Crooked chemist Annie Dookhan has turned Massachusetts into a criminal justice laboratory by creating the perfect conditions for the premature return of hundreds of convicted felons to the streets. Similar to a chemistry experiment, the legal system is about to find out what it is made of and how it reacts to different conditions.
The forced experiment has gone surprisingly well since August when the Patrick administration shuttered the miserably managed state laboratory where Dookhan worked. Court workers in a judicial boiler room are rapidly identifying and prioritizing cases stemming from Dookhan’s admission that she mishandled and falsified drug evidence, potentially jeopardizing 34,000 criminal cases. Special sessions of the Trial Court are expediting those cases. And state prisons are convening special reentry panels to connect freed inmates with the social services that might prevent them from offending again.
Comments
I'm no fan of drug dealers, or users. But here's the thing; the state manufactured evidence to convict these people. For a time the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was no better than the KGB. The question is not what to do with those going free, but why aren't more from law enforcement taking their place? For those who think Annie worked alone, keep dreaming.
"For a time the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was no better than the KGB." I sincerely doubt that the operation was that precise and effective. Oh, you mean morally, I see.
Excellent article, Mr. Harmon. One point, you say: "Still, communities will need to guard against the inevitability that some dangerous people will be returning to their old haunts." These articles have all talked about "dangerous people". Dangerous to whom? My guess, not to the average citizen, but perhaps to other drug dealers, customers that don't pay, and to the police. Let's have some color on that. Anecdotes, if that's there is.
Also, I estimated earlier that each imprisoned person would cost $50k per year. What do the experts say? Is there much of a range from facility to facility?
No COMMENTS section for the article on the Boy Scouts?
"Several criminological studies have noted that the personality traits of drug dealers are consistent with other self-employed people — high tolerance for risk and a knack for entrepreneurship. Even undercover narcotics officers marvel at drug dealers’ willingness to work around the clock. "
If you are born into an underpriviledged family and you are entrepeneurial you may become either a drug dealer (if you are male), or a prostitute (if you are female). From more stable situations you become a blue color worker with your own business (if you are male), or a real estate agent (if you are female). From priviledged familes, you create a startup company or become a venture capitalist.
Oh, and if you are underpriviledged and need support, if you are female you go on welfare, if you are male you go to prison.
We have lost the "war on drugs" on every level imaginable. Why are drugs still illegal?
Because we have old farts running this country, i.e. Congress. We put people in prison for drug possession and free pedophiles and rapists to wreak havoc on society. Values are out of whack. As younger people come into power, people who've used drugs recreationally (maybe 90% of us, at least for weed), common sense will prevail in that, just like alcohol after prohibition, drugs can be regulated and taxed. Seems to me we could use the money!
It's amazing to me that the drug lab was allowed to be run the way it seemingly was, in your words "miserably managed". I'm not playing Monday morning quarterback here but, given what's occurring right now, with convicted felons being put back on the street, wouldn't the proper running of the lab be one of the highest priorities so that public safety would not be at risk? It's like equipping firefighters with squirt guns to protect the public from fires. Not to mention the fact that, out of the 34,000 cases, there were surely a lot of innocent people put behind bars. I'm distrustful of government overseeing important functions but this is ridiculous. Many, many people should lose their jobs for an incredible lack of judgement and ability to manage.
Annie Dookham was supported by a defunk, inept state administration structure. Will the state Managers & Supervisors, the people who sat back for years and collected state checks ever be held accountable for allowing this fiasco?
Don't be foolish by saying that DPH Commissioner John Aurbach has already resigned: the people who were supposed to supervise Ms.Dookham - Where are they hiding? They ought to be fired!