The ACLU of Colorado is investigating the implications of severe and pervasive misconduct by a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) senior DNA analyst, Yvonne “Missy” Woods, as well as CBI’s response to Ms. Woods’ misconduct. Ms. Woods spent more than thirty years at CBI. For at least a decade, colleagues repeatedly raised concerns about the quality of her work. In 2014, and again in 2018, CBI technical reviewers identified data deletions in cases handled by Ms. Woods and reported the misconduct to their superiors at CBI. Ms. Woods’ misconduct was not made public until this year, after an undergraduate CBI intern spoke up about “anomalies” in Ms. Woods’ casework. CBI completed an internal investigation into Ms. Woods’ conduct in February 2024; the report was not released to the public until four months later.
In the summer of 2024, CBI announced that it would have an external entity conduct an independent investigation into the root cause of Ms. Woods’ misconduct and CBI’s failure to prevent it. However, the audit would cover only a two-year period, between 2022 and 2024, leaving several years of Ms. Woods’ conduct unaudited. Additionally, the audit would be overseen by CBI executive staff, which compromises its independence and integrity.
The ACLU of Colorado, in partnership with the Korey Wise Innocence Project sent a letter on November 12, 2024 to CBI leadership raising these concerns, urging CBI to conduct a thorough, independent audit, and requesting that the agency be transparent with the public about its response to the misconduct of former DNA analyst Yvonne “Missy” Woods. The joint letter also raises concerns about CBI’s lack of compliance with certain requirements that aim to prevent exactly the kind of pervasive and unchecked misconduct that occurred here.
The ACLU of Colorado’s investigation into Ms. Woods’ unchecked misconduct, and its implications for the civil rights of Coloradoans, is ongoing.
ACLU PRESS RELEASES:
"ACLU of Colorado Demands that Colorado Bureau of Investigation Address Concerns After Former DNA Analyst Mishandled Numerous Cases", November 12, 2024
MEDIA:
"ACLU of Colorado Calls for Independent Audit of Misconduct from CBI DNA Analyst", 9News, November 12, 2024
"A Federal Law Mandated Outside Oversight of Crime Labs. CBI Didn’t Use It, Watchdogs Allege", The Denver Post, November 13, 2024
"The CBI is Retesting DNA After Forensic Scientist Manipulated DNA in Over 800 Cases", Colorado Public Radio, November 14, 2024