Crime Lab reduces case backlog, official says
Agency completed 1,000 cases more in 2006 than in 2005
By Kathleen Baydala
The Clarion-Ledger (MS)
January 13, 2007
An increase in funding and staffing has helped the Mississippi Crime Lab reduce its persistent backlog of cases, said interim Director Sam Howell.
The Crime Lab's budget increased in July from $6.7 million to $7.6 million, which allowed it to employ 22 new workers, Howell said this week. Most of the new workers were trainees.
The lab now has about 80 people on staff and eight vacancies.
"We are looking for experienced DNA analysts and toxicologists. They're experienced positions, and that's why we still haven't filled them," Howell said.
Howell said the increase in staff has allowed the Crime Lab to complete 1,000 cases more in 2006 than in 2005. The state's four labs completed 21,204 requests for analysis in 2006, which is 4,000 more than in 2005. But they also received 18,788 new requests in 2006, which is 3,000 more than in 2005.
The lab has long struggled with keeping up with the caseload.
In 2003, the lab had a backlog of more than 5,000 cases. And that was down from a 7,700-case backlog in 1999.
"Considering how well the numbers improved, we should be in good shape if we get the eight positions filled and cases come in at the same pace this year," Howell said.
David Clark, district attorney for Madison and Rankin counties, said slow response from the Crime Lab has been a problem since he took office in 2004.
"(Slow response) means it takes us longer to get a case to trial and affects how quickly we can take a dangerous criminal off the streets," he said.
So far, Clark said, he has not noticed any improvement.
Analysis of drugs seized by law enforcement still takes the longest amount of time, and drugs are the most common pieces of evidence Clark's office summits to the lab, he said.
"I would say the average piece of evidence takes about six months to get processed," Clark said.
But Howell said most drug analyses are being completed faster than that.
"The drug section (of the lab) is now experiencing anywhere from a two- to four-week turnaround time, which used to be a problem," he said.
Starkville Police Chief Don Lindley, who also is president of the Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police, said he believes the Crime Lab is doing all it can with its limited resources.
However, Lindley would not say whether he thinks the recent addition of personnel has born a noticeable improvement in the Crime Lab's service.
"I haven't done a survey of all our members," he said. "But that's certainly one of the questions I'll be asking at our upcoming annual conference this summer. (The association) also will be asking the Crime Lab if there is anything we can do to support it."
The Crime Lab still is considering whether to ask for more money in fiscal 2008, Howell said.
In a written statement, Gov. Haley Barbour said, "We must do all we can to get criminals off the streets, and the Crime Lab is an important part of that process. We will continue our efforts to enhance the Lab's efficiency and get necessary resources to the forensic scientists there."