Lost files could set criminal free

During a lawsuit, many files filled with evidence, legal proceedings and statements are filed. After cases conclude, the information has to be saved. Many courts use conversation services to save these records on computers in order to allow numerous people access to such files and to ensure the safety of such documents.

However, if authorities save the paper files and they are misplaced, the results could be disastrous. Administrators in Detroit are currently experiencing this issue first hand. According to the Detroit Free Press, Arthur Bell was convicted in 1989 of first degree murder, but was released from his life sentence in February 2011.

Bell's conviction was overturned, the source claimed, because the 50-page homicide file relating to his case was misplaced. However, the news provider said that the document has since been recovered, and an appellate court is currently debating whether or not he should be returned to jail.

With the presence of digitized files, this might not have occurred. Though the technology may not have been readily available in 1989, many legal institutions are converting their older files over now to make sure nothing is lost in the future.

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