Maintaining the Integrity of Evidence

A recently published report on wrongful convictions by the New York Bar Association's Task Force on Wrongful Convictions examined 53 exonerations and extracted the causes linked to wrongful convictions. The graph below taken from that report shows that half the cases involved problems with forensic evidence.

Among the report's recommendations is that "evidence should be maintained in a way that ensures its integrity and permits ready retrieval."

The failure of authority's to maintain the integrity of crucial evidence is at the heart of our recently submitted Coverdell allegation.

If you agree with the proposition that all citizens should demand that evidence collected by the authorities be properly handled and maintained, join in communicating your opinion to the agencies charged with investigating the allegation we've filed. You can write them at these addresses:

Attorney General John Suthers
Colorado Attorney General’s Office
1525 Sherman Street, 7th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80203

or email him at attorney.general@state.co.us.

Colorado Springs Police Department
Internal Affairs
705 South Nevada
Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903

District Attorney—4th
Judicial District
105 E. Vermijo Avenue
Colorado Springs,
80903

Integrity in evidence preservation is fundamental to any good investigation and prosecution.