The beleaguered D.C. crime lab has regained partial accreditation after nearly three years of being unable to process evidence fully (article available here).
The D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences’ application for accreditation of its forensic biology and forensic chemistry units was approved late last week by the ANSI National Accreditation Board. The labs are responsible for DNA analysis, fingerprints, drug testing, and other evidence processing. DFS will now be able to process evidence again instead of outsourcing all of the work to federal and private labs.
There are at least two other units within the lab awaiting reaccreditation. That includes the firearms unit, according to the Mayor’s Office, and the fingerprints unit. It’s unclear what the timeline might be for those to be reaccredited.
It’s been nearly three years since the lab lost accreditation due to accuracy concerns and attempts to cover up errors (previous coverage available here).
Earlier this year, DC Mayor Bowser attempted to move the crime lab under MPD control. The proposal received a lot of pushback from councilmembers, who argued the measure would defeat the purpose of having an independent crime lab. Bowser’s effort ultimately failed.