Nassau crime lab problems, then and now
NYS Commission on Forensic Science defense attorney Mavin Schechter speaks to commission about the recent decision by a national forensic lab accreditation board to put the Nassau police lab on probation. (Dec. 7, 2010) Credit: Craig Ruttle
A national accreditation agency put the lab on probation twice. Among the issues it cited and, in the 2006 case, how it solved them:
2006
* Appropriate controls not in place for identification of human blood.
Response: The lab temporarily stopped providing such analysis.
* Lab failed to conduct and document an annual review of its quality system.
Response: Lab conducted the review for 2005 in June 2006.
* Chemicals used in drug identification not checked for reliability.
Response: Lab established expiration dates and a bar code system to check age of chemicals.
* Two lab balances not checked yearly against an outside calibration system.
Response: Instruments later calibrated.
* Conclusions of racial origin of human hair inconsistent with lab work notes.
Response: Lab temporarily discontinued examinations of hair.
2010
* Failure to comply with procedures on maintaining equipment and instruments.
* Failure to properly document procedures for record storage.
* Failure to properly provide the board with a report of the department's internal yearly review.
* At least five submissions of fingerprints not packaged or under any seal.
* Evidence storage and evidence room found unsecured.
* Technical reviews on blood-alcohol results conducted by a supervisor without proof of training to do so.
* High humidity and leaking ceiling caused water damage to a lab machine.
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