Inspector general finds systemic failures in Nassau Crime Lab procedures, management and oversight
ALBANY - New York State Inspector General Ellen Biben Thursday released an investigative report that found systemic problems at the Nassau County Police Department’s Forensic Evidence Bureau went largely undetected, ignored, or were not properly addressed due to failures at all levels of the lab’s management and oversight – from the laboratory itself, up through the Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County leadership, and ultimately the agency charged with forensic laboratory oversight in New York State, the Commission on Forensic Science.
The Inspector General’s investigation – conducted as per Governor Andrew Cuomo’s February 25, 2011 Executive Order which directed the Inspector General to investigate the oversight and operation of the crime lab – found these compound failures enabled a substandard lab to operate for far too long.
The report found that since its creation in 2003, the lab suffered from weak leadership, a dysfunctional quality management system, analysts with inconsistent training and qualifications, and outdated and incomplete testing equipment and procedures. As a result, in a four-year period, the lab was twice placed on probation by a private accrediting agency, a sanction unprecedented among forensic laboratories in New York State.
“The chronic failures of the Nassau County crime lab deprived Nassau County, the criminal justice system, and the public of their right to have complete and unfettered confidence in forensic testing,” said Biben. “We have recommended an expanded review of the lab’s results – along with other recommendations - to restore that confidence.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Let the lawsuits begin~ bpb
Showing posts with label New York COBIS Detroit crime lab ballistic evidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New York COBIS Detroit crime lab ballistic evidence. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Ballistic Evidence crime lab shut down!
Makes you ask just how effective New York's COBIS program is.
Detroit Police lab shut down after probe finds errors
BY BEN SCHMITT AND JOE SWICKARD • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS •September 25, 2008
The Detroit Police crime lab is so riddled with errors that officials ordered an immediate shut down today, saying that the local criminal justice system could be at risk. A Michigan State Police audit of the Detroit Police firearms lab revealed a 10% error rate in ballistic evidence and led to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Police Chief James Barren to announce the closing of all operations of the crime lab.
"If we have even one person in prison on evidence that was improperly done, that's a huge problem," Worthy said. "As prosecutors we completely rely on the findings of police crime lab experts every day in court and we present this information to juries. And when there are failures of this magnitude, there is a complete betrayal of trust."The audit said: "If this 10 % error-rate holds, the negative impact on the judicial system would be substantial, with a strong likelihood of wrongful convictions and a valid concern about numerous appeals.
"Questions about the firearms testing in the Detroit lab were raised in April after defense attorney Marvin Barnett determined that police mishandled evidence in a shooting case. Former Chief Ella Bully-Cummings closed the firearms unit and requested the State Police to conduct an audit.Barnett was trying a double homicide case and questioned whether 42spent shell casings could have come from the same weapon as the crime lab indicated.
He hired former Michigan State Police firearms examiner David Balash to review the evidence, and determined that 17casings came from one weapon and 25 came from a second weapon."Oh My God I cant tell you how catastrophic this is," Balash said today after learning about the audit "That kind of number – I never would have thought it. You could have people in prison who shouldn't be there."Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. also attended a press conference this morning at Detroit Police Headquarters to announce the findings.
Cockrel and Barren made the decision to close the entire lab, which also handles fingerprints, DNA and drug evidence."I want to make it very clear that the problems that have since been uncovered as a result of this audit did not occur on my watch,"Cockrel said. "However they have now come to light on my watch. We have a serious problem within the crime lab."Worthy said members of her staff will team up with Barren and Michigan State Police investigators to review crime lab findings.
The problems could lead to numerous appeals, Worthy said."It's a huge can of worms," she said, adding that criminal charges are a possibility.All 68 employees of Detroit's crime lab will be reassigned while an examination into what caused the problems takes place, Barren said."I assure you we're one team and we're going to get to the bottom of this," he said.
Detroit Police lab shut down after probe finds errors
BY BEN SCHMITT AND JOE SWICKARD • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS •September 25, 2008
The Detroit Police crime lab is so riddled with errors that officials ordered an immediate shut down today, saying that the local criminal justice system could be at risk. A Michigan State Police audit of the Detroit Police firearms lab revealed a 10% error rate in ballistic evidence and led to Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Police Chief James Barren to announce the closing of all operations of the crime lab.
"If we have even one person in prison on evidence that was improperly done, that's a huge problem," Worthy said. "As prosecutors we completely rely on the findings of police crime lab experts every day in court and we present this information to juries. And when there are failures of this magnitude, there is a complete betrayal of trust."The audit said: "If this 10 % error-rate holds, the negative impact on the judicial system would be substantial, with a strong likelihood of wrongful convictions and a valid concern about numerous appeals.
"Questions about the firearms testing in the Detroit lab were raised in April after defense attorney Marvin Barnett determined that police mishandled evidence in a shooting case. Former Chief Ella Bully-Cummings closed the firearms unit and requested the State Police to conduct an audit.Barnett was trying a double homicide case and questioned whether 42spent shell casings could have come from the same weapon as the crime lab indicated.
He hired former Michigan State Police firearms examiner David Balash to review the evidence, and determined that 17casings came from one weapon and 25 came from a second weapon."Oh My God I cant tell you how catastrophic this is," Balash said today after learning about the audit "That kind of number – I never would have thought it. You could have people in prison who shouldn't be there."Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. also attended a press conference this morning at Detroit Police Headquarters to announce the findings.
Cockrel and Barren made the decision to close the entire lab, which also handles fingerprints, DNA and drug evidence."I want to make it very clear that the problems that have since been uncovered as a result of this audit did not occur on my watch,"Cockrel said. "However they have now come to light on my watch. We have a serious problem within the crime lab."Worthy said members of her staff will team up with Barren and Michigan State Police investigators to review crime lab findings.
The problems could lead to numerous appeals, Worthy said."It's a huge can of worms," she said, adding that criminal charges are a possibility.All 68 employees of Detroit's crime lab will be reassigned while an examination into what caused the problems takes place, Barren said."I assure you we're one team and we're going to get to the bottom of this," he said.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)