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Denver tries to fix mistaken-ID arrests

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 23, 2012

DENVER - Denver officials, facing criticism for hundreds of mistaken-identity arrests, say they plan to tighten procedures to make sure they have the right suspect before a person is booked.

A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado is pending in US District Court in Denver. The suit alleges Denver officials failed to solve “pervasive problems’’ related to incarcerating those mistaken for someone else.

Three people represented by the ACLU have reached settlements with the city. Four others continue to press their cases.

Records filed in the lawsuit revealed that at least 503 wrongful incarcerations had occurred in Denver jails from 2002 into 2009.

‘We have been booking first and then identifying,’’ said Dave Edinger, the city’s chief performance officer. “We want to identify first, and then book them.’’

Edinger said a group of city officials continues to study the problem of mistaken-identity arrests and is expected to make recommendations this month. A possible solution involves moving the Denver Police Department’s identification bureau to the Denver Sheriff Department, Police Chief Robert White said.

Under the current system, the identification bureau checks the fingerprints of those who say they have been wrongly arrested against the fingerprints of suspects listed on warrants. The Sheriff Department books inmates into the jail.

White said officials think separate operations adds to delays in clearing people in mistaken-identity arrests.