosecutors, and other authorized parties involved in criminal discovery. The portal supports compliance with the Michael Morton Act, the Brady ruling, and Art. 39.14 obligations, ensuring that forensic records are accessible in a timely, consistent, and transparent manner across the state.
The system addresses several longstanding issues in criminal discovery: inconsistent processes across laboratories, delays caused by manual requests, and challenges in tracking supplemental or updated lab reports. By standardizing how records are requested, reviewed, and delivered, CLR Connect aims to reduce administrative burden and to improve both efficiency and accountability in the discovery process.
All crime laboratories operating in Texas, as defined by CCP Art. 38.35, are required to participate. Out-of-state laboratories must participate as well if they perform forensic analysis in 300 or more cases annually in Texas; those below the threshold may request an exemption, although no exemption is automatic and must be approved by the Texas DPS Crime Laboratory Division through application.
CLR Connect launch timeline
CLR Connect has entered full user acceptance testing. Following this phase, the system will be deployed in a phased rollout beginning in late August, with the rollout expected to last six to eight weeks. This incremental approach is intended to ensure stability and provide tailored onboarding support to agencies statewide.
In preparation for launch, DPS has been distributing newsletters, infographics, and explainer materials; it is also hosting virtual townhall-style information sessions. The CLR Connect Newsletter[2] continues to serve as the main channel for updates, offering labs and attorneys regular insight into development progress, training opportunities, and expectations for implementation deadlines.
Prosecution roles
Since the first TDCAA article, one of the major advancements has been the formal definition of the prosecution user roles, which dictate how prosecutor offices will interact with the system. Understanding these roles is essential for selecting the right internal administrators and preparing offices for launch.
Prosecution Admin. Every prosecuting agency must designate at least one “Prosecution Admin” during initial onboarding. This individual, who may be an attorney or non-attorney staff member, will serve as the office’s primary contact with DPS during implementation and will manage all user access and office level functions within the portal.
Key responsibilities include of the prosecution admin include:
• creating and disabling prosecutor accounts,
• managing the office profile,
• assigning and removing defense counsel from cases,
• approving or denying defense access requests,
• performing bulk case assignments,
• managing user roles and permissions,
• communicating directly with laboratories,
• viewing all cases within an office’s jurisdiction, and
• designating additional prosecution admins as needed within the office.
This is the broadest and most sensitive user role. Proper selection of this individual(s) will directly affect the office’s readiness for go-live.
Prosecutor role. The standard “prosecutor” role equips attorneys with the tools needed for day-to-day casework. These users may search cases, view details and records, submit supplemental or manual requests for missing cases, assign themselves to cases, assign or remove defense counsel for cases they manage, and communicate with laboratories regarding case-specific issues.
Prosecutor (Limited). For offices seeking additional internal control, the “Prosecutor (Limited)” role allows attorneys to locate cases and view basic summaries but does not permit access to records until the Prosecution Admin assigns the case to them. Once assigned, the attorney’s permissions mirror those of the standard Prosecutor role. This structure benefits offices that want tighter oversight on how and when attorneys access forensic records.
Prosecution experts. Outside experts retained by the State may be added to specific cases by any of the prosecution roles. Experts have access only to the cases to which they are assigned and have no office-wide visibility. This ensures secure, case-focused collaboration while preventing unnecessary exposure to unrelated records.
Identifying a Prosecution Admin is the highest priority
During implementation, district and county attorney offices are responsible for ensuring that attorneys representing the State—as well as authorized defense attorneys under Art. 39.14—have access to the records they need. None of this can happen until the office identifies its initial Prosecution Admin, who becomes the central figure in the onboarding process.
The Prosecution Admin will:
• participate in focused training on system functions and user management,
• coordinate with DPS on onboarding timelines,
• establish office-wide access controls,
• ensure that prosecutors and defense attorneys are connected to the correct cases, and
• prevent delays in record access during the rollout.
Without this designated individual, the office cannot be onboarded, which means prosecutors may lack timely access to lab records during the transition period. DPS is already contacting elected prosecutors and their existing points of contact to coordinate onboarding and will continue regular outreach as launch approaches.
Training, support, and outreach
DPS has committed to extensive communication and training efforts leading up to the statewide launch. These include:
• virtual information sessions with multiple time slot options;
• attendance at conferences, regional gatherings, and prosecutor-oriented meetings;
• infographics and videos explaining key functions of the system; and
• direct communication channels for questions and scheduling presentations.
What prosecutors should do right now
1) Designate your Prosecution Admin. This is the single most important step and determines when your office will be onboarded.
2) Provide DPS with the contact information for that admin. The information may be emailed to CLRConnect@dps.texas.gov. This ensures your office receives the correct training materials and is contacted during the appropriate rollout phase.
3) Attend training opportunities. Early participation reduces future delays and helps offices understand how to align their workflows with the new system.
4) Prepare internal processes. Offices should begin evaluating how they currently manage forensics-related discovery and plan transitions to the standardized CLR Connect process.
5) Monitor updates. The CLR Connect Newsletter and outreach channels will continue sharing critical development information through launch and beyond.
Conclusion
Texas CLR Connect represents one of the most significant statewide changes to forensic discovery in recent history. By centralizing and standardizing how crime laboratory records are requested and shared, the system will enhance efficiency, improve transparency, and support statutory compliance for prosecutors and defense attorneys alike. With the late-August launch approaching, the role of district and county attorney offices, particularly in selecting Prosecution Admins, has never been more important.
Texas is on the cusp of establishing a new statewide standard for how forensic discovery is managed. With early preparation and active engagement, prosecutors can help ensure that transition is smooth, secure, and beneficial for all participants in the criminal justice system.
[1] www.tdcaa.com/journal/a-wealth-of-resources-on-dwi-and-intoxication-offenses.
[2] www.dps.texas.gov/section/crime-laboratory/texas-clr-connect-discovery-portal.