Pamela Fish
Encyclopedia
Pamela Fish is a former police crime lab analyst for the Chicago Police Department
, whose work has been embroiled in controversy since 2001.
In 1986, Fish stated that there were no semen
stains available in the case of the rape
and murder
of a medical student in Chicago. Subsequently, four men were charged and convicted of the crime. Later investigators found semen stains where Fish had found none, and in 2001, the four men were all exonerated.
In the case of a 1992 rape conviction, the accused demanded DNA testing, which he claimed would exonerate him. Fish acknowledged that semen samples did exist, but contended that the amount of sample available was not adequate for conducting a test. In 2006 testing was finally conducted, and indicated that the man convicted of the rape was, in fact, not guilty. Furthermore, evidence has been uncovered indicating that Fish actually gave sworn testimony which contradicted her own lab notes regarding some accused.
In the late 1990s, the Chicago Police Crime Lab was absorbed by the Illinois State Police
, and Fish thus became a state employee. As a result of these and other incidents impugning her work, in 2001 Fish was moved to a new position, with the title, "administrative section chief of research and development".
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
, whose work has been embroiled in controversy since 2001.
In 1986, Fish stated that there were no semen
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
stains available in the case of the rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
and murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of a medical student in Chicago. Subsequently, four men were charged and convicted of the crime. Later investigators found semen stains where Fish had found none, and in 2001, the four men were all exonerated.
In the case of a 1992 rape conviction, the accused demanded DNA testing, which he claimed would exonerate him. Fish acknowledged that semen samples did exist, but contended that the amount of sample available was not adequate for conducting a test. In 2006 testing was finally conducted, and indicated that the man convicted of the rape was, in fact, not guilty. Furthermore, evidence has been uncovered indicating that Fish actually gave sworn testimony which contradicted her own lab notes regarding some accused.
In the late 1990s, the Chicago Police Crime Lab was absorbed by the Illinois State Police
Illinois State Police
The Illinois State Police is the state police force of Illinois. Officially established in 1922, the Illinois State Police have over 3,000 personnel and 21 districts. The main facilities of the Illinois State Police Academy, which were constructed in 1968, are located in Springfield. Prior to...
, and Fish thus became a state employee. As a result of these and other incidents impugning her work, in 2001 Fish was moved to a new position, with the title, "administrative section chief of research and development".