http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080925/...roit_crime_lab
Wow. Ten percent? That's a shockingly high rate of error, particularly when you figure the investigative team probably tried to frame everything in the best light possible.
On a positive note, Detroit is about to see a population surge due to the hundreds, if not thousands, of currently incarcerated individuals being freed if their prosecution relied upon crime lab evidence. Even if they retained the evidence, what are they going to do, have a different crime lab run the same tests? How much will that cost? The lawsuits are going to start flying.
Quote:
| DETROIT - Officials have shut down the Detroit police crime lab because of errors found in evidence from shooting cases. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced Thursday that Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. and Police Chief James Barren have closed the lab. Worthy says Michigan State Police have found erroneous or false findings in 10 percent of 200 random cases. She says the lab was temporarily closed this spring after errors were found in evidence from a double slaying. The crime lab operation will be turned over to the state police. Barren says the lab's commander will be removed and its 33 officers reassigned. Worthy says past cases where lab findings were used will be reviewed. She is not sure how many years back those investigations will extend. (This version corrects that prosecutor didn't shut down lab, adds that mayor and police chief did.) |
On a positive note, Detroit is about to see a population surge due to the hundreds, if not thousands, of currently incarcerated individuals being freed if their prosecution relied upon crime lab evidence. Even if they retained the evidence, what are they going to do, have a different crime lab run the same tests? How much will that cost? The lawsuits are going to start flying.
