Massachusetts breathalyzer machine crisis: Boston Globe calls for a full review because of concerns over the reliability of the breathalyzers - and says that, "Although it may not reach the level of the Annie Dookhan case — the state lab chemist who compromised hundreds of drug cases a few years ago — the prospect of reams of unreliable evidence suggests unfair convictions and that potential rash of retrials. State authorities need to be upfront about any possible forensic science failures. It’s a matter of basic criminal justice, and of potentially vast and unnecessary costs to taxpayers."

EDITORIAL: "Doubts about  the accuracy of breathalyzer devices to test a driver’s blood-alcohol levels have lingered for years. And yet the criminal justice system relies on these tests in drunk-driving cases. But now that some prosecutors have abandoned the test until a full review can be completed, it’s only sensible for district attorneys statewide to suspend use of breathalyzers as well. As the Globe reported last week, some district attorneys are concerned about the reliability of breathalyzers. Calibration issues in the machine seem to be at the center of the review, but the exact nature of the problem remains unclear. This lack of confidence in the device, as well as the uneven use of breathalyzers throughout the Commonwealth, raises troubling questions. Potentially hundreds of charges of operating under the influence across the state can be legally challenged now, costing the state and taxpayers if those cases need to be reopened or retried. In the interest of transparency and accountability, a thorough and independent review should be launched, in addition to the one now being conducted by the State Police, and all use of breath tests should be halted by all district attorneys until the investigation is completed........"

The entire editorial can be found at:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2015/04/26/public-owed-explanation-breathalyzer-glitch/A7RnK5eHxLk7LoedueMmnK/story.html

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: 
 
Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.
 
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/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
 
http://smithforensic.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html
 
I look forward to hearing from readers at:

hlevy15@gmail.com.
 
Harold Levy; Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog;