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“I want justice for my child. I want justice for my grandchildren”

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Hundreds of Chicago murder cases from as far back as 2014 have DNA evidence from the crime scene: it just hasn’t been processed yet by Illinois’ Forensic Science Lab. State senators met in Chicago on Monday to find out why.

An investigative report from a Chicago TV station revealed about 750 DNA samples had been sent to the state crime lab, but were never touched. That’s led to delays in solving murder cases from as far back as 2014.

Carmia Tang of Chicago is with The Sisterhood, a gun violence advocacy group. She told the Senate Public Health committee about her son Jeremy, who was murdered in September 2017. More than a year later, the DNA in his case is still sitting in a crime lab.

“Just to know that my child wasn’t even worth processing his DNA is an insult to me as a taxpayer,” she fumed.

Representatives from the Illinois State Police, which runs the crime lab, say staff shortages and changes in how DNA samples from sexual assault cases are processed is to blame. They say Illinois’ nearly three year budget impasse also played a small role; a few private vendors that help process DNA samples no longer do business with the state. Still, gun violence advocacy groups have called that answer “unacceptable.”

* There are no quotation marks on this next passage, but if this summary is accurate, it’s the absolute height of bureaucratic blame-shifting…

Lt. Colonel Sean Cormiere, with the Division of Forensic Sciences, said the problem started in 2010, when a new law was passed that requires quicker processing of DNA for sexual assault cases.

So, the problem isn’t the backlog, the problem is the law requiring quicker processing. Right. Stick with that.

Sheesh.

* Fox 32…

Crime lab officials said it could take up to five years to reduce the current backlog of over 13,000 cases. […]

State police told Senator Patricia Van Pelt that the latest crime lab numbers statewide show an overall backlog of 13,390. Those are cases which have been at the lab for over 30 days. Three-thousand-six-hundred and ninety-one of those are waiting for DNA analysis. The others include drugs or weapons analysis.

Last Fall, when FOX 32’s Mike Flannery raised questions about the backlog, state police downplayed the problem. On Monday, they admitted that budget and hiring issues have helped create the backlog.

“We did have a period of time with the budget impasse that made it a little more challenging to get things done. Vendors did shut off. We found ways around it. We had to work very closely with vendors. Did we have any vendors that did shut us off? Yes,” said Col. Sean Cormier.

* Well at least he’s finally on record…

After answering questions from the committee for more than an hour, Cormier said he wanted to make it clear that the State Police was not trying to pass the buck.

“This is not an effort to make an excuse for where we are right now,” he said. “We are absolutely not happy with the backlog and turnaround time.”

This problem is not new. It goes back many years. It’s part of the hollowing out of Illinois government and, like every other fiscal problem, was exacerbated by the impasse.

* ABC 7…

Last month, Carmia Tang said her son Jeremy’s case has still not been processed. He was murdered in September 2017 and she said that the “The DNA may give justice.”

On Monday, she echoed those concerns to state leaders.

“It started about Jeremey and I wanted to fight for Jeremy but it’s so much bigger than that now. It’s about everybody,” Tang testified.

Reginice McBride lost her son, 36-year-old Ronald James, last year. The father of five was shot in the head during a robbery near the United Center while he was in his car.

“They told me they have the DNA from a mask a young man wore,” McBride said through tears. “I want justice for my child. I want justice for my grandchildren.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 10:26 am

Comments

The executive branch is in desperate need of strong leadership, someone who will actually do the job they were elected to do, rather than flit around grinding their personal grievances.

Let’s hope we got someone next month who is committed to the gig.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 10:38 am
This is one of many untoward results of the belief that “Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.”

Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 10:39 am
===So, the problem isn’t the backlog, the problem is the law requiring quicker processing. Right. Stick with that.===

Well, to be fair Rich, he’s only a Lt. Colonel. Where was the big guy? Not available for questions?

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 10:41 am
This is absolutely unacceptable. Fund a program to eliminate the backlog and then staff for a maximum two week turnaround. Will have to outsource work to reduce backlog.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 10:46 am
Pritzker’s Criminal Justice Reform Team needs to take this one as one of their top priorities. If there is a lack of skilled people for the lab field, then maybe the Education Team and the Business Team could work together with Criminal Justice Reform to create the educational, job, and business pathways to alleviating this backlog. Rauner’s “squeezin’ the beast” method sure didn’t help. And for someone who wanted reform, Rauner did not have the skills to implement a holistic approach to this issue.

Some backgrounders:

http://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/dna-database-search-by-state.aspx

http://www.ncsl.org/portals/1/documents/cj/dna/illinois.pdf

https://www.fbi.gov/services/laboratory/biometric-analysis/codis/codis-and-ndis-fact-sheet

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 10:47 am
79% - That’s the number of homicide cases in Chicago for which no one is ever charged.

Think about that.

Chicago murderers have an 79% chance of getting away with their crime. Those are really good odds.

Homicide deaths in Chicago are treated like African American deaths in South of the 1950’s.

What a tragedy.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 10:48 am
“So, the problem isn’t the backlog, the problem is the law requiring quicker processing. Right. Stick with that.”

If you put more work on their plate without more resources, something has to give. That’s just logic. By moving rape kits up the priority list, something else has to be moved down.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 10:52 am
==Will have to outsource work to reduce backlog.==

ISP should not have to outsource this important work, but if they absolutely have to outsource the question becomes: which company is going to accept a contract to do it? Lots of businesses refuse to do business with the state since they cant know how long it’ll be until they’ll get paid for their work.

Seems a weak argument for not getting this done, I know, but it’s entirely plausible that only a few companies do this kind of testing.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:07 am
===By moving rape kits up the priority list, something else has to be moved down. ===

Apparently, you did not read the story.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:07 am
The violence in Chicago and other urban areas may be wrong, but it is not completely irrational. No justice- no peace.

Comment by West Sider Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:19 am
I am not sure they can easily outsource this since it is evidence. If the evidence is mishandled by an outsource, you have lost the case. I know a person at State Police who does this work and the processing is very detailed as it should be in a potential criminal case.

Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:20 am
==Representatives from the Illinois State Police, which runs the crime lab, say staff shortages and changes in how DNA samples from sexual assault cases are processed is to blame.==

A new way to victim blame. Incredible.

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:30 am
A Jack. You are right. Outsourcing is difficult and must be done with care. There is no overnight or 6 month solution. But aggressive management can get the process moving.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 11:35 am
Why don’t we get a NCIS team? Whenever I see one of those TV shows they get their DNA tests back within a few minutes. Problem solved.

Comment by SSL Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 12:03 pm
–I am not sure they can easily outsource this since it is evidence–

Very good point.

Any outside vendor would have to be able to guarantee they’d scrupulously document chain of evidence and show up in court to prove it under oath.

Still, there’s a new governor coming. Part of the gig is setting priorities and demanding results.

Get on this out of the gate, Pritzker. Moving the ball on issues like this are what you signed up for.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 12:40 pm
The Lt. Colonel cannot be blamed for this. His only two real tasks are to “look good in uniform” and forward emails while not rocking the boat in any way.

This is a revolving door position that is filled by whoever has “strong administrative skills” but nearly no operational experience. It is little wonder that no one has solved any problems from that chair.

Comment by Winderweezle Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 1:17 pm
The state crime lab shouldn’t wait for legislature to increase appropriations if they are underfunded. It’s clear that this needs a higher priority. There is a lot of grant money and foundation money available if you know where to look.

Comment by Chicagonk Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 5:03 pm
–The state crime lab shouldn’t wait for legislature to increase appropriations if they are underfunded. It’s clear that this needs a higher priority. There is a lot of grant money and foundation money available if you know where to look.–

That’s absurd. The state isn’t going to rattle a cup on the corner to process crime scene evidence. It’s a core responsibility.

And it’s well within the power of the governor to order and set priorities within the agencies under his control.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 5:51 pm
2 thoughts:
1) why is the ISP lab processing DNA for Chicago? As one of the largest cities in the country shouldn’t CPD have its own lab?
2) maybe the General Assembly should pass the resolution asking for an audit of DNA processing http://www.wspynews.com/news/local/local-representatives-backing-house-joint-resolution-for-illinois-state-police/article_5b2d95d8-ea75-11e8-bc17-9fe61eceaee3.html

Comment by MyTwoCents Tuesday, Dec 4, 18 @ 7:35 pm
What about police agencies that deliberately don’t collect evidence in the first place, but leave it at the crime scene and then alter the reports? Look at Whiteside county deputies Jeffrey Wunderlich and Jed Renkes failing to collect evidence with the collusion of state’s attorney Terry Costello. Maybe some evidence was discarded or altered at the death scene of motorcyclist Bill Damhoff, who was killed by Wunderlich?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Dec 5, 18 @ 10:28 am