STORY: '2nd wave' hits DAs in state drug lab scandal," by reporter Heather Wysocki, published by The Cape Cod Times on July 9, 2013.
GIST: "But while they wait, other, longer-reaching issues are beginning to come forward. "There could be a whole wave of things we've yet to experience," Glenny said. In cases with a drug conviction, the state Registry of Motor Vehicles is notified, and driver's license suspensions can be levied. Defendants already have come forward asking that if they plead guilty to lesser charges they not receive a second suspension, Lynch said. The district attorney's office is also anticipating complications years down the road, such as when someone with a conviction has difficulty getting a job or wants to have a subsequent, more serious offense based on a Dookhan case re-examined, Lynch said. For some defendants, getting cases dropped or changed to lesser offenses could have "tremendous significance," Galibois said. "It has a great impact on their ability to rehabilitate themselves and get jobs in the future." In addition, the hundreds of samples that must be retested to see if convictions stand are creating a backlog in the state laboratory system, Glenny said. After the state Health Department's Hinton lab was shut down in August, the state police — who run their own crime lab — took over testing of drug samples, but no additional staff has been added. Before the allegations against Dookhan, having a drug tested took about six months. Now, Glenny said, it's "in excess" of nine to 10 months. "It's more volume straining an already strained system," he said."
GIST: "But while they wait, other, longer-reaching issues are beginning to come forward. "There could be a whole wave of things we've yet to experience," Glenny said. In cases with a drug conviction, the state Registry of Motor Vehicles is notified, and driver's license suspensions can be levied. Defendants already have come forward asking that if they plead guilty to lesser charges they not receive a second suspension, Lynch said. The district attorney's office is also anticipating complications years down the road, such as when someone with a conviction has difficulty getting a job or wants to have a subsequent, more serious offense based on a Dookhan case re-examined, Lynch said. For some defendants, getting cases dropped or changed to lesser offenses could have "tremendous significance," Galibois said. "It has a great impact on their ability to rehabilitate themselves and get jobs in the future." In addition, the hundreds of samples that must be retested to see if convictions stand are creating a backlog in the state laboratory system, Glenny said. After the state Health Department's Hinton lab was shut down in August, the state police — who run their own crime lab — took over testing of drug samples, but no additional staff has been added. Before the allegations against Dookhan, having a drug tested took about six months. Now, Glenny said, it's "in excess" of nine to 10 months. "It's more volume straining an already strained system," he said."
The entire story can be found at:
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130708/NEWS/307080320
PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
Dear reader: Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following developments relating to the Dookhan debacle;
I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site.
The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/
Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.
Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.
