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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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13

Dog 'Scent Lineups' Called Stupid Pet Tricks

False convictions raise doubts about police use of sniffing dogs

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(Newser) – After years sniffing out drugs and explosives, police scent dogs have found a controversial new line of work: In "scent lineups," a dog given a scent from the scene of a crime picks out a matching smell from a lineup of swabs taken from suspects. Advocates say scent lineups have proved their worth, but those falsely convicted in lineups beg to differ.

One man convicted in a scent lineup served eight months for murder before the real killer confessed to the crime; another sniffed out for burglary was released from prison after store videos showed he didn't look like the burglar. Critics warn that scents are easily cross-contaminated and scent lineups poorly controlled, but New York, Texas, and many other states continue to use the technique, the New York Times reports.

Explosives-sniffing dog Kali is led by University of Washington police officer Kenny Johns as they inspect cars in a lot adjacent to the Seattle Seahawks' stadium Oct. 18, 2009, in Seattle.
Explosives-sniffing dog Kali is led by University of Washington police officer Kenny Johns as they inspect cars in a lot adjacent to the Seattle Seahawks' stadium Oct. 18, 2009, in Seattle.   (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
University of Michigan police officer Michael Mathews directs his dog Tazer during a check of bags entering Michigan Stadium for an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept. 26, 2009.
University of Michigan police officer Michael Mathews directs his dog Tazer during a check of bags entering Michigan Stadium for an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Sept. 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
A member of the Connecticut State Police canine unit walks with a dog, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in New Haven, Conn.
A member of the Connecticut State Police canine unit walks with a dog, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in New Haven, Conn.   (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Bay Area Rapid Transit police dog
Bay Area Rapid Transit police dog "Irlo" on Friday, March 27, 2009, in Oakland, Calif.   (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
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13 comments
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riffran
Nov 4, 09 8:58 AM CST
a scent lineup?......Yeah I wonder just how accurate that would be....and just how susceptable to "leading" with tampered evidence?...But then again.....more research and testing is needed Reply
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+1
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cochiserocks
Nov 4, 09 9:47 AM CST
this stinks, everyone nose that that which is called a rose by any other name, is still a rose. they should just blow it and be a little phlem-atic about it all. otherwise this will just run and run.
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+2
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Unaffiliated
Nov 4, 09 10:56 AM CST
Ahh, olfactomedy.
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+2
bewilderbeast
Nov 4, 09 9:03 AM CST
Well, who is surprised to hear Texas uses a suspect method of "sniffing out" criminals? Not me. They pride themselves on LAWNORDER and they won't let a little thing like "fairness" get in the way of convicting someone they don't like. Nosirree. Hell, they'll even hang a man they don't like. Quicker the better. Save the state that jail money. Reply
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+3
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lolpie
Nov 4, 09 9:07 AM CST
More states should have this system
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-5

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