More than 4,000 items in alcohol-related cases across the state were analyzed incorrectly by Michigan State Police's Forensic Science Division, officials said today.
They were processed, in part, using an incorrect calibration model, according to a letter from an official with the MSP Forensic Science Division that was attached to a news release issued by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.
"There were no cases originally reported near Michigan's legal Blood Alcohol limit of 0.080 g/dL that have amended results that move them across this threshold in either direction," MSP spokeswoman Shanon Banner said in an email to the Free Press.
The cases occurred from December 2015 to April 2016 and were reprocessed in June, according to the letter from the state police's forensic science division. Not all the alcohol-related cases during that time period were affected and about 2,000 cases didn't require any correction, MSP officials said.
Further review showed "the results for some cases were incorrect by a range of -.002 g/dL to +.004 g/dL," the letter said.
Luther Glenn, president pro tem for the Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association, said he wants to see those findings confirmed by a neutral third party.
Many alcohol-related cases are prosecuted by city attorneys, not the county prosecutor's office.
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said that of the 402 affected cases in Wayne County, 89 were prosecuted, or are being prosecuted, by its office.
They sent letters to attorneys representing defendants and included corrected results from MSP, prosecutors said in a news release today informing the media of the error. The prosecutor's office also will send letters to attorneys with cases where MSP determined the results were unchanged.
"We will work cooperatively to resolve any issues that arise from the information received from the Michigan State Police Forensic Services Division," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a statement. "If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Appellate Division at 313-224-5790. "
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