According to a 2003 internal audit of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) crime labs, procedural flaws, security lapses and shoddy documentation problems continue to undermine the quality of DNA laboratory testing results throughout the state. These same problems previously shut down criminal laboratories in Houston and McAllen, and the new findings could throw thousands of criminal cases into doubt. According to public records obtained by the Houston Chronicle, an audit of labs in Houston, Austin, El Paso, Garland, Lubbock, Corpus Christi, McAllen and Waco revealed the following:

  • DNA analysts who do not understand how to interpret test results.
  • The failure of analysts to run blank samples to make sure instruments are not contaminated with DNA residue from previous tests.
  • DNA reports that do not include important statistical probabilities.
  • Possible cross-contamination of blood samples.
  • A lack of lab security.
  • Failure to document critical analytical procedures at the state lab that inputs DNA profiles into the FBI national DNA database.
Last year, state legislators passed reform measures to improve Texas DNA labs. It entrusted DPS with overseeing the accreditation of all public DNA labs in the state by September 2005. Since then, internal problems uncovered at DPS labs have caused concern about the quality of the information and the recommendations that the department has provided to lawmakers. “I have lost confidence in DPS and their ability to oversee these labs. Clearly we’re going to have to hold hearings and ask them to come forward and give us their analysis of what’s going on,” said state Representative Kevin Bailey, who chairs the Texas House Committee on General Investigating. (Houston Chronicle, March 28, 2004) Texas is by far the leading execution state in the country. See Innocence.