State Crime Lab Accreditation Restored

The state crime lab in Meriden had its accreditation restored Tuesday by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors after hiring new staff and making other institutional changes in the six months since it was revoked, according to a statement from the Connecticut Governor's Office.

“The decision today by the accreditation panel is welcomed news and certainly a positive step forward as we continue making improvements to restore the state’s crime lab,” said Governor Dannel Malloy in the statement.

The society pulled the lab's accreditation in August 2011, after a federal audit in July raised concerns about the lab's supervision, data security, quality assurance and other issues, according to the Hartford Courant. A major backlog of evidence processing – including a six month wait to process rape kits – also came to light last summer and fall.

Following the report, the Malloy Administration formed a panel with state experts from a variety of organizations to create "short- and long-term strategies" to address the issues.  In September, Malloy to hire 12 new staff in specific roles to help the lab get up to speed and stay up to speed.

“As I’ve said before, prior years of allowing dwindling resources for the lab resulted in an intolerable backlog and undermined our criminal justice system," Malloy said in the statement. "My administration will continue its efforts to implement improved procedures and provide the critical resources necessary, so that once again the crime lab will be a national model."

The restoration allows the lab to again access the FBI DNA data bank. The lab will immediately request access, according to Office of Policy and Management Under Secretary Mike Lawlor, who has led much of the state's effort since August to improve the lab.

“We are optimistic that will happen soon,” Lawler said.