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Council keeps Boston Police forensic lab resource review in committee after hearing
Summary
Councilors agreed to keep a docket in committee after a public hearing on resourcing for the Boston Police forensic (SANE/sexual assault evidence) laboratory; committee chair said the lab is again meeting a 30‑day testing standard but staffing and equipment needs remain central to continued compliance.
The Boston City Council’s Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice reported on Sept. 23 that it will keep a review of resources for the Boston Police forensic laboratory in committee after a public hearing.
Councilor Ricardo P. Santana, who chairs the committee, said the panel heard testimony on Sept. 15 from Boston Police forensics leaders about staffing shortages and turnover at the laboratory that have affected case processing. Santana said survivors of sexual assault deserve timely testing and that resourcing the lab appropriately is essential to justice.
“Survivors of sexual assault deserve justice in a timely manner,” Councilor Santana said, noting the lab has staffing challenges but is “now meeting” the state mandate for testing sexual assault kits within 30 calendar days. The committee recommended the docket remain in committee so members can continue oversight and consider needed staffing and equipment investments.
Witnesses at the hearing included Deputy Superintendent Victor Evans from the Bureau of Investigative Services and Kevin Lorade, director of Quality Assurance for the Boston Police Forensics Laboratory. Santana thanked the panel and the public for participating in the Sept. 15 hearing and said the committee will continue working on the matter.
No formal vote to allocate funds or change policy occurred at the Sept. 23 meeting. The docket (Order for a hearing to discuss resources for the Boston Police Forensics Laboratory) remains in committee.
