Prosecutors in San Francisco may be forced to release even violent felons after a scandal in the crime lab. They are combing through the backgrounds of the suspects involved in 1,400 cases under review to make sure local police know what dangers these felons may present.

The problem started when it was discovered that Debbie Madden, a former technician in the crime lab, was stealing powder cocaine from evidence being tested. Since that discovery, other people have been implicated in stealing not only cocaine, but OxyContin. There are other drug irregularities as well.

The scandal continues to grow, and may possibly mean throwing out many pending cases, as well as those cases in which the defendants are currently in drug rehab programs.

The report on the scandal is now over 1,500 pages long, according to police. Some retest results are showing discrepancies that are difficult to explain.

SF Police Chief George Gascón said requested a criminal probe on Madden Feb. 22, the day he learned Madden was suspected of stealing cocaine from the lab. On Feb. 26, Madden admitted to investigators that she used cocaine spilled from open packages.

Madden has not been charged yet in the case.