Statement from Prince George's County State's Attorney Tara H. Jackson Concerning Reports on Potential Latent Print Issues and Ongoing Review

Approximately two weeks ago, the Office of the State’s Attorney was notified by the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Forensic Science Division of potential concerns related to latent print analysis conducted by one examiner within the Latent Print Unit. Upon receiving that notification on February 23, our office immediately began coordinating with the police department and the Forensic Science Division to assess the scope of the issue and determine whether any pending or previously adjudicated cases may be affected. Out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of transparency, our office has begun providing disclosures to defense counsel while we continue conducting a comprehensive review.

 

Based on the information currently available, there is no indication that any misidentification or erroneous fingerprint identification has occurred, nor do we have concerns at this time regarding the application of forensic standards. The questions that have been raised relate to the suitability of certain latent prints for comparison, which is a matter of professional judgment exercised by examiners within accepted forensic methodologies. Nevertheless, we are carefully reviewing all relevant cases in coordination with the police department to ensure that proper procedures were followed and to determine the appropriate course of action in each matter. Our office remains committed to transparency and to ensuring that every defendant receives a fair trial while maintaining the integrity of the justice system.