There are concerns at the District Attorney's crime lab, where the office says it's dismissing cases because it's short staffed. It also says there isn't enough money to hire more personnel.
Inside the Kern County Regional Crime Lab, employees examine evidence, information used in court but the lack of employees is hitting the crime lab hard.
"We really only have 5 people currently that we can spare for drug analysis and not let the other disciplines suffer," said crime lab director Kevin Miller.
Miller says with only a handful of people working in the department, drug-related cases are being dismissed.
"Having a significant increase in cases and not a corresponding increase in personnel means that cases just sit and we miss deadline," said MIller.
Assistant District Attorney Scott Spielman says the District Attorney's office is seeing more cases this year than last. He says hundreds of drug cases are backlogged, many of which, they won't get to.
"It's frustrating for us because we don't want criminal cases being dismissed because we can't give them the attention they need. It's frustrating for the police officers who are going to see these guys again and again and it's frustrating for the laboratory because their doing the best they can," said Spielman.
He says drug-related crimes are up in Kern County and says prison realignment has a lot to do with that.
"In looking at why we're seeing so many more drug cases, really the only thing we can point to is AB-109 and when you look at the people that are being released, the types of criminals tend to be drug users and thieves," said Spielman.
Spielman says the District Attorney's office is waiting for money from AB-109 to help fund the influx of criminals being released.
He says when they get the funding, a position will be added to help with the spike in drug-related cases.