A fingerprint analyst's error put an innocent man in prison. Detectives discover that this may not have been the only error she has made in favor of prosecutors.A fingerprint analyst's error put an innocent man in prison. Detectives discover that this may not have been the only error she has made in favor of prosecutors.A fingerprint analyst's error put an innocent man in prison. Detectives discover that this may not have been the only error she has made in favor of prosecutors.
Photos
- Brenda Warren
- (as Stacey Leigh Ivey)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode appears to be based on the Joyce Gilchrist case. Gilchrist was an Oklahoma City forensic chemist who was found to have falsified forensic evidence in order to help prosecutors obtain convictions. Dozens of innocent men and women were sent to prison. The falsified evidence led to the execution of at least one man who was later fully exonerated. Her work led in part to 23 people being sentenced to death, 12 of whom have been executed.
- GoofsWhen evidence of a convict's innocence surfaces after 12 years, McCoy orders his assistant to "start the paperwork" to get him released. In fact, proof of innocence is not sufficient to overturn a conviction once sentence has been handed down and upheld on appeal. The prosecutor's office has no standing to order or even request a convicted prisoner's release.
- Quotes
Ed Green: Look, Mr. Campbell - the warden says that you've been proclaiming your innocence since you set foot in here.
Bobby Campbell: Doesn't seem to have done me much good, does it?
Ed Green: Well, who knows? Maybe today's your lucky day.
Bobby Campbell: I been up here for twelve years for a crime I didn't commit. The guy who was sent here with me already died in this place. If my lucky day includes two detectives accusing me of another murder, I think I'll pass.
- ConnectionsReferences The Myth of Fingerprints (1997)
"Myth of Fingerprints" does a great job on this front and while the story is a well worn kind of one, that was re-visited more than once before this episode and also since in the franchise, it didn't feel too old hat and Van Buren's dilemma was investable and more realistic than most in most episodes with similar stories. As far as Season 12 goes, "Myth of Fingerprints" is one of the best of the first half of the season and one of the best overall. One of only two up to this point of the season to be great, the other being "For Love or Money."
There really isn't all that much to fault, but it doesn't win plus points when it comes to originality for reasons said above.
Otherwise, "Myth of Fingerprints" is excellent. The slick grit and the sharper and tighter visual look that the previous eleven seasons had is still maintained, and equally had no problems with the generally understated and not too melodramatic music. Nor with the sympathetic but crisp direction in primarily the second half.
Furthermore, the script is taut, intelligent and thought-provoking, with a lot to say about the subject in a way that is educational without being one-sided. Not just about forensic analysis but also how easy it is for miscarriages of justice to happen. The story (with echoes of the harrowing case of Joyce Gilchrist) may be unoriginal, but it was easy for me to engage with Van Buren and sympathise with a difficult dilemma that was clearly hard for her. Did like too that there was more emphasis on the policing and that Briscoe shows a sympathetic and supportive side that was refreshing when seeing him being wise-cracking, hard-boiled and conflicted usually.
While the regulars are fine (excepting Elisabeth Rohm), it's the moving performance of S. Epatha Merkerson and the equally powerful one of Diana Scarwid that shine most. Their chemistry is dynamite. The legal portion pulls no punches and is easy to be intrigued by and invest in. It is a case where sadness and anger is felt to quite large degrees.
Concluding, excellent. 9/10.
- TheLittleSongbird
- May 24, 2022