Amador County – The District Attorneys of five central California counties who rely on the services of the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services Central Valley Crime Lab in Ripon announced Friday that an investigation has been launched by the State Department of Justice into unexplained weight discrepancies within the lab on drugs sent there for analysis by law enforcement agencies in the five counties. Earlier this month, management of the Central Valley Crime Lab became aware of a protocol breach concerning the handling and analysis of a methamphetamine evidence sample. Subsequent investigation and retesting revealed additional methamphetamine samples handled by the same analyst showed lower weights than originally reported. Birgit Fladager, District Attorney of Stanislaus County, James Willett, District Attorney of San Joaquin County, Donald Segerstrom, District Attorney of Tuolumne County, Larry D. Morse II, District Attorney of Merced County and Barbara Yook, Acting District Attorney of Calaveras County, the five counties served by the Ripon lab, were briefed last Wednesday in Modesto by management officials from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services. As a result of that briefing the five District Attorneys are beginning a thorough review of all cases handled by the analyst in question bating back to 2006. The District Attorneys have pledged to begin notifying defendants and defense attorneys in the affected cases. “As prosecutors we have an affirmative obligation under the law to provide any potentially exculpatory information to the defense and we all take the ethical obligation seriously,” said Fladager. “We appreciate officials from the Central Valley Crime Lab Bureau of Forensic Services bringing this matter to our attention. We have all worked with the Ripon crime lab for many years and retain faith in the integrity of the lab and its personnel,” she added. Questions concerning the investigation should be directed to Christine Gisparac, Public Information Officer for the Department of Justice at (510) 622-4500. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Monday, 26 April 2010 06:17
Investigation Launched Into Drug Weight dDiscrepancies At Ripon Crime Lab
Written by Tom-
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Amador County – The District Attorneys of five central California counties who rely on the services of the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services Central Valley Crime Lab in Ripon announced Friday that an investigation has been launched by the State Department of Justice into unexplained weight discrepancies within the lab on drugs sent there for analysis by law enforcement agencies in the five counties. Earlier this month, management of the Central Valley Crime Lab became aware of a protocol breach concerning the handling and analysis of a methamphetamine evidence sample. Subsequent investigation and retesting revealed additional methamphetamine samples handled by the same analyst showed lower weights than originally reported. Birgit Fladager, District Attorney of Stanislaus County, James Willett, District Attorney of San Joaquin County, Donald Segerstrom, District Attorney of Tuolumne County, Larry D. Morse II, District Attorney of Merced County and Barbara Yook, Acting District Attorney of Calaveras County, the five counties served by the Ripon lab, were briefed last Wednesday in Modesto by management officials from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services. As a result of that briefing the five District Attorneys are beginning a thorough review of all cases handled by the analyst in question bating back to 2006. The District Attorneys have pledged to begin notifying defendants and defense attorneys in the affected cases. “As prosecutors we have an affirmative obligation under the law to provide any potentially exculpatory information to the defense and we all take the ethical obligation seriously,” said Fladager. “We appreciate officials from the Central Valley Crime Lab Bureau of Forensic Services bringing this matter to our attention. We have all worked with the Ripon crime lab for many years and retain faith in the integrity of the lab and its personnel,” she added. Questions concerning the investigation should be directed to Christine Gisparac, Public Information Officer for the Department of Justice at (510) 622-4500. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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