Aggregated News
WASHINGTON — The FBI will review thousands of old cases, including some involving the death penalty, in which hair samples helped secure convictions, under an ambitious plan made public Thursday.
More than 2,000 cases the FBI processed from 1985 to 2000 will be re-examined, including some in which execution dates have been set and others in which the defendants already have died in prison. In a key concession, Justice Department officials will waive usual deadlines and procedural hurdles that often block inmates from challenging their convictions.
“This will be critical to giving wrongly convicted people a fair chance at a fair review,” said Steven D. Benjamin, a Virginia attorney who’s the president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
The defense lawyers’ association joined with The Innocence Project, based at New York City’s Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, as well as pro bono attorneys to press for the review.
The study will focus on whether analysts exaggerated the significance of their hair analyses or reported them inaccurately. Defendants will be notified and free DNA testing offered if...
More than 2,000 cases the FBI processed from 1985 to 2000 will be re-examined, including some in which execution dates have been set and others in which the defendants already have died in prison. In a key concession, Justice Department officials will waive usual deadlines and procedural hurdles that often block inmates from challenging their convictions.
“This will be critical to giving wrongly convicted people a fair chance at a fair review,” said Steven D. Benjamin, a Virginia attorney who’s the president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
The defense lawyers’ association joined with The Innocence Project, based at New York City’s Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, as well as pro bono attorneys to press for the review.
The study will focus on whether analysts exaggerated the significance of their hair analyses or reported them inaccurately. Defendants will be notified and free DNA testing offered if...
.jpg){kind=link}