Over the past two years, it hasn’t been uncommon to see frustrated defense attorneys and prosecutors come before a district judge only to have the defendant’s preliminary hearing continued due to toxicology or other forensic testing that was still in queue at the Bucks County Crime Lab in Ivyland.
In 2014, two defense attorneys told LevittownNow.com they were worried the multiple delays caused by the backlog at the crime lab was keeping their clients in prison longer than they had to be. It was a concern also shared by prosecutors, police and district judges.
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District Judge Joanne Kline voiced her frustration in a delay in drug testing during a 2014 preliminary hearing for a 29-year-old woman who was eventually sentenced to jail for dealing drugs.
“How many more times are we going to continue this?” she asked.
The prosecutor and police officer before the judge said they were still awaiting for test results from the crime lab.
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The woman’s attorney, Craig Penglase, said after the 2014 hearing that he knew of several cases that had several continuances due to lack of lab results.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A recent contract approved by the Bucks County Commissioners could change the problem that has plagued the county.
Upper Moreland, Montgomery County-based National Medical Services Inc. (NMS Labs) has been contracted to take over all toxicology and much of the DNA testing submitted by Bucks County’s 41 police departments.
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According to meeting records, the deal with NMS Labs is for three years and worth $2,865,809.
“I’m absolutely sure we’ve done the right thing for the people of Bucks County,” District Attorney David Heckler said following the approval of the contract.
The small staff that currently works in the facility, which is connected to the coroner’s morgue and office, will be able to interview for jobs at NMS Labs. The morgue will remain where it is in Warminster and stay under the operation of the elected coroner and his staff.
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“I would be remiss if I didn’t make the observation that the county has been very well served over the years – certainly the years I’ve been district attorney- by a group of dedicated people who made that crime lab work. I sort of think of it as the little lab that could,” Heckler said.
The district attorney said increasing testing standards and workload are among the reasons why the work is being outsourced.
He said the staff at the crime lab have “always delivered” and “kept the cost of prosecuting cases down.”
