Criminologists based in Ripon help law enforcement solve crimes in 42 California counties.A senior criminalist from the California State Crime lab staff gave an overview of the agency’s operations recently for Ripon Rotarians meeting at Spring Creek Country Club.Libby Schreiber touched on everything from murder investigations to the effects of using methamphetamine has on women’s faces over a 10-year period. She explained that a criminalist is a scientist who uses various scientific techniques such as biology and chemistry to examine physical evidence to reach a conclusion based on their examination and present their conclusion in a court of law.She noted that former crime labs in Stockton and Modesto combined their resources for the more centralized location in Ripon in a 32,000-square-foot behind Ripon’s City hall. The Central Valley facility serves 42 counties with two field labs and has a staff of 292 employees.