CRIME LAB WOES DELAY JUSTICE

The crime lab at the State Bureau of Investigation is in such straits that
cases all across North Carolina are being delayed and district attorneys have
agreed to submit less evidence for testing.

The SBI lab processes forensic evidence for police departments and sheriff's
offices. But a lack of money and staff is overwhelming the lab.

The SBI is allotted 22 chemists for the lab, and seven of those positions are
vacant. That's just part of the problem. Another indication of the lab's woes
is that there have been as many as 20,000 rape kits waiting for testing. That's
an intolerable denial of justice for victims - or defendants, whichever is
applicable.

There are approximately 700 law enforcement agencies in North Carolina. A few
have fairly sophisticated forensic departments. However, most need help from
the SBI lab. Without that help, investigations stall, trials are delayed,
victims are kept in limbo and the innocent remain suspect.

There are 9,000 drug cases pending at the lab. So the state Conference of
District Attorneys decided to reduce requests involving misdemeanor marijuana
and property-crime cases. It's not enough to solve the lab's problems, but at
this point, every bit helps.

Given the public attitude on crime and criminals and the general demand for
effective law enforcement and prosecution, the situation at the SBI lab is
perplexing. Legislators and the governor must be aware of the problems. In
spite of the state's budget miscalculations in recent years, the crime lab is
one area that should never be allowed to fall into disrepair or disrepute.

North Carolina cannot be lackadaisical with due process for victims and
defendants, but that's the result of underfunding and understaffing the lab.

The district attorneys' decision on marijuana and property-crime cases will not
please most law officers and probably most of the public. Although the DA
conference reports the move will not jeopardize such cases, it still stands as
an extreme move to alleviate an extraordinary and unpalatable situation.

"I just don't throw around the word 'critical' or 'crisis,' but we are really
getting to that stage, if we haven't already gotten there," said Jeff Hunt, the
district attorney for five western North Carolina counties.

It sure seems as if the lab has reached critical stage. If that's not so, then
why has Attorney General Roy Cooper called the lab's backlog a threat to public
safety?

The State Bureau of Investigation needs more money and more employees. The
people of North Carolina need effective law enforcement and prosecution. Those
two observations should settle any argument concerning the SBI's requests. We
shall see if the governor and the General Assembly are listening.