CASES BACKING UP IN STATE CRIME LABS

State Police Seek More Money From Legislature Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- State police have asked the General Assembly for more
money to reduce a backlog of cases at Indiana's crime laboratories, but
even if they get the money, authorities may need years to clear the backlog.

That backlog was recently 5,287 cases at crime labs where law-enforcement
agencies statewide send evidence to be tested. Police describe the
situation as a crisis, but the logjam is nothing new.

As long ago as 1995, work held up in crime labs was delaying trials. In
1997, the Indiana State Police stopped accepting new cases for DNA testing
for several months as the pile of cases grew. They also switched to a
different kind of DNA testing.

For a time, new DNA technology allowed the labs to catch up, but demand
continued to outstrip resources, and now there is a wait of almost a year
for DNA testing.

State police have labs in Evansville, Fort Wayne, Lowell and Indianapolis.
All but the one in Fort Wayne conduct DNA tests, and all perform other
tests, including firearms and bullet examinations, fingerprinting, drug
analysis and document exams.

Vincennes Detective Mark Dupire said DNA testing, when DNA is available, is
critical for a successful prosecution.

''It's obviously something that you cannot not do, because if you don't,
then the defense will kill you,'' Dupire told The Indianapolis Star.

State police say the swamped labs frustrate them, too.

''We're a victim of our own success,'' State Police Superintendent Melvin
Carraway said.

Law-enforcement agencies around the state saw the power of scientific
evidence and rushed to ask for help from state police labs, Carraway said.

A measure was introduced in the legislature this year to raise $8 million a
year for the labs with a new $15 fine added to those already paid for such
things as traffic tickets.

The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee but died in the Senate
Finance Committee. Carraway and Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who supported the
measure, promised to continue looking for ways to get the proposal into law
this year.

The new fee would fund a second shift at the crime labs, essentially
doubling the current staffing of 57 scientists and technicians.

Prosecutors are concerned about the situation.

''I think it's desperate,'' said Steve Johnson, executive director of the
Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. ''There are probably some cases
coming in now that they'll never test before trial.''