Forensic Data

Looking simply for statistical data concerning cases impacted by mishandled fingerprints in line with the attached report and or the erroneous nature of fingerprint electronic databases.

In order to establish all the circumstances of various incidents, including criminal ones, detectives have to use high-tech methods of data analysis and also resort to the help of various specialists. It is recognized that this approach greatly simplifies the work and contributes to the identification of offenders with the utmost precision. However, even the advanced technologies that the investigation relies on have a downside, which is high inaccuracy, and fingerprinting is one of such controversial methods. “The difficulty is that no properly controlled experiments have been conducted on fingerprint examiners’ accuracy in identifying perpetrators…” (Tangen et al. 995), and the result of this imperfection of science is experienced by many people. One of the US citizens, Brendan Mayfield, found himself in such a difficult situation in 2004 after the Madrid train was blown up. His story turned out to be a very controversial case in dispute because the international agencies acted together, but in fact they made a mistake that could cost this person his freedom or even his life. Since the Spanish police immediately assumed that they were dealing with terrorists and they needed international assistance, all the data obtained, including the fingerprints found at the crime scene, which were of sufficient quality, were transferred to various international law enforcement agencies, including FBI.
Relying on the accuracy of the expert examination, the FBI checked this sample against its database and, as a result, the citizen was “…held for two weeks as a material witness…” (Cole 985) and “…implicated in this attack almost solely on the basis of a latent fingerprint…” (Cole 985). The fingerprint found in Madrid coincided with several patterns in the agency’s database, but special agents concluded that Mayfield was the most likely perpetrator of the crime in the course of their analysis. It should be clarified that, as a rule, experts compare several points of the biological material, which should coincide during the analysis of fingerprints. The differences between the European and American approaches have caused Spanish forensic experts to question the veracity of this evidence (Cole 1016). “While FBI examiners identified fifteen corresponding points of comparison, the Spanish could only find eight” (Cole 1016). Such inconsistencies arise due to the fact that a method that would be universal for all countries and could be used regardless of the international characteristics of the crime being committed has not yet been developed. This fingerprint was not a smeared or degraded DNA sample, but gradually experts became more and more convinced that there was a high probability that it was mistakenly identified. Unfortunately, “FBI reportedly declined to examine the original evidence and instead “relentlessly pressed their case anyway, explaining away stark proof of a flawed link-including what the Spanish described as tell-tale forensic signs-and seemingly refusing to accept the notion that they were mistaken” (Cole 1016). Besides, the accused person asked the defense to check the evidence again, but this expert testified that the coincidence was one hundred percent accurate and there could be no errors in the conducted research (Kassin et al. 42). So, the FBI, whose incompetence is difficult to question, had irrefutable evidence of Brandon Mayfield’s involvement in this crime at the time.
Fortunately, the Spanish investigators also firmly defended their opinion and the real criminal, who lived in Spain, was found after a while, and his fingerprints completely matched the samples left at the crime scene. During this time, the life of Brandon Mayfield and his family turned into torment, their house was searched several times, while the accused was not going to admit his guilt. In addition to the fact that Mayfield brought in forensic experts to analyze the