10 Legitimate Problems with Law Enforcement Investigations
Why Even Well-Intentioned Detectives Can Get It Wrong
Estimated read time: 3 minutes
Law enforcement officers carry a difficult burden: solving crimes swiftly and accurately. But the investigative process is vulnerable to human error, institutional pressure, and flawed tools. As a result, innocent people can end up behind bars, while the guilty walk free.
Here are ten common, legitimate problems that undermine investigations—and why they matter for defense attorneys, paralegals, and private investigators alike.
1. Tunnel Vision
Once officers develop a theory, they often disregard evidence that doesn’t fit it.
Example: Anthony Graves was wrongfully imprisoned for 18 years after Texas Rangers ignored contradictory witness statements and exculpatory leads.
Source: Psychology Today – Tunnel Vision
2. Confirmation Bias
Investigators may interpret all new evidence as proof of guilt—even when it isn’t.
Example: The Central Park Five case showed how police framed confused teenage statements as solid confessions.
Source: NY Times on “When They See Us”
3. Coerced or False Confessions
High-pressure interrogations—especially with minors or individuals with cognitive impairments—can produce false confessions.
Example: Brendan Dassey confessed under extreme pressure and suggestive questioning.
Source: Northwestern Law - False Confessions
4. Withholding Exculpatory Evidence
Failure to disclose evidence helpful to the defense violates the Brady rule and often leads to wrongful convictions.
Example: Michael Morton spent 25 years in prison because prosecutors suppressed evidence of his innocence.
Source: Innocence Project – Michael Morton
5. Contaminated Crime Scenes
Improperly secured scenes destroy critical forensic evidence.
Example: In the JonBenét Ramsey case, officers allowed multiple people to move freely through the crime scene, compromising everything.
Source: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin – Crime Scene Investigation
6. Faulty Forensic Methods
Not all forensic science is reliable. Hair comparison, bite marks, and even fingerprint analysis have led to errors.
Example: The FBI admitted it had overstated hair analysis results in 95% of reviewed cases.
Source: Washington Post – FBI Hair Analysis Failures
7. Jailhouse Informant Abuse
Jailhouse “snitches” often fabricate confessions to receive deals.
Example: A key witness in Cameron Todd Willingham’s arson case recanted after Willingham was executed.
Source: The Marshall Project – Jailhouse Informants
8. Inadequate Training
Officers may not receive the education necessary to properly investigate cases, particularly those involving fire science, digital forensics, or trauma interviews.
Example: Poor fire investigation science led to the wrongful conviction of Willingham.
Source: Innocence Project – Arson Cases
9. Racial Bias
Implicit or explicit bias skews how officers interpret behavior, assign guilt, or prioritize cases.
Example: DOJ reports in Ferguson and Baltimore highlighted systemic over-policing of Black communities.
Source: DOJ Ferguson Report (PDF)
10. Ignoring Alternate Suspects
Once a suspect is arrested, leads pointing to other individuals often go unexplored.
Example: Ronald Cotton was convicted of rape despite another man being the real perpetrator. Only DNA testing reversed the damage.
Source: Innocence Project – Ronald Cotton
What This Means for Defense Teams
Understanding these pitfalls is essential. Whether you’re a defense attorney, investigator, or paralegal, being able to spot flawed police work can mean the difference between freedom and a life sentence for your client.
If you're building a defense strategy and suspect one of these issues is at play, we can help investigate further.
Need help identifying investigative errors in your case?
Reach out to our team today. We work with defense attorneys across North Carolina to uncover flawed investigations and build stronger cases.
