Three staff members at the New York City Medical Examiner’s office have been suspended amid allegations of signing off on their own DNA analyses and cheating on a promotional exam. Analyst Matthew Benintendo and two junior criminalists, Steven Kranes and Luke Dalto, were suspended for the promotional test cheating, while a fourth, Melanie Goldsmith, was removed for discrepancies in her time sheets. An internal investigation revealed that Benintendo had authored case analyses but had others sign them, in violation of industry standards. The scandal came to light when a public defender noticed irregularities in a trial case in Brooklyn. The city’s prosecutors and federal offices were notified, and the affected cases are being reviewed.
The Medical Examiner’s office has faced previous scandals, notably in 2013 when a lab technician mishandled evidence in rape cases, leading to the resignation of a top official. The current situation has raised concerns about the lab’s internal oversight and culture. Legal Aid Society’s Jenny Cheung and other defense groups are calling for an independent probe to ensure scientific accuracy and integrity in criminal cases. The lab’s reputation for speed in analyzing forensic evidence has come under scrutiny, with questions raised about the thoroughness of the process.
The Forensic Science commission is expected to discuss the matter at its next meeting, highlighting the need for external oversight and accountability in forensic labs. The union representing the suspended staff members has yet to respond to inquiries. The unfolding scandal underscores the importance of maintaining ethical standards and quality control in forensic analysis to ensure justice and integrity in the criminal justice system.
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