Prince George’s County reviews more than 100 cases after latent-print examiner inconsistencies

Prince George’s County officials announced they are re-examining hundreds of criminal cases after an internal audit in the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Latent Print Unit flagged inconsistencies in the work of a single fingerprint examiner. The department’s internal review covered the examiner’s work from June 2021 to May 2025 and identified 134 cases that needed re-examination because of a difference in expert opinion.

County Executive Aisha Braveboy and the police department issued a joint news release on the review, with Braveboy saying, “Our residents deserve a justice system that is both fair and reliable, and Prince George’s County will continue taking all necessary steps to uphold those standards.” Braveboy previously served as Prince George’s County state’s attorney from January 2019 to June 2025, a background that frames the administration’s announcement about procedural safeguards and notifications.

The county’s statement said officials are taking a second look at what some coverage described as “hundreds” of cases; the police department’s triage identified 134 specific matters requiring re-examination due to differing expert opinions on the examiner’s work. The state’s attorney’s office is notifying defense lawyers about the review, a procedural step that could affect both pending prosecutions and cases that resulted in conviction, although no convictions have been reported as overturned or dismissed at this time.

Defense attorney Bob Bonsib, who is not connected to the investigation, said it is too soon to know the consequences for prosecutions and defense strategies. Bonsib said it's too soon to say. “Due diligence requires something more than simply relying upon what the government authorities tell you,” Bonsib said. “You've got to do your own independent deep dive into each of these cases.” His remarks highlight the pressure defense counsel will face in sorting which files require motions, evidentiary hearings, or further expert review.

Key details remain undisclosed: officials have not released the name or employment status of the fingerprint examiner, the specific nature of the inconsistencies identified by the audit, whether external independent examiners will be used for re-examination, or how long the reviews will take. The county announced the re-examination process on March 6, 2026, but there is no word yet on a timeline for completing case reviews or on whether the 134 cases represent the entire pool under review or a subset flagged for immediate re-check.

Prince George’s County leaders framed the action as a step to preserve public trust in local prosecutions, and the joint release from the County Executive’s office and the police department reiterated a commitment to a fair justice system. For now, defense lawyers are being notified and the Latent Print Unit review that spanned June 2021 to May 2025 is driving a targeted re-examination of at least 134 cases while county officials and prosecutors determine next steps.