Opinion ID: 2270747
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Failure of the Department to Establish Evidence of Reliability and Lay a Foundation Precludes Reliance on the Field Tests in this Case

Text: In challenging the Appellants' findings of guilt as to the counts dealing with possession of a dangerous substance, both Appellees directed their arguments at the field tests used to screen the substance for contraband. The Appellees argue the tests should not be considered because the Appellants failed to present any evidence as to reliability. Further, the Appellees point out that the Appellants failed to establish any foundation for the results. In particular, they note (1) there was no evidence as to the training and experience of the officers performing the field tests; and (2) there was no evidence as to the procedures followed while conducting the tests. The Appellants respond by arguing the Appellees have cited to no authority that would indicate the tests have been rejected as unreliable. To the contrary, the Appellants cite to several cases from other jurisdictions that have considered the tests and accepted them as reliable. In addition, the Appellants make the argument that the Department has used the field tests for many years without objection. Before we can consider the question of whether the field tests used in this case would satisfy the some evidence standard, a threshold question as to reliability must be answered. For [a]lthough a prison inmate facing administrative disciplinary proceedings does not have the same procedural safeguards as does a person facing criminal prosecution or even parole revocation, fundamental fairness dictates that the evidence relied upon to punish him at least be reliable. (Internal citation omitted.) Byerly v. Ashley, 825 S.W.2d 286, 288 (Ky.App.1991). See also Hensley v. Wilson, 850 F.2d 269, 276 (6th Cir.1988); O'Dea v. Clark, 883 S.W.2d 888, 892 (Ky.App.1994); Stanford v. Parker, 949 S.W.2d 616, 617 (Ky.App.1996). In this case the Appellants point to no evidence of record that supports their claim that the field tests used are reliable. [2] Further, the Appellees correctly note that the Appellants can point to no evidence of record that would establish a foundation for admitting the test results even if they had been accepted as reliable. In Byerly v. Ashley , the Kentucky Court of Appeals recognized that test results from urine samples would be admissible only if a sufficient chain of custody was established as part of the evidentiary foundation. 825 S.W.2d at 288. Likewise, in Hensley v. Wilson the court required the fact finder to consider whether the statement had in fact come from the confidential informant, the reliability of the informant, and the basis for the investigator's opinion as to the informant's credibility. 850 F.2d at 276. The requirement that foundation evidence be presented was applied specifically to the results of the type of field test at question sub judice in one of the cases cited by the Appellants, Davis v. McClellan, 202 A.D.2d 770, 608 N.Y.S.2d 741 (N.Y.App.Div.1994). In Davis the court noted, Before such test results may be utilized, however, a proper foundation must be laid, i.e., it must be demonstrated that, inter alia, proper testing procedures were followed. Id. at 742. Given the fact that the Appellants have failed to point to any evidence as to either reliability or foundation, we are left to conclude the field tests utilized in each of the four incidents cannot serve to meet the some evidence standard required to support the punishment imposed. This decision does not foreclose the admission of such tests in future cases where the proper evidentiary requirements are met. Our analysis of this issue impacts the four separate incidents in different ways. As to the second incident involving Sharp, occurring June 8, 2003, we note that the field test served as the principal evidence concerning the possession count. For this reason we affirm the decision of the Court of Appeals and the circuit court in its decision granting declaratory judgment in favor of Sharp. [3] As to the remaining three incidents, all involving possession of a substance believed to be marijuana, our analysis does not resolve the issue. In each of those three incidents, there were additional facts considered by the hearing officer. We must now consider whether those facts, without consideration of the field tests, are sufficient to meet the some evidence standard.