House committee mulls reform of eyewitness evidence collection

More extensive training for criminal investigators who collect eyewitness identification may be on the horizon.

A house committee is making its final revisions to a bill that will require law enforcement agencies to standardize the way they collect eyewitness evidence.

Current procedures are under scrutiny after seven Georgia men have been exonerated from false rape convictions based on eyewitness testimony.

Aimee Maxwell with the Georgia Innocence Project spoke to the committee about the high cost of false convictions, especially when compensating exonerees.

“First off it’s a cost to society to leave them in prison, every single day that costs us, and then Clarence Harrison, they gave him a million dollars for the time he spent in. But probably more importantly, the societal cost. We leave the right person on the street to hurt people.”

Lawmakers estimate the cost of reform at 20 to 40 thousand dollars.

Eyewitness evidence rules in Georgia under fire

Members of the Georgia Innocence Project will present findings of a preliminary report at a legislative hearing today at the Capitol. It concerns what they say is the lack of specific written guidelines by police agencies in the state in the collection of eyewitness evidence.

Several high profile cases in Georgia and across the nation have resulted in prisoners being cleared by DNA evidence. In Georgia, the recent case of death row inmate Troy Davis has drawn a spotlight. Davis is awaiting a hearing before the Georgia Supreme Court. His lawyers are asking for a new trial because they say several witnesses who previously had testified against Davis, have since recanted some testimony.

State lawmakers are considering tightening eyewitness guidelines.