Opinion

Garner: Independent forensics lab on way to becoming model The new forensicsoperation in Houstonhas come a long wayto regaining public trust

A little over six months ago, the city of Houston, beset with controversy over problems with the Houston Police Department's crime lab, started down a tough, new path. The journey is one that will be watched closely by the forensic community nationally and internationally for its ambition and its scope.

The crime lab and forensic operations for decades been a part of HPD - sometimes with less-than-stellar results. Botched work ultimately would lead to the exoneration of three Harris County men. Earlier this year, the lab and forensics operation became an independent entity: the Houston Forensic Science Center Inc. The idea behind independence was to follow the call of a 2009 report by the National Academy of Sciences that said forensic operations should be independent of law enforcement and prosecutors to ensure science could be done without bias or the perception of bias. Across the country, others took steps in that direction. In Washington, D.C., the city's forensic operations became part of the health department. In a few states, such as Virginia and Arkansas, the forensic labs were established as departments outside the state police and state attorney's offices.

But Houston's move was unprecedented. Here, in Texas' largest city and the fourth-largest in the nation, the mayor decided to make a complete and clean break. The Houston Forensic Science Center would answer to a board of directors. Not to police. Not to prosecutors. Not even directly to the city. As a forensic scientist with some 30 years in the field, having overseen the construction and build-out of labs around the world, the concept so intrigued me I decided to ditch my retirement to help make this idea reality.

Now, just six months into the journey, Houston is well on its way to turning this experiment into a model for other cities and jurisdictions. Some highlights:

1 The eight disciplines in which we operate - DNA/biology, latent prints, controlled substances, toxicology, crime scene, firearms, forensic audio/video and digital forensics - are expanding.

1 Four of the disciplines were recently awarded high-level, international accreditation, and the Forensics Science Center is well on its way to getting similar accreditation for its other sections.

1 The center has been awarded two significant grants, including $1.26 million from the National Institute of Justice that will be used to purchase high-tech DNA-analyzing equipment that will help us increase our capacity.

1 We are seeking to offer our services to other law enforcement agencies, decreasing our reliance on the city for revenue.

1 A hefty project undertaken by the Houston Police Department to test more than 6,600 untested sexual assault kits is nearing closure. And the multidisciplinary team created to handle the project is seeking ways to continue its work to ensure that such a backlog never again exists and that rape victims are better served by the justice system.

And this is just the beginning. As others struggle with a similar backlog of untested kits, they can look to the Forensic Science Center for answers, and even help, on how to resolve the problem. When other labs and forensic operations are questioned about whether their scientists may be biased, they can come here to learn how to clear up those perceptions. We can assist others in understanding and overcoming the difficulties an organization and its personnel face when the transition is made from a law enforcement agency to a science-based civilian organization. We are learning as we grapple with some of these issues that they can be some of the least predictable, but most sensitive problems. While we ease this burden, we continue to expand our operations and invest in cutting-edge technology, determined to be a leader in the forensic field.

The road ahead of us is long as we work to regain the trust and confidence of the city's residents. We will need the continued support of the mayor and City Council to ensure the Forensic Science Center has the backing and funding it needs to make this experiment a success. We need to raise awareness in the city and regionally to increase our external revenue and so area residents understand how crucial it is for one of the nation's most rapidly growing cities to have a respected, efficient and viable forensic operation.

While there will certainly be bumps in the road, and the cultural transitions for those involved may not be easy at all times, justice is better-served when the forensic work can stand up to scrutiny. We're already there.

Daniel Garner is director of the Houston Forensic Science Center.