The Vance Report, a study of the Mass. State Police Crime Lab, is now available on our site. This report details issues at the crime lab and makes several key recommendations. The statistics cited garnered the most headlines when the report was issued in June 2007. According to the report, the lab has "899 unassigned and unworked criminal cases, approximately 4,000 unassigned and unworked sexual assault kits, 2,000 assigned DNA cases, but unworked DNA cuttings." There are "old and unassigned DNA cuttings from more than 10,000 cases. Potential cases having DNA evidence total more than 16,000 at the present time." The report was endorsed by the Secretary of Public Safety and Security and the Superintendent of the Mass. State Police, who are committed to using the report as a "blueprint for reform."
More information on criminal procedure is available at Mass. Law About Criminal Procedure.
