Fabricated and withheld evidence investigations

Due process forbids the government from using fabricated evidence, and Brady v. Maryland (1963) requires it to disclose evidence favorable to the accused. Proving that evidence was fabricated or withheld means finding what really existed: the first version of a report, the witness who said something different, the recording that was never turned over.

What an investigation looks for

• Earlier drafts and versions of reports, and the audit trails of records systems
• Witnesses re-interviewed about what they actually told the police
• Evidence logs and chain-of-custody records
• Material in police files that never reached the defense

How these cases are investigated

In fabricated and withheld evidence cases, the work most often involves independent case review, witness location and interviews, public records requests, and officer and agency background research. What a particular case needs depends on what evidence already exists and what is at risk of being lost.

Nationwide, and civil rights only

Doug Roberts investigates fabricated and withheld evidence cases for attorneys, families, and individuals nationwide from Sheridan, Wyoming. The practice handles civil rights cases exclusively. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice; its work is to find and document the evidence.