Forensic panel shouldn't sit still
An undated file photo from the forensic evidence lab at Police Department headquarters in Mineola. Credit: NCPD
The state forensic commission charged with overseeing crime laboratories like the one recently shut down in Nassau County needs to do a far better job than it has in the past.
An analysis recently released by State Inspector General Ellen Biben found the New York State Commission on Forensic Science didn't respond to reports that the Nassau County police crime lab wasn't properly run. It failed to add oversight or reprimand the lab when it was placed on probation by a private accrediting agency, and did little to let Nassau officials like the county executive and district attorney know about the problems.
So it's disappointing that last week the commission voted against adopting the recommendations in the report, including setting clearer standards, requiring uniform reporting of lab conditions, mandating continued education and certification for analysts, improving the effectiveness of inspections, and adding transparency to the accrediting process.
If the commission doesn't think Biben's commonsense recommendations are appropriate, it must come up with its own remedies. The status quo as it played out in Nassau, with criminal-case verdicts called into question, sample retests needed and faith in law enforcement shaken, is unacceptable.
The commission did a poor job of assuring this lab was run properly, and communicating when it wasn't. Even if members' claims that they lack the money and power necessary to do the job right are true, then they need to adopt effective methods and fight for the ability to use them -- not simply cling to a system that's proved disastrous.
