What happens in the lab after evidence is lifted from a crime scene rarely makes the news. Most people are only exposed to this kind of science when they are watching CSI or some other forensics drama. In North Carolina, however, forensics have been a front page topic for the last month, in a scandal that reeks not only of bad science but of a system that relies more on conviction rates than actual justice.

The exoneration and subsequent formal pardon of Greg Taylor, who served 17 years for a murder he didn't commit, opened the state's eyes to a potential problem within the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) crime labs. Soon after, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper ordered an independent audit of the labs and hired two retired FBI agents to do the work. Their report, released last month, uncovered a mess, to put it simply. In all, the report revealed that agents within the SBI distorted or withheld evidence in over 200 cases, 80 of which led to sentences that are still being served today and three of which led to executions. 

According to the report itself, many of the cases involve positive field tests for blood at the crime scene but negative subsequent tests when that same evidence was tested with more advanced methods in the lab. SBI agents within the lab kept these negative results to themselves time and time again. In addition, they went so far as to testify and submit reports to the court alleging no further contradictory tests were done in the lab when, in fact they were. Lab notes were found to contradict official reports and vice versa. 

At issue in North Carolina is whether or not those people who faced charges in these cases were appropriately charged and whether they were given fair treatment within the justice system. Logically, it seems, if the evidence was overstated or falsely reported, there was no fair treatment and instead the officials within the lab  were motivated by something other than justice.

That motivation may just be favor with the prosecutors' offices. According to Radley Balko with Reason.com "relationships between SBI crime lab researchers and North Carolina prosecutors aren't just cozy, they're downright cuddly." Crime labs play a fact finding role; they are a scientific entity. But when crime lab agents are encouraged to help get convictions rather than find the truth the integrity of the entire system suffers. The lab in NC and many others throughout the country have such tight ties with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in general that science is sometimes sacrificed to "get the bad guy." As a matter of fact, NC is only one of 38 states where the forensics lab is ultimately controlled by a law enforcement agency or prosecutor's office, an obvious perversion of their unbiased fact-finding role.

While the country needs an unbiased, independent forensics agency to oversee all labs like these and we hope to help make that happen, North Carolina is in need of immediate change. Activists have protested on the state capitol's lawn with the NAACP and ACLU demanding significant action. Join us at Change.org in doing the same by signing the petition below. Let North Carolina serve as an example to all, showing just how disastrous the effects of flawed forensics can be. 

Photo Credit: Hakan Dahlstrom