NCJ Number
66856
Date Published
1980
Length
147 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCES SERVICES IN THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, CONDUCTED BY THE CONNETICUT JUSTICE COMMISSION, IS DISCUSSSED; RESEARCH FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
THE RESEARCH PHASE OF THE STUDY INVOLVED TWO ACTIVITIES: THE COMPILATION OF MATERIAL DESCRIBING THE OPERATIONS AND CAPABILITIES OF EACH STATE LABORATORY FACILITY; AND THE CONDUCT OF TWO USER SURVEYS TO ASCERTAIN THE OPINIONS OF POLICE AND JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES INCLUDING OFFICERS, JUDGES, DEFENDERS, AND PROSECUTORS. A TOTAL OF 145 OF THE 321 SURVEYS WAS RETURNED, AND RESULTS WERE ANALYZED STATISTICALLY. HAVING REVIEWED THE CONCLUSIONS AND ISSUES RAISED BY THE DATA ON THE LABORATORIES AND REPORTS OF USERS OF THESE SERVICES, THE TASK FORCE EXAMINED ALTERNATIVES TO CHANGE AND DEVELOPED SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS. FACILITIES CONSIDERED IN THE STUDY INCLUDED THE STATE TOXICOLOGY LABORATORY, THE CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY, THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER, AND THE NEW HAVEN P.D. CRIME LAB. IN GENERAL, FORENSIC SCIENCES SERVICES IN CONNECTICUT ARE UNDERDEVELOPED AND SUFFER FROM INADEQUATE FACILITIES, TOO FEW AND POORLY TRAINED PERSONNEL, AND THE ABSENCE OF MODERN INSTRUMENTATION AND TECHNOLOGIES. USERS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICES IN THE STATE ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY, SCOPE, AND TIMELINESS OF SERVICES. SERVICES DEVELOPMENT LACKS COORDINATION AND PLANNING. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A MAJOR EFFORT BE LAUNCHED TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE CRIME SCENE SEARCH OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. DEPARTMENTS WITH 75 OR MORE SWORN PERSONNEL SHOULD EMPLOY FULL-TIME EVIDENCE TECHNICIANS FOR CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION. SUITABLE TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR SUCH PERSONNEL SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED. IN ADDITION, THE STATE FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORY SHOULD FORMULATE AN EVIDENTIARY MANAGEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL FOR STATEWIDE USE. TABLES, FLOW CHARTS, AND APPENDIXES ARE PROVIDED IN THE REPORT. (LWM)