Nassau County Crime Lab Shut Down

The Nassau County crime lab recently became the only police lab in the nation to completely close its doors due to its inability to follow procedures.


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Nassau County Crime Lab Shut Down April 21, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Prosecutors trust that the information they receive from crime labs is correct and accurate. The results from tests run at the lab are used to help build cases against those accused of crimes. When this information is inaccurate it can lead to questions for both past and future cases, and in some instances, lead to innocent people being convicted of crimes they did not commit. The Nassau County crime lab recently became the only police lab in the nation to completely close its doors due to its inability to follow procedures.Officials are now faced with the prospect of retesting several samples in drug and DWI matters. Information surfaced that showed that the lab equipment used to measure a driver's blood-alcohol content had not been properly calibrated for many years which led to questions about its accuracy. The lab also had problems keeping track of which evidence belonged to which case, as at least nine test results were found to have been stapled to the wrong defendants. The issues for those convicted of drug crimes are even more concerning. Officials do not know if the scales measuring the amount of drugs were properly calibrated, as technicians did not include this information in reports. Also, the scales were not adequately cleared after each test, meaning that residue may not have been removed for tests in other cases. Accurate measurements are crucial in drug cases, as the amount of drugs seized can mean the difference between a felony or misdemeanor charge. Heroin and cocaine charges rely heavily on these measuring devices. According to prosecutors, these two drugs made up nearly half of the drug arrests in the county, which could mean that several cases were based upon inaccurate evidence. All felony drug convictions since 2007 will be reviewed to determine if lab procedure resulted in faulty convictions, adding up to more than 3,000 drug cases alone. The review of blood-alcohol test results is expected to go back to 2006. The county has recently sent out letters to at least 300 prisoners who may have been wrongly convicted due to the problems at the lab. If you or someone you know was charged with a crime in Nassau County, consult an experienced attorney to understand the options that may be available to you.Article provided by Grunwald & Seman, P.C. Visit us at www.gslawyers.com