Drug Lab Scandal Prompts Senate GOP to Seek Comprehensive Audit

BOSTON, MA -- Less than a week after the state's highest court vacated more that 21,000 convictions linked to the State Lab drug scandal, Senate Republicans are pushing for a "comprehensive audit" of all state labs to avoid further issues, according to the Eagle-Tribune Tribune.

A bill is expected to be filed Wednesday by the Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr on behalf of the GOP caucus which would require a comprehensive audit of all state forensic labs by Sept. 1.

“The justice system was compromised because a so-called scientist with falsified credentials lied about her work for years,” Tarr, R-Gloucester, told the Eagle-Tribune.

“We want to make certain that those responsible for maintaining the integrity of criminal evidence have proper oversight, ” he said.

Former state chemist Annie Dookhan admitted she faked drug tests, mixed drugs from cases, and kept fraudulent records to maintain an unusually high number of completed cases while working at the Department of Public Health’s Hinton Lab in Jamaica Plain.

Officials say Dookhan's superiors never questioned her workload, but her colleagues did.

Dookhan, who resigned in 2012, was convicted of tampering with evidence, perjury and falsely certifying the presence of illegal drugs.

After a 15-month investigation, the state Inspector General 's Office concluded that Dookhan, who was released after 2 1/2 years in prison, was to blame for tainting of drug- test results..

The investigation also found poor management and a lack of consistent protocols. The lab is now run by the State Police.

Tarr’s proposal requires the state auditor’s office to conduct reviews every three years to “detect and prevent the mishandling of forensic evidence, ” the Eagle-Tribune Tribune reported.

For more on this story read the Eagle- Tribune.

Photo of Annie Dookhan by patch.com.