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click here for NYT article on the death of Ms. O'Connell and the botched investigation click here for forensics details of this crime
click here for New Yorker article on a young wife who's gunshot wound to her head is labeled a suicide attempt
Many of the nation’s other large police departments — including Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Washington, Dallas and Miami-Dade — said they do not rely on the technique, a New York Times survey shows. Detective bureaus in many other jurisdictions do not show booking photos to witnesses until they have a suspect in mind. Investigators then conduct a photo lineup, placing the suspect’s among photos of at least five “fillers” — people who fit the description but are known to be innocent. That approach offers some shield against a false identification: If the witness chooses a filler, police understand the witness is wrong and know not to arrest that person. In a mug shot search, everyone is a potential suspect, and the actual culprit might not be among the group. But whoever the witness selects becomes the focus of the investigation. “I think it taints the investigation,” said Deputy Chief Thomas Castro, who oversees detectives for the Dallas Police Department. Editors’ Picks click here for NYT article on problems with Mug Shot Line ups
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