Texas' new state fire marshal, Chris Connealy, told the Forensic Science Commission on Friday that he will use recommendations in the commission's report on the Todd Willingham arson investigation as a blueprint for reforming the agency, and even "go beyond" them. The former Houston and Cedar Park fire chief, who took the job about a month ago, embraced scientific advancements in the arson field that the agency heretofore strongly resisted. The fire marshal will update its training and standard operating procedures, he said, and create a new science advisory committee. Connealy also pledged to work with my employers at the Innocence Project of Texas (IPOT) to review arson convictions of current TDCJ inmates for potentially valid innocence claims based on flawed forensics.
I got to visit a bit with Mr. Connealy after the meeting and he seemed just as committed to confronting flawed arson forensics as his predecessor seemed committed to ducking the issue. Frankly it was a breath of fresh air.
Jeff Blackburn, chief legal counsel at IPOT (and my boss at my day job), updated the commissioners on the work that's gone into the arson review project so far. IPOT conducted reviews of 1,085 arson convictions, said Blackburn, and identified 25 or 26 which justify significant additional review. Blackburn said he expected a more thorough vetting would weed out more, and speculated that perhaps 10-15 arson cases may end up going forward seeking relief, though it's too early to say for sure, he emphasized. (N.b., Grits works with IPOT on the policy side and is not involved with the arson review or any legal work regarding innocence claims.)
The common denominator in the 25-26 cases, said Blackburn, was poor work
by the defendants' (usually appointed) legal counsel who failed to adequately
vet questionable testimony from arson investigators, either through cross-examination or their own expert witnesses. (For those interested, I've uploaded a document Blackburn presented to commissioners updating them on the process.)
Once IPOT has narrowed down the numbers as much as they can through their own research, they and the state fire marshal will convene mutually agreed upon experts to evaluate potentially flawed testimony from arson investigators. At that point, where experts believe flawed testimony led to false convictions, the question becomes whether it's possible to secure relief from the Court of Criminal Appeals through writs of habeas corpus, or if the court's majority will continue to block innocence claims based on invalid science.
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4 comments:
Guess nobody cares much about this topic on way or the other.
Maybe, but that's a strange thing about comments: The impact of a blog post, I find, often stands in inverse proportion to the number of comments it receives, and the importance of what's said in a comment string usually stands in inverse proportion to its length, as evidenced on lots of the juvie strings. People comment about things they have pre-formed opinions on, and like many topics Grits covers, this one is pretty deep in the weeds and outside most folks' experience.
Thanks for speaking with the new state fire marshal and for giving us an update on this rare-but-necessary look in the mirror by law enforcement.
As debunkings go, the one putting the lie to arson folklore has been huge. Kudos to Jeff Blackburn for maintaining pressure on authorities to re-examine past arson cases tainted by junk science. Such a review is the right thing to do, the only thing to do.
Considering the energetic resistance from local fire officials in the Todd Willingham case, it will be interesting to see how other investigators react when their cases are exhumed, held up to the light and found wanting.
I hope Gov. Goodhair exercises enough self-control going forward to avoid dissing modern scientific methods, as he did when the Willingham review pointed to the near-certainty that Perry had arrogantly refused to spare the life of a man who was then executed for a crime that never took place.
Speaking of heat, how about this. Three digit temps in solitary housing; cka G4/LOP/SSR
Within a half decade sentence for a felony conviction; I was missclassified as a TDCJ ward. I don't believe that an official background check had been completed; because I was pressured to signature state affidavits requesting funds for adult education GED. I refused, as would a sane citizen that had completed what was being asked of them, and attempted to explain my background. I was told that if I didn't sign, I would be given the lowest system class. Which is reserved for violent and threatening wards. A class of twenty-three solitary confinement, without library, telephone, recreation, or religious privileges. In addition to the class punishment; I would be placed in a work assignment that is completely cautionary to my medical restrictions. I was then aware that either there was no check into my identity or the administration just didn't honor it. I was with multiple surgeries and on, at that time, physician's orders to exclude rear torso strain from my activities. Without anywhere to complain or contacts to write...I spent three and a half years at a compound reserved for the berserk and uber violent. No sunshine or reading novels. My system class, as well as being witheld my medical care, seem to be something a courtroom wouldn't stand for. All the facts are, and will show, as I described them. The physical pain was and still is real. The anger of being mistreated was and is real. My acknowledgement that the situation began with my mishap was and is real. I want justice to hear my testimony. Even the way I injured my rear torso seems like the system had it out for me. At County jail I was in intake with some gangsters. We had words and after being processed were housed in the same quadrant. A week went by and they attacked me near my rack. I had some combat skills from navy basic; but really just enough to evade without needing to harm one of them. When C.O. showed to break it up I stated I wanted and needed new housing. Also, that I wanted to press assault charges against the gangsters who made a move on me. Texas officers had texas offenders backs; because not only did the staff ignore my scars and requests to speak about assault charges, they placed me in a quadrant next to that very one. Which is is where the stair well went from under me. One look in there and I knew something bad was meant. Two weeks go by and I'm told I have to move to the upper deck. Next morning I shower and began moving my few necessities. The stairwell was a metal sort of grated mesh. And half way up my shoe goes thru a section of it. No lie. Clear as day, the whole scheme, as I look back. The officers knew it was hazardous, that section. Old and corroded, a patch of stair had been poorly make shifted to fit without pressure. I stepped directly below it and most likely saved my life. I fell along the steps and was told to remain still until ems arrived. At which time they asked and I told them about the step, which was in easy sight of them, and that I thought this was an attempt to harm me by officers loyal to certain gangsters nearby. At the hospital in was tested and upon release the physician suggested I be relocated to a different County jail. Only then did staff move me. My meds were collected by a C.O. and I never even got my outpatient forms. Once at the TDCJ state compound; the hospital, assault, and even my academic and service records were ignored. Once I refused to sign off on funds for GED couses; I was given lowest class and spent the following three years in isolation, without my required med care. There is what things could be and there is crystal clarity. I was clearly treated unlawfully and would like to bring it to the courts attention. My rear torso still pains. There were multiple cases where I was in three digit temps without cool liquid or ventilation.
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