Crumley wants crime lab backlog fixed

It's taking the North Carolina state crime lab between 15 and 18 months to get drug evidence processed. Bob Crumley, Republican candidate for North Carolina Attorney General, wants to do something about that.

"There's been backlog and it's just tremendous," Crumley said.

The backlog has contributed, he said, to more crime. While evidence is waiting to be processed at the crime lab, those involved in the crime are out on bond, walking the streets and possibly committing more crimes, Crumley said.

The backlog is also affecting the jails, which are being filled with people who can't make bond but are waiting on evidence in order to be tried, he said.

"Predominantly, people are not serving a sentence, they're awaiting trial," Crumley said. "If you get the evidence analysis quicker then you'll get those folks out of jail quicker."

Although he doesn't expect miracles, he does expect a faster more reasonable turn around time closer to 30 or 60 days, he said.

"You're never going to get CSI and have the case solved in an hour," he said.

Part of the problem is that current Attorney General Roy Cooper, Crumley's opponent on Nov. 4, and those previous have been more concerned with the next election, or running for another office, Crumley said.

"We need an attorney general whose priority is that office," he said. "We've had a whole series of attorney generals who are not focused on (the crime lab problem) but rather on the next election."

Several cities and counties are looking at buying equipment for their offices to process evidence and run tests rather than sending items to the crime lab and having to wait on results for extended periods of time, Crumley said.

"Why do we have 100 counties buying this equipment when we have a state crime lab?" he asked.

If the crime lab can process evidence more quickly, then the money saved can be put to use in other places such as paving roads or reducing gang violence, Crumley said.

"The key is the leader and we've had a whole eight years with this attorney general and we can see where it got us," he said. "It was an ongoing problem when he got there and he hasn't solved it."

Electing lawyers and executives as attorney general as opposed to politicians might be the direction to go, Crumley said.

"I'm not just a lawyer, I'm a businessman ... I understand how to make an organization work. I understand how to lead an organization and achieve strategic goals within an organization," he said.

Having practiced law for more than 20 years and being a real estate broker involved in real estate development, Crumley plans to put his "broad-based experience" to work if elected, he said.

"The current guy's had it for eight years and hasn't fixed it," Crumley said. "Bottom line ... it's time for a change."

Contact Jacksonville/Onslow government reporter Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8457, or mdewitt@freedomenc.com.