NCJ Number
12720
Journal
Wisconsin Law Review Volume: 1973 Issue: 3 Dated: (1973) Pages: 727-789
Date Published
1973
Length
63 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF FORENSIC LABORATORIES, THEIR EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL, AND A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF SPECIFIC PROCEDURES MOST OFTEN USED.
Abstract
MOST FORENSIC LABORATORIES ARE STRIVING TO INCREASE THE SPECIFICITY OF THEIR TESTING PROCEDURES BY ACQUIRING ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE BUT DIFFICULT AND TIME-CONSUMING TO OPERATE. YET, THE LABORATORIES DO NOT HAVE PERSONNEL QUALIFIED TO USE THIS INSTRUMENTATION. MOREOVER, THE EQUIPMENT IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF LABORATORIES IS QUITE SUFFICIENT IF USED, AND USED PROPERLY. RATHER THAN SPENDING FUNDS ON MORE EXPENSIVE, SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT, THE LABORATORIES' PROBLEM OF TRYING TO PROVIDE MORE SPECIFIC TESTS TO IDENTIFY UNKNOWN DRUGS MIGHT BEST BE SOLVED BY HIRING MORE QUALIFIED PERSONNEL WHO CAN OBTAIN THE NECESSARY RESULTS WITH THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT. PRIMARY CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO THE COLOR TESTS, CHROMATOGRAPHY, AND SPECTROSCOPIC ANALYSIS. THE VARIOUS TESTS ARE DISCUSSED SEPARATELY, AND THEN AS THEY ARE USED IN MARIHUANA AND LSD ANALYSIS. MARIHUANA AND LSD WERE CHOSEN FOR EXAMINATION BECAUSE THE LIMITATIONS OF DRUG ASSAY IN IDENTIFYING THESE DRUGS ARE COMMON TO MOST OTHER STREET DRUGS. MOREOVER, LSD AND MARIJUANA PRESENT UNIQUE PROBLEMS IN FORENSIC ANALYSIS WHICH MERIT SPECIAL ATTENTION. ALL TECHNICAL TERMS ARE DEFINED AND EXPLAINED AND PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS PAID TO THE ADEQUACY OF THE VARIOUS PROCEDURES FOR COURTROOM USE. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A SET OF IDENTIFICATION TESTS OF PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING SPECIFICITY ARE MADE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)