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Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal: Thousands More Cases Likely Affected
by Kevin Bliss
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has dismissed about 45,000 charges in more than 30,000 drug cases prosecuted in the state due to misconduct by chemists Sonja Farak of Amherst drug lab and Annie Dookhan of Hinton drug lab.
Both were found to be falsifying records. …
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More from this issue:
- News in Brief
- Race-Based Arrests Rampant in San Francisco, by Kevin Bliss
- Tracking the Prevalence of Police Crime, by David Reutter
- Former Balch Springs, Texas, Officer Found Guilty of Murder of Black Teen, by Kevin Bliss
- Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal: Thousands More Cases Likely Affected, by Kevin Bliss
- $225,000 Settlement by Detroit for Unjustified Shooting of Dogs in Drug Case, by Derek Gilna
- Why Defining a ‘Credible Witness’ in Criminal Trials Is a Slippery Slope, by Steve Horn
- Illinois Law on Informants Designed to Avoid Wrongful Convictions, by Betty Nelander
- ‘Innocent Man Almost Executed’ Freed After Decade on Death Row, by Betty Nelander
- Washington Governor Expects to Pardon About 3,500 for Single Misdemeanor Pot Convictions, by Betty Nelander
- Police Commit Significant Number of Sex Crimes, Which May Shock the General Public but Not Those Familiar with Law Enforcement, by Kevin Bliss
- Juror Bias Often Triggered by Severity of Crime Charged, by Edward Lyon
- Investigation and Arrest of Mail Bomb Suspect Rips Cover Off Postal Surveillance, by Derek Gilna
- Campus Cops on Municipal Streets Raises Transparency and Accountability Concerns, by Virginia Griese
- Louisiana Ends Jim Crow-era Law: Unanimous Jury Requirement Now in Constitution, by Virginia Griese
- ‘Texas Reneging on Deal’ With Draconian Sex Offender Registry, but Some Are Fighting Back, by Edward Lyon
- Montana Supreme Court: Retrial Following Mistrial Declared Without ‘Manifest Necessity’ Violates Prohibition on Double Jeopardy, by Mark Wilson
- U.S. Senator Sounds Alarm on Privacy, Public Safety Concerns of Cell-Site Simulators, by Derek Gilna
- DEA Agents Trap Cocaine-Trafficking Suspects with Doctored Blackberrys, by Derek Gilna
- Federal Judge Signals That Defense Counsel Will Be Permitted To Argue Jury Nullification in Questionable Child Porn Prosecution, by Chad Marks
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Rules Defense Attorney Violated McCoy, Reverses Capital Convictions and Orders New Trial, by Chad Marks
- Nevada Supreme Court Reverses Convictions Where Trial Court Failed to Conduct Third Step of Batson Challenge, by Chad Marks
- Sixth Circuit: Tennessee Aggravated Sexual Battery Is Not a SORNA Tier III Offense, by Christopher Zoukis
- Georgia Supreme Court: Asportation Required to Support Kidnapping Conviction, by David Reutter
- Montana Supreme Court Overrules Its Precedents Confusing Venue and Jurisdiction, Announces Venue Is Waivable But Cannot Waive Jurisdiction, by Dale Chappell
- California Court of Appeal: Commissioner Cannot Preside Over Parole Revocation Hearing Absent Stipulation, by Douglas Ankney
- Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules Attempt to Close Door in Officer’s Face Clear Signal that Consent Not Given for Warrantless Entry, by Douglas Ankney
- Report: Bitemark Analysis Debunked as Pseudoscience, by Richard Resch
- Montana Supreme Court: City May Not Impose Local Surcharge Not Authorized by State Law for Violation of State Criminal Statute, by Derek Gilna
- Sixth Circuit Holds Tennessee Burglary Not Violent Felony Under ACCA, Overturning Previous Controlling Authority in Light of SCOTUS’ Mathis Opinion, by Dale Chappell
- Maine Supreme Court Rules Double Jeopardy Bars Re-Use of Evidence at Second Trial After Acquittal Based on Same Evidence at First Trial on Different Charges, by Dale Chappell
- West Virginia Supreme Court Vacates Sentence After State Violates Plea Bargain by Making Recommendation at Sentencing, by Matthew Clarke
- Tenth Circuit Clarifies Proper Test for Pretrial Hearing on Seized Assets Needed to Retain Counsel, by Matthew Clarke
- Public Support for Militarized Policing Ebbs, Fails to Improve Safety, by Edward Lyon
- Minnesota Supreme Court Clarifies Rule Against Judicial ‘Participation’ in Plea Negotiations, by Dale Chappell
- Study Shows Reassigning Problem Cops Could Have Saved Chicago More than $6 Million in Lawsuit Payouts, by Dale Chappell
- Washington Supreme Court Announces Effective Date of Certificate of Discharge Is Date Offender Completes All Sentence Requirements, by Chad Marks
- Fourth Circuit Vacates USSG Career Offender Sentence Predicated on Georgia Robbery, by Christopher Zoukis
- Iowa Supreme Court Announces New SOL Rule for Consecutive Postconviction IAC Claims, by Dale Chappell
- Ninth Circuit Remands Drug Case for Reconsideration of Sentencing Guidelines’ Minor-Role Adjustment, by Christopher Zoukis
- N.Y. Court of Appeals Announces When Trial Commences for Timeliness of Pro Se Requests, by Edward Lyon
- President Trump Signs First Step Act Into Law—It’s a Good Initial Attempt at Meaningful Reform, by Chad Marks
- South Carolina Supreme Court Holds Broken Chain of Custody for Drug Evidence Requires Reversal of Conviction, by Dale Chappell
- America’s Cities Are Criminalizing Homelessness, by Matthew Clarke
- Habeas Hints: SCOTUS Review 2017-18, by Kent Russell, Tara Hoveland
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court Holds Defendant Unambiguously Invoked Right to Remain Silent Suppresses Confession and Derivative Physical Evidence and Announces New Rule, by Chad Marks
- Capital Punishment in the United States: Explained, by Jessica Brand, Callie Heller
More from Kevin Bliss:
- After Florida Appellate Court Holds Crimes of ‘Attempt’ Eligible for Incentive Gain Time, Supreme Court Refuses Review, Jan. 15, 2025
- LGBTQ+ Detainees at Rikers Island Suffer Under Mayor Adams, Sept. 15, 2023
- Government Watchdog Adds BOP to List at “High Risk” of Mismanagement, Sept. 15, 2023
- At Massive and Corrupt Philippine Prison, Contraband Includes Jacuzzis and Horses, Sept. 15, 2023
- Second Circuit Affirms $600,000 Punitive Damage Award to New York Prisoner Brutally Beaten by Guards, Sept. 15, 2023
- Maryland Sheriff Charged with Illegally Procuring Machine Guns from ATF, Sept. 15, 2023
- Voting Rights Restoration for Virginia Ex-Felons Once Again Subject to Governor’s Whim, Sept. 15, 2023
- Prison Profiteer Who Chairs Christian Seminary Board Called Not Very ‘Christlike’, Aug. 15, 2023
- Menstruation Weaponized Against Women in Prison, Aug. 15, 2023
- Idaho Revives Firing Squads, Aug. 15, 2023
More from these topics:
- $13 Million Awarded to Exonerated Illinois Prisoner Tortured to Confess by Corrupt Cops, Aug. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Certificate of Innocence, False Imprisonment, Confessions - Coerced.
- San Diego Guard Who Fatally Shot Fleeing Detainee Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison, July 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Shootings, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Excessive Force (Police), Wrongful Use of Force.
- Safety of “The Wrap” Restraint Device Questioned Amid Fatalities and Criticism From Medical Experts, July 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Restraints, Police--Excessive Force, Federal Legislation.
- Jury Awards Over $24.4 Million to Kentucky Prisoner Exonerated After 22 Years, Bringing Total Payout for Him and Co-Defendant to Almost $45 Million, June 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Monell Liability, Fabrication of Evidence, Failure to Disclose.
- The Recycled Police Officer: Research Reveals High Cost of Ignoring Prior Misconduct, May 1, 2026. Harassment by Police, Police Misconduct, Statistics/Trends, Excessive Force (Police), Police/Govt Misconduct.
- A Critical Safeguard for the Accused: NIST’s New DNA Standard Challenges the Reliability of “Messy” Crime Scene Evidence, March 1, 2026. Crime Labs, Forensic Sciences, DNA Evidence, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Scientific Testimony or Evidence.
- “I Have Nothing to Hide”: Why Innocent People Should Never Talk to Police, March 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Actual Innocence/Claim of Innocence, Interviews/Debriefing.
- Michigan Claws Back $1.2 Million Paid to Wrongfully Convicted Former Prisoner, Feb. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Imprisonment, Qualified Immunity, Forensic Sciences, Fabrication of Evidence.
- Utah Supreme Court Announces Framework for Analyzing Combined Brady and Napue Violations, Affirms Postconviction Relief in Capital Murder Case, Jan. 1, 2026. Police Misconduct, Prosecutor/Attorney General Misconduct, Perjury/Perjured Testimony, Constructive/Imputed/Presumed knowledge, Brady/Giglio/Jencks Act Issues.
- Sixth Circuit Upholds $45 Million Verdict for Wrongfully Convicted Former Ohio Prisoner, Aug. 1, 2025. Police Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction, Wrongful Imprisonment.
