CLPEX Chat Board

Hey all,

I recently came across a very odd-looking impression, and my coworkers and I are struggling to figure out what it is (or whether it's even human). I brought up posting a scanned image (with no case information) on this forum to get opinions and maybe help facilitate a discussion.

Well, since it's an open case, my supervisor asked our Lab Director, who in turn asked a DA, who said he was afraid that it would open Pandora's Box.

A few of the DA's concerns:
-How do we write this in our notes?
-How do we monitor who has viewed the print?
-What if someone on here comes up with a different "conclusion" on what the print is from?
-If someone offers an opinion on what it is which I then come to believe, how do I write in my notes how I came about that conclusion?
-What if the defense wants to subpoena information from this whole forum?
-Concern about privacy? (I don't understand this one if all of the case information is redacted)
-What if someone on this forum says something that goes against their own agency's SOPs and then the defense tells the attorneys in that area? (really?!)
-What if someone takes the print and runs it in their AFIS system?

So, the sharing of this very odd "impression" has now been nixed until the case is closed or past statute. My concern is if we stifle discussion because of "What-if's," then how can we continue to grow as examiners?

Has anyone dealt with this type of situation before? How do you handle academic inquiries about open cases?

I don't know if I'd call it Pandora's Box. It's a consultation and if you're using it as a QA measure, that's a good thing! I'd rather sit on a jury that heard testimony that an agency was unsure and sought outside consultation than one that heard testimony that admitted to being unsure and doing nothing. If you're that concerned about what's done with a print, draft up an NDA that states what can be done with the print and the range of conclusions that fit within your SOP.

Did the print come off of a Nike shoe box?

ekuppin:

No, it is not from a Nike shoe box, although I have come across those in casework in the past.

As long and the information from the case is redacted and you are only sharing the image there should be no problem. It sounds to me like you are wanting to share this image to learn from other examiners not for case work, is that correct? Pandora's box? This is absolutely ridiculous.