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Eyewitness IDs at root of most Dallas DNA exonerations, newspaper analysis finds

Be sure to check out a must-read Dallas News piece by reporters Steve McGonigle and Jennifer Emily analyzing the causes of Dallas County DNA exonerations, honing in on particular faulty eyewitness identifications, which occurred among 18 of 19 Dallas cases where DNA exonerated the defendant ("18 Dallas County cases overturned by DNA relied heavily on eyewitness testimony," Oct. 12). They report:An eight-month review by The News of previously closed prosecution files found, however, that the faulty identifications were the predictable consequences of a criminal justice system that ignored safeguards meant to protect the innocent. The files reveal a law-and-order machine that focused on securing and bolstering eyewitness testimony, regardless of the victim's doubt or the lack of corroborating evidence...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on October 12, 2008 (boomark / email).