Baltimore convictions reexamined due to illegal cellphone tracking

After an investigation by the news outlet USA Today, the Office of the Public Defender in Baltimore is reexamining hundreds of criminal cases in which the police used the questionable tactic of tracking the cellphone activity of suspects. Baltimore police used cellphone trackers known as stringrays to investigate many crimes, including minor ones, and concealed this activity from suspects and lawyers. Police are required by law to disclose their usage of electronic surveillance to courts. Baltimore’s deputy public defender described the situation as a “crisis” and said “No stone is going to be left unturned at this point.” Hundreds of convicts may have the opportunity to contest their convictions.