The Closure of the Nassau County Police Department Forensic Evidence Bureau
by Moderator on Nov.14, 2011, under Topics for discussion
The Nassau County Police laboratory, the Forensic Evidence Bureau (FEB) was shut down after critical reports by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASLCD/LAB) and a subsequent review by the New York State Inspector General. The IG report may be reviewed at:
What makes this incident disquieting is that the parties knew (or perhaps should have known) of these shortcomings yet no one took the lead to deal with them. ASCLD/LAB advised the lab of its deficiencies. It is unclear how high up within the police department the information reached. The District Attorney and the County Administrator claim they were unaware. One can ask what role, if any, the State’s Commission on Forensic Science had in the oversight process.
Here are some questionsfor readers to consider about this issue:
- Who is ultimately responsible – the lab, police agency, city or State?
- How might this situation be resolved?
- Should labs be part of law enforcement agencies or some other unit of government?
- What should the State’s Forensic Science Commission do to minimize s repeat of this situation?
- How can the legal system deal with past and current cases? Can past lab work be trusted or do all cases have to be retested?
