Gov. urges collaboration on impact of lab samples

BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is urging prosecutors, defense attorneys and staff from various state departments to join forces to determine which potentially mishandled samples at a state lab pertain to individuals now behind bars.

In a letter Tuesday to the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, Patrick said collaboration will be needed to "prioritize the matters of defendants currently incarcerated," since the database for this evidence contains incomplete information.

Patrick proposed creating a special unit to aid in the collaboration.

He also debunked claims that 13,000 samples were "on indefinite hold," saying the State Police Crime Lab in Sudbury will now handle testing.

Patrick ordered the Boston lab shut down last month after authorities said a chemist had improperly followed protocols when testing drug samples.

Cox Media Group