Welcome  to this quarter’s issue of the DDC Link! Through this newsletter, we hope to offer valuable information about DNA forensic testing that may help you with your forensic cases.

This issue's articles include:

• Robert McClendon: "Hello, Truth."
• Six Other Ohio Exonerees
• DDC's Laboratory Accreditations

We welcome your feedback regarding our newsletter. If you have any questions or comments, please send us an email or give us a call using the contact information listed to the left.

We hope you enjoy this edition of the DDC Link!

Dr. Michael Baird
Laboratory Director

DNA Diagnostics Center’s Forensics Division provided the DNA testing that eventually resulted in the release of inmate Robert McClendon. McClendon had spent 18 years in prison, convicted of a child rape case that he has always maintained he did not commit.
Read more...

Robert McClendon may be the most recent inmate to have been acquitted with the help of forensic DNA testing, but prior to his case, there have been six other inmates that have been exonerated in the state of Ohio. In 1994, Brian Piszczek was the first person to be freed from an Ohio prison as a result DNA testing and, with the help of the Innocence Project, was not the last. Two years later, in 1996, Walter Smith was cleared, followed by Anthony Green and Danny Brown in 2001. Donte Booker and Clarence Elkins were the last men to be exonerated by DNA testing in 2005. For more information regarding the background of these exonerees please view the article by The Columbus Dispatch.  

DDC participates in the following accreditation programs:

	ASCLD/LAB-International | American Society of Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board-International
	AABB | Formerly the American Association of Blood Banks
	CAP | College of American Pathologists
	CLIA | Clinical Laboratories Improvement Act
	NYSDOH | New York State Department of Health

DDC has achieved perfect ratings in its past 14 laboratory inspections.