What was the combined budget for all publicly funded crime laboratories?

The choice of $2 billion as the combined budget for all publicly funded crime laboratories accurately reflects the significant investment made in forensic science by governments to aid in criminal investigations. This level of funding is indicative of the resources needed to maintain, operate, and advance crime laboratories, which often require sophisticated technology, highly trained personnel, and extensive facilities to process evidence effectively and efficiently.

This substantial budget allows crime laboratories to not only conduct routine analyses but also to innovate and implement new methodologies in forensic science. It's crucial for ensuring that these labs can meet increasing demands for forensic analysis, particularly as the complexity of crime and the volume of evidence submitted continues to rise. This investment also highlights the importance placed on public safety and the justice system's reliance on accurate, scientific analysis to support criminal investigations and court proceedings.

In context, the other options suggest budgets that are either unrealistically low or do not capture the full extent of funding necessary to support the comprehensive operations of crime labs across the country, which highly rely on advanced technology and expert personnel to fulfill their mandates effectively.