Wisconsin Forensic Administrators Secured Out-of-State Contract
Two Wisconsin officials formed a private firm that received a $777,044 contract from Colorado in November 2024.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Wisconsin Division of Forensic Sciences administrators Nicole Roehm and Jennifer Naugle established a consulting firm that accepted a $777,044.43 contract from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in November 2024. The contract involved assessing forensic operations following a DNA testing scandal, though the Wisconsin Department of Justice has not confirmed if the work was authorized.
Why it matters
State regulations require government employees to obtain advance approval for outside employment, raising questions about transparency regarding the dual roles held by these administrators. The situation comes as Wisconsin laboratories face rising case backlogs and increased turnaround times for essential testing services.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice has not released documentation indicating that the administrators received official authorization for their outside work. State Administrative Code ER-MRS 24.045 mandates that state employees obtain advance approval for such employment.
The players
Nicole Roehm
She serves as an administrator for the Wisconsin Division of Forensic Sciences.
Jennifer Naugle
She serves as an administrator for the Wisconsin Division of Forensic Sciences.
Wisconsin Department of Justice
This is the state agency responsible for managing the Division of Forensic Sciences and overseeing employee conduct policies.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation
This state agency oversees forensic operations and contracted with a private firm to address issues following a DNA testing scandal.
The details
The consulting firm, Forward Resolutions LLC, employed a team of eight professionals to conduct interviews with 136 staff members and 29 stakeholders. The firm ultimately delivered a 91-page report to Colorado in July 2025 containing 52 recommendations for improving forensic operations.
Timeline
Nicole Roehm and Jennifer Naugle established Forward Resolutions LLC in 2024.
The contract between the firm and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was signed in November 2024.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced the contract award on January 21, 2025.
Consultants conducted three site visits to Colorado between January 2025 and April 2025.
Forward Resolutions LLC published its final assessment report in July 2025.
Legal Context
This situation follows State Administrative Code ER-MRS 24.045, which establishes the rules for government employees regarding outside employment. The scrutiny highlights how internal administrative policies are applied when public officials engage in private consulting work for other states.
The potential conflict of interest regarding forensic administrators raises concerns about the oversight of state resources and personnel. Residents may be affected by the increased turnaround times for DNA and toxicology testing seen in Wisconsin laboratories throughout 2024.
The takeaway
The case highlights the importance of transparency regarding secondary employment for high-level government officials. Ensuring that public administrators remain focused on their primary duties is critical as state labs handle rising caseloads and testing backlogs.
Further reading
For more on state-level oversight and investigations, visit the Financial Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by PJ Media.
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