Massachusetts prosecutors halt use of Breathalyzer results after issues raised again
WORCESTER Prosecutors in Worcester and several other jurisdictions across the state are halting the use of breath test evidence following fresh concerns raised about the machines and their stewardship.
“Our office, along with several other District Attorney’s offices across the state, will continue to temporarily suspend the use of Breathalyzer evidence in court proceedings,” Worcester DA Joseph D. Early Jr. confirmed to the Telegram & Gazette Tuesday.
A list of offices suspending use of evidence was not immediately available from the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, but two defense lawyers who raised the concerns said they believe most DAs have done so.
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BOSTON The case management system used by Massachusetts district attorneys is unable to meet data reporting requirements, state Auditor Suzanne Bump concluded in an audit released Wednesday.
BOSTON State auditor Suzanne Bump’s office sent out a warning to district attorneys across the state this week about an outdated case management system.
Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O Keefe says his office has known about, and been trying to fix, the issue for a long time. He called Bump’s statement “misleading.”
On Wednesday, Bump’s office said the system used by all 11 of the state’s district attorneys’ offices is “not equipped to provide critical data about young people involved with the criminal justice system,” as required under the 2018 criminal justice reform law.
Bump s statement came with the release of an audit of the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office victim-witness assistance program and its youthful diversion program.
Other Matters: The Cape and Islands District Attorney s Office Needs To Update Its Case Management System mass.gov - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mass.gov Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.