HPD Lab Investigator Releases First Report

The independent investigator of the Houston Crime Lab released the first part of his report today. In the report, Michael Bromwich, a partner at the law firm Fried Frank and a former US Justice Department Official, detailed several problems of the now infamous lab.

The report argues that the Houston Police Department and the City of Houston failed to give the lab enough funding to hire qualified scientists and technicians. Many employees left because of low compensation.

Furthermore, the lack of funding resulted in substandard equipment and poor testing and storage conditions. The report states that the lab had six years of roof leaks which could have jeopardized DNA testing. Furthermore, the 2001 Tropical Storm Allison flooded the lab and ruined biological evidence.

The report also discusses instances of "drylabbing" which is when technicians fake the testing of drugs. There are at least four documented instances of drylabbing.

The HPD Crime Lab scandal broke in November 2002. The integrity of DNA, ballistic, toxicology, and serology testing have been called into question. DNA re-testing in at least 400 cases is likely to occur.

The report is available on the web here.