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KPBS Midday Edition

Audit underscores security issues with San Diego crime lab

The door of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in Kearny Mesa, Dec. 31, 2014.
Tarryn Mento
The door of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in Kearny Mesa, Dec. 31, 2014.

An audit of the San Diego Regional Crime Laboratory has revealed major lapses in security and testing protocols over the past several years.

Findings included an outdated and poorly kept keycard security system, as well as instances of switched forensic samples.

The audit, which lasted nearly 18 months, was initiated to see if the lab was operating to federal standards put in place for use of a nationwide FBI evidence database.

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While the District Attorney's office has not indicated that it will open up any previous cases in light of the findings, the lapses in oversight indicate possible issues with quality control in the lab overall.

Greg Moran, a criminal justice and legal affairs issues reporter for The San Diego Union-Tribune, joined Midday Edition on Monday with more on the audit.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.