Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Most Popular Stories
- City leaders evaluate surprising ideas for water conservation
- Audit: Economic official granted arts, music funding against city code
- Parks Board recommends vendor for Zilker Café, while voicing concerns about lack of local presence
- Dozens of city music grants stalled over missing final reports
- Council reaffirms its commitment to making Austin a more age-friendly city
-
Discover News By District
Popular Whispers
Sorry. No data so far.
After county action, DNA lab agreement is in Council’s hands
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 by Caleb Pritchard
In the latest step forward from the collapse of the Austin Police Department DNA forensics lab, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a two-pronged agreement with the city of Austin on Tuesday. The framework provides for cost-sharing when it comes to hiring a consultant to closely examine exactly what caused the lab to flunk a state audit last year. The results of that audit forced the closure of the lab and called into question thousands of its forensic findings dating back to its opening in 2004. The agreement with the city would also split the tab to hire the Capital Area Private Defender Service to comb through at least 1,400 cases that may have been impacted by improper procedures at the lab. District Attorney Margaret Moore personally appeared before the court to urge them to support the agreement, which she said was borne out of a collaborative effort among stakeholders. “And I think what is before you today is eminently supportable. And it’s the most efficient and the most meaningful way to get to a good result as quickly as we can,” Moore said. The court voted 4-0 to approve the agreement. Commissioner Margaret Gómez was absent from Tuesday’s meeting. City Council is set to put its imprimatur on the agreement at its meeting this Thursday.
Join Your Friends and Neighbors
We're a nonprofit news organization, and we put our service to you above all else. That will never change. But public-service journalism requires community support from readers like you. Will you join your friends and neighbors to support our work and mission?