tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post6634290373487780189..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: The fundamental role of states in crime lab regulationGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-13829172181339484042012-03-28T13:04:52.733-05:002012-03-28T13:04:52.733-05:00There has been opposition, for sure to taking cont...There has been opposition, for sure to taking control of crime labs from PDs - generally from whatever PD would lose turf - but usually as in Houston, independence is suggested after some scandal that put the agency on their heels and makes their opposition relatively weak, with few institutional allies.<br /><br />And 12:28, the recommendation to make labs independent comes from the National Academy of Sciences - do you think their agenda is "pro-criminal" or "pro-accuracy"? Warm and fuzzy has nothing to do with it.<br /><br />As for your addendum at 12:55, name calling while hiding behind anonymity "is what it is": A punk move by a coward. If you're going to engage in such poor behavior in public, own it and put your name own it.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-50582327548051304022012-03-28T12:55:47.519-05:002012-03-28T12:55:47.519-05:00Not really, 12:40. One just gets the very distinct...Not really, 12:40. One just gets the very distinct impression from reading many comments on Grits' blog that they are from criminals (probationers, ex-cons, sex offenders, etc.) or their supporters. They are usually being very critical of law enforcment, prosecution or the correctional system and support just about any measure which would weaken or hinder the ability of the state to bring guilty criminals to justice. They typically ignore the fact that crimes really do occur and the victims really do exist. Whether you call them pro-criminal, anti-law enforcement or bleeding heart liberals, it really doesn't matter nor does it make anyone feel superior. It just is what it is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-44180906275928889332012-03-28T12:40:42.490-05:002012-03-28T12:40:42.490-05:00Anon 12:28 like to throw the "pro-criminal&qu...Anon 12:28 like to throw the "pro-criminal" lable at those with whom he disagrees. I suppose he thinks that somehow makes him superior. But, it actually just shows his ignorance and narrowmindedness. After all, its really just a matter of perspective. For example, you could just as easily lable the people that he attacks as pro-constitution, pro-fairness, pro-credibility in the criminal justice system, etc. Or, you could lable 12:28 as pro-government and those he attacks as pro-people. In the end there all just lables and using them may make 12:28 feel superior but really accomplishes nothing other than demonstrating his ignorance and narrow-mindedness. If a person has to resort to name calling, it just shows his argument is deficient in some way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-32843460193173753842012-03-28T12:28:38.544-05:002012-03-28T12:28:38.544-05:00It's not surprising that law enforcement hasn&...It's not surprising that law enforcement hasn't expressed any opposition to independent crime labs. Believe it or not, most law enforcement agencies/officers are not in the business of trying to influence forensic scientists in their findings. Instead, all they want is for the forensic analysis to be done quickly, at little or no cost to the agency, and correctly. It really does no good to try to "cook" the results. If there are errors, eventually that information will come out. <br /><br />Regardless of whether the labs operate under the umbrella of law enforcement or independently, law enforcement agencies will continue to be the principal customers for forsensic testing. The labs will continue to need appropriate funding and staffing to do good work. If it will make the pro-criminal crowd feel all warm and fuzzy to have independent labs, then have at it. My guess is that at the end of the day, the quality of the work and the results of the testing will remain pretty much the same if you look at the stats and the data.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com