Should the Houston Police Department DNA lab ever be trusted again?
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Houston Police Department is asking for over a million dollars from City Council so that another group of scientists, from Dallas, may review the work from the Houston DNA lab.
In my opinion, the HPD lab should outsource all of their work if they do not believe that their current staff can handle the work that is required of them. I doubt the citizens of Harris County are ready to pay for someone from Dallas to not only review the work of the Houston lab, but also bear the expense of traveling from Dallas to Houston if the case goes to trial. Also, what type of working relationship will the Harris County District Attorney's office have with this Dallas lab? How available will this Dallas lab be to the Harris County Criminal defense bar for review? It seems to me that more questions need answering before the HPD lab is back on its feet and the citizens of Harris County are able to trust their work.
A "non arrest bond" is straight forward. This type of bond allows you to avoid any jail time while waiting for someone to bond you out if you get arrested. If you talk to anyone that has spent as little as a few hours in jail they will tell you do not want to be waiting in jail for someone to bond you out. Thus, the non arrest bond allows you to skip the booking process. The bonding company will take your information and give you a court date to appear with your attorney. If you do this you will be one of the lucky people that will not be hassled by the police and potentially giving them information that you would later regret.