DC prosecutors stop sending DNA evidence to District's lab

WASHINGTON (AP) — Prosecutors have stopped sending DNA evidence to the District of Columbia's crime lab, saying they've found errors in some results.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Friday that it has paid to send 102 cases to outside labs since Jan. 12. Two outside experts are reviewing another 116 cases involving the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences — 82 that ended with convictions and 34 that were pending.

That makes 218 cases getting outside review or testing through Friday.

U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen Jr. says prosecutors haven't found any evidence to suggest any wrongful convictions. He says prosecutors are reviewing the lab's work "in an abundance of caution."

The Washington Post reports that officials at the Department of Forensic Sciences defend their work and say disagreements among scientists aren't uncommon.

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