The change will require police to send out suspected drugs weighing less than 4...
Prosecutors are introducing new rules for accepting low-level drug charges in a move to ease evidence testing backlogs and lighten the load for the courts, according to a District Attorney’s Office memo.Prosecutors are introducing new rules for accepting low-level drug charges in a move to ease evidence testing backlogs and lighten the load for the courts, according to a Harris County District Attorney’s Office memo.
In the memo, District Attorney Kim Ogg outlines the benefits: Evidence is unlikely to spoil as cases drag on and could prevent hundreds of drug cases from languishing. The alternative is to continue lengthy delays for defendants as prosecutors and defense attorneys wait for lab tests. Peter Stout, president of the Houston Forensic Science Center, said he has five full-time staff to process those tests and at least four more undergoing training to do the same tasks. Those analysts are will prioritize testing for in-custody defendants, he said.
“If we can turn around the results in two to three weeks, it may make things easier, but it won’t fix the headaches in the courts,” Stout said. Houston Police Officers’ Union president Doug Griffith said that most officers will lack the time to follow up months later when the lab tests come back positive.Houston YouTubers face trespassing charge for prank video, mocking deaf student, disrupting UH class
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