Apr 27 2008
Dallas D.A. Considers Non-DNA Cases
Since the beginning of the Innocence Project of Texas’s partnership with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, our organization has reviewed more than 100 cases. While several of these cases warrant DNA testing in order to determine whether the convicted individual is guilty or innocent, several others do not have the luxury of DNA. Specifically, although the inmate may have a valid innocence claim, either no evidence was collected from the crime scene to submit to DNA testing or the DNA collected at the time of the crime is simply missing. The Dallas Morning News tackled the issue of non-DNA cases in an article released earlier this morning.
For 16 wrongly convicted defendants in Dallas County, DNA testing was the key that set them free after years – even decades – in prison.
Now, because of the doubt those exonerations raised, Dallas prosecutors are taking an unprecedented look at convictions in which DNA evidence cannot conclusively prove guilt or innocence.
And that may lead to a significant departure from the way prosecutors traditionally have responded to claims of innocence by inmates.
DNA cases “are the very tiniest tip of a gigantic iceberg of injustice in Texas,” said Jeff Blackburn, an Amarillo civil rights attorney who also serves as chief counsel for the Innocence Project of Texas.
The decision to pursue non-DNA cases broadens a review of convictions begun a year ago by Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins and the Innocence Project of Texas amid a wave of DNA exonerations.
To read the full text of the article, click here.
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