Field tests for drugs: Grits for Breakfast notes that, "Cheap and unreliable field tests for drugs have caused hundreds of false convictions in Houston and elsewhere."..But the venerable site adds that it's unclear if eliminating the tests will result in better outcomes - and predicts that officer discretion will likely be even more problematic and discriminatory...Grit's bottom line: "Don't eliminate field tests without tracking outcomes from officer discretion."..."It will be some time before we know whether officers make errors identifying drugs more often than the field tests. Until then, the Texas Forensic Science Commission has been charged with studying the field test issue and reporting back to the legislature by Dec. 1, 2018 with recommendations. That's a welcome development. The FSC should specifically examine whether officer discretion makes more errors than field tests, to the extent possible. And if they can't tell, they should propose experimentation that would determine the question."

POST: "Don't eliminate field tests without tracking outcomes from officer discretion, " published by Grits for Breakfast on July 19, 2017.

GIST: "Cheap and unreliable field tests for drugs have caused hundreds of false convictions in Houston and elsewhere. But it's unclear if eliminating the tests will result in better outcomes. Officer discretion will likely be even more problematic and discriminatory. The department decided to end the tests not because they're notoriously unreliable but because they fear an officer will come into contact with the drug fentanyl and overdose. So the policy is reactionary and rather spur-of-the-moment, not taking into account the possible effects on wrongful convictions. It will be some time before we know whether officers make errors identifying drugs more often than the field tests. Until then, the Texas Forensic Science Commission has been charged with studying the field test issue and reporting back to the legislature by Dec. 1, 2018 with recommendations. That's a welcome development. The FSC should specifically examine whether officer discretion makes more errors than field tests, to the extent possible. And if they can't tell, they should propose experimentation that would determine the question. It would have been nice had such research occurred before changing policies, but instead, once again, law enforcement is leaping before looking."

The entire story can be found at:
http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.ca/2017/07/dont-eliminate-field-tests-without.html

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. 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.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html 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.