Investigation of crime lab finds processing delays
Updated: February 21, 2013
SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois State Police crime labs are taking a long time processing evidence and it's causing some major problems when it comes to putting people behind bars.
Prosecutors have 120 days to take a case to trial before a suspect is released in Illinois.
In June 2012, Ardis Fenn was accused of shooting a man. Key evidence against him didn't make it back in time and he was let go.
According to documents from state police obtained by WCIA-3 Investigates, it takes 172 days to process DNA evidence. That amount of time is two months past the deadline lawyers would need in court.
Ballistics take more than eight months, fingerprints take five and a half, and tire marks nearly a year. The delays may have a lot to do with resources. The lab's budget shows the state slashed spending by more than a quarter a million dollars the last two years and lost two evidence technicians. The lab director says they are still getting the job done.
In June 2012, Ardis Fenn was accused of shooting a man. Key evidence against him didn't make it back in time and he was let go.
According to documents from state police obtained by WCIA-3 Investigates, it takes 172 days to process DNA evidence. That amount of time is two months past the deadline lawyers would need in court.
Ballistics take more than eight months, fingerprints take five and a half, and tire marks nearly a year. The delays may have a lot to do with resources. The lab's budget shows the state slashed spending by more than a quarter a million dollars the last two years and lost two evidence technicians. The lab director says they are still getting the job done.
