Can a Georgia criminal defense attorney challenge forensic lab results?
Forensic laboratory results can be challenged in a Georgia criminal case on grounds relating to how testing was conducted and whether the results are reliable. Such challenges examine the testing process, the handling of samples, and the interpretation of results.
The testing process can be examined. Laboratory results depend on proper testing procedures, so whether established methods were followed, and whether the testing was conducted properly, can bear on the reliability of the results. The soundness of the testing process is looked at closely in working through the matter.
For this reason, the handling of samples is significant. The reliability of results can depend on how samples were collected, stored, and handled, so questions about the chain of custody or potential contamination can be relevant. Whether samples were handled in a way that preserved their integrity is examined.
The interpretation of results matters. Laboratory results may be subject to interpretation, so whether conclusions drawn from the results are warranted, or are subject to limitations, can be significant. The proper interpretation of the results is part of the analysis.
Challenging forensic lab results generally focuses on the testing process, the handling of samples, and the interpretation of results. The soundness of the testing, the integrity of the samples, and the validity of the conclusions are the considerations on which such challenges rest. How samples were collected and stored can matter as much as the testing itself, since contamination or mishandling can compromise an otherwise sound method.