Minn. crime labs scrutinized after St. Paul issues - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

Minn. crime labs scrutinized after St. Paul issues

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ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota public defenders say they will review cases involving evidence handled by unaccredited crime labs around the state after problems cropped up at the St. Paul lab.

State Public Defender John Stuart tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press there may be as many as 18 such labs.

The director of the St. Paul lab and two workers have said they had little training in testing suspected narcotics. They also say the lab had no written procedures and basic scientific guidelines were ignored.

Defense attorneys say doubts about the lab mean doubts about convictions based on evidence analyzed there.

Prosecutors have said they'll look at cases handled in the St. Paul lab, but they don't think many are affected because so many drug cases end in plea bargains.

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