arizona youngblood argued october decided november victim boy molested sodomized man hours assault boy taken hospital physician used swab sexual assault kit collect semen samples boy rectum police also collected boy clothing failed refrigerate police criminologist later performed tests rectal swab boy clothing unable obtain information identity boy assailant trial expert witnesses testified respondent might completely exonerated timely performance tests properly preserved semen samples respondent convicted child molestation sexual assault kidnaping arizona state arizona appeals reversed conviction ground state breached constitutional duty preserve semen samples victim body clothing held due process clause fourteenth amendment require state preserve semen samples even though samples might useful respondent unless criminal defendant show bad faith part police failure preserve potentially useful evidence constitute denial due process law police failure refrigerate victim clothing perform tests semen samples worst described negligent none information concealed respondent trial evidence made available respondent expert declined perform tests samples arizona appeals noted opinion agrees suggestion bad faith part police moreover due process clause violated state failed perform newer test semen samples police constitutional duty perform particular tests pp reversed rehnquist delivered opinion white scalia kennedy joined stevens filed opinion concurring judgment post blackmun filed dissenting opinion brennan marshall joined post john gustafson argued cause petitioner brief stephen neely james howard deborah strange ward daniel davis argued cause filed brief respondent chief justice rehnquist delivered opinion respondent larry youngblood convicted pima county arizona jury child molestation sexual assault kidnaping arizona appeals reversed conviction ground state failed preserve semen samples victim body clothing granted certiorari consider extent due process clause fourteenth amendment requires state preserve evidentiary material might useful criminal defendant october david boy attended church service mother left service boy went carnival behind church abducted man medium height weight assailant drove boy secluded area near ravine molested took boy unidentified sparsely furnished house sodomized boy four times afterwards assailant tied boy went outside start car assailant started car albeit difficulty returned house sodomized boy assailant sent boy bathroom wash returned carnival threatened kill boy told anyone attack entire ordeal lasted hours boy made way home mother took kino hospital hospital physician treated boy rectal injuries physician also used sexual assault kit collect evidence attack tucson police department provided kits hospitals pima county use sexual assault cases standard procedure victim sexual assault taken hospital physician used kit collect evidence kit included paper collect saliva samples tube obtaining blood sample microscopic slides making smears set swabs medical examination report physician used swab collect samples boy rectum mouth made microscopic slide samples doctor also obtained samples boy saliva blood hair physician examine samples time police placed kit secure refrigerator police station hospital police also collected boy underwear clothing refrigerated frozen nine days attack november police asked boy pick assailant photographic lineup boy identified respondent assailant respondent located police four weeks later arrested december november edward heller police criminologist examined sexual assault kit testified followed standard department procedure examine slides determine whether sexual contact occurred determined contact occurred criminologist perform tests although placed assault kit back refrigerator testified tests identify blood group substances routinely conducted initial examination assault kit half cases event test clothing time respondent indicted charges child molestation sexual assault kidnaping state moved compel respondent provide blood saliva samples comparison material gathered use sexual assault kit trial denied motion ground state obtained sufficiently large semen sample make valid comparison prosecutor asked state criminologist perform abo blood group test rectal swab sample attempt ascertain blood type boy assailant test failed detect blood group substances sample january police criminologist examined boy clothing first time found one semen stain boy underwear another rear criminologist tried obtain blood group substances stains using abo technique unsuccessful also performed protein molecule test stains indicated small quantity semen present clothing inconclusive assailant identity tucson police department begun using test used slightly half crime laboratories country respondent principal defense trial boy erred identifying perpetrator crime connection criminologist state expert witness respondent testified might shown tests performed samples shortly gathered later tests performed samples boy clothing clothing properly refrigerated instructed jury found state destroyed lost evidence might infer true fact state interest tr jury found respondent guilty charged arizona appeals reversed judgment conviction stated identity issue trial police permit destruction evidence eliminate defendant perpetrator loss material defense denial due process quoting state escalante app appeals concluded basis expert testimony trial timely performance tests properly preserved semen samples produced results might completely exonerated respondent appeals reached conclusion even though imply bad faith part state arizona denied state petition review granted certiorari reverse decision case requires us consider might loosely called area constitutionally guaranteed access evidence brady maryland held suppression prosecution evidence favorable accused upon request violates due process evidence material either guilt punishment irrespective good faith bad faith prosecution agurs held prosecution duty disclose evidence description even though requests made time rejected notion prosecutor constitutional duty routinely deliver entire file defense counsel see also moore illinois know constitutional requirement prosecution make complete detailed accounting defense police investigatory work case question state complied brady agurs state disclosed relevant police reports respondent contained information existence swab clothing boy examination hospital state provided respondent expert laboratory reports notes prepared police criminologist respondent expert access swab clothing respondent prevail federal constitutional grounds must constitutional duty imposed cases brady agurs recent decision area law california trombetta arose drunken driving prosecution state introduced test results indicating concentration alcohol blood two motorists defendants sought suppress test results ground state failed preserve breath samples used test rejected argument several reasons first officers acting good faith accord normal practice quoting killian second light procedures actually used chances preserved samples exculpated defendants slim third even samples might shown inaccuracy tests defendants alternative means demonstrating innocence present case likelihood preserved materials enabled defendant exonerate appears greater trombetta unlike trombetta state attempt make use materials case chief decisions related areas stressed importance constitutional purposes good bad faith part government claim based loss evidence attributable government marion said actual prejudice conduct defense alleged proved showing government intentionally delayed gain tactical advantage appellees harass see also lovasco similarly supra considered whether government deportation two witnesses illegal aliens violated due process held prompt deportation witnesses justified upon executive determination possess evidence favorable defendant criminal prosecution due process clause fourteenth amendment interpreted brady makes good bad faith state irrelevant state fails disclose defendant material exculpatory evidence think due process clause requires different result deal failure state preserve evidentiary material said subjected tests results might exonerated defendant part reason difference treatment found observation made trombetta supra henever potentially exculpatory evidence permanently lost courts face treacherous task divining import materials whose contents unknown often disputed part stems unwillingness read fundamental fairness requirement due process clause see lisenba california imposing police undifferentiated absolute duty retain preserve material might conceivable evidentiary significance particular prosecution think requiring defendant show bad faith part police limits extent police obligation preserve evidence reasonable bounds confines class cases interests justice clearly require cases police conduct indicate evidence form basis exonerating defendant therefore hold unless criminal defendant show bad faith part police failure preserve potentially useful evidence constitute denial due process law case police collected rectal swab clothing night crime respondent taken custody six weeks later failure police refrigerate clothing perform tests semen samples worst described negligent none information concealed respondent trial evidence made available respondent expert declined perform tests samples arizona appeals noted opinion agree suggestion bad faith part police follows therefore said violation due process clause arizona appeals also referred somewhat obliquely state inability quantitatively test certain semen samples newer test meant statement due process clause violated police fail use particular investigatory tool strongly disagree situation different prosecution drunken driving rests police observation alone defendant free argue finder fact breathalyzer test might exculpatory police constitutional duty perform particular tests judgment arizona appeals reversed case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion reversed case arizona appeals relied earlier decision state escalante holding identity issue trial police permit destruction evidence eliminate defendant perpetrator loss material defense denial due process quoting escalante supra emphasis added reasoning escalante instant case mark sharp departure trombetta two respects first trombetta speaks evidence whose exculpatory value apparent possibility semen samples exculpated respondent preserved tested enough satisfy standard constitutional materiality trombetta second made clear trombetta exculpatory value evidence must apparent evidence destroyed ibid emphasis added respondent shown police knew semen samples exculpated failed perform certain tests refrigerate boy clothing evidence simply avenue investigation might led number directions presence absence bad faith police purposes due process clause must necessarily turn police knowledge exculpatory value evidence time lost destroyed cf napue illinois justice stevens concurring judgment three factors critical importance evaluation case first time police failed refrigerate victim clothing thus negligently lost potentially valuable evidence least great interest preserving evidence person later accused crime indeed time likely evidence useful police still conducting investigation prosecutor later bear burden establishing guilt beyond reasonable doubt defendant cases even without prophylactic sanction dismissal indictment state strong incentive preserve evidence second although possible know whether lost evidence revealed relevant information unlikely defendant prejudiced state omission examining witnesses summation defense counsel impressed upon jury fact state failed preserve evidence state conducted tests might well exonerated defendant see app pet cert tr tr significantly trial judge instructed jury find state allowed destroyed lost evidence whose content quality issue may infer true fact state interest tr result uncertainty evidence might proved turned defendant advantage third fact juror chose draw permissive inference proper preservation evidence demonstrated defendant assailant suggests lost evidence immaterial cases make clear proper standard materiality must reflect overriding concern justice finding guilt state failure turn preserve potentially exculpatory evidence therefore must evaluated context entire record agurs footnotes omitted see also california trombetta duty preserve evidence must limited evidence might expected play significant role suspect defense declining defense counsel invitations draw permissive inference jurors effect indicated view evidence trial overwhelming highly improbable lost evidence exculpatory trombetta found due process violation chances extremely low preserved breath samples exculpatory case jury already performed calculus based understanding evidence introduced trial presumably case involving closer question guilt innocence jurors ready infer lost evidence exculpatory factors mind concur judgment however join opinion announces proposition law much broader necessary decide case unless criminal defendant show bad faith part police failure preserve potentially useful evidence constitute denial due process law ante opinion may well cases defendant unable prove state acted bad faith loss destruction evidence nonetheless critical defense make criminal trial fundamentally unfair however case accordingly concur judgment justice blackmun justice brennan justice marshall join dissenting constitution requires criminal defendants provided fair trial merely good faith try fair trial respondent may nothing police ineptitude denied opportunity present full defense ineptitude however deprived respondent guaranteed right due process law reversing judgment arizona appeals view misreads import prior cases unduly restricts protections due process clause understanding due process demonstrates evidence allowed deteriorate constitutionally material absence significantly prejudiced respondent accordingly dissent minimal reference past cases seems less complete analysis announces unless criminal defendant show bad faith part police failure preserve potentially useful evidence constitute denial due process law ante conclusion claimed justified limits extent police responsibility class cases interests justice clearly require cases police conduct indicate evidence form basis exonerating defendant ibid majority identified clearly one type violation police action affirmatively aimed cheating process undoubtedly violates constitution suggest way due process clause violated correct regardless intent lack thereof police action results defendant receiving unfair trial constitutes deprivation due process recent pronouncement might loosely called area constitutionally guaranteed access evidence california trombetta trombetta addressed question whether amendment demands state preserve potentially exculpatory evidence behalf defendants justice marshall writing noted particular question one first impression general standards applied developed number cases including brady maryland agurs cases way require government actions deny defendant access material evidence taken bad faith order violate due process noted majority ante brady ruled suppression prosecution evidence favorable accused upon request violates due process evidence material either guilt punishment irrespective good faith bad faith prosecution brady went explain principle underlying earlier cases mooney holohan violation due process prosecutor presented perjured testimony punishment society misdeeds prosecutor avoidance unfair trial accused failure turn material evidence casts prosecutor role architect proceeding comport standards justice even though present case action result guile quoting lower opinion trombetta also relied agurs required prosecutor turn defense evidence clearly supportive claim innocence even without defense request noted prosecutor duty one constitutional dimension unless evidence omission deprived defendant fair trial explained believe constitutional obligation measured moral culpability willfulness prosecutor evidence highly probative innocence file presumed recognize significance even actually overlooked suppression evidence results constitutional error character evidence character prosecutor omitted brady agurs clear holdings prosecutor bad faith interfering defendant access material evidence essential part due process violation trombetta create requirement trombetta initial discussion focused due process requirement criminal defendants afforded meaningful opportunity present complete defense noted delivery exculpatory evidence defendant protect innocent erroneous conviction ensur es integrity criminal justice system ibid although language trombetta includes quotation words good faith appear words two reasons significance claimed majority first words antecedent part fuller phrase good faith accord normal practice phrase source killian held practice discarding investigators notes used compile reports received evidence violate due process killian trombetta importance police compliance usual procedures manifest however standard conduct claimed suggestion usual procedure ignore possible deterioration important evidence generally treat material evidence negligent reckless manner failure refrigerate clothing squared careful steps taken preserve kit negligent reckless failure preserve important evidence accord normal practice second importantly trombetta demonstrates absence bad faith end analysis determination trombetta prosecution acted good faith according normal practice merely prefaced primary inquiry centers constitutional materiality evidence nothing trombetta intimates good faith alone measure cases area clearly establish police actions taken bad faith species police conduct result violation due process agurs points makes sense overturn conviction malicious prosecutor withholds information mistakenly believes material actually help defense way makes sense ignore fact defendant denied fair trial state allowed evidence material defense deteriorate beyond point usefulness simply police inept rather malicious also doubt bad faith standard creates rule sought majority apart inherent difficulty defendant obtaining evidence show lack good faith line good faith bad faith anything bright majority formulation may well create questions answers constitutes bad faith purposes defendant show actual malice recklessness deliberate failure establish standards maintaining preserving evidence sufficient good faith police work require certain minimum diligence lazy officer walk extra steps evidence refrigerator considered acting good faith majority leaves questions another day quick embrace bad faith standard brightened line moved line provide fewer protections criminal defendants ii inquiry majority eliminates setting bad faith rule whether evidence question constitutionally material destruction violates due process majority say whether evidentiary material said subjected tests results might exonerated defendant ante purposes due process material find question lack bad faith dispositive consider whether evidence destruction rendered respondent trial fundamentally unfair trombetta requires determine whether evidence possesses exculpatory value apparent evidence destroyed whether nature defendant unable obtain comparable evidence reasonably available means trombetta neither requirement met important note facts trombetta differed significantly case basic standards set trombetta controlling inquiry must finely tuned trombetta samples breath taken suspected drunk drivers discarded police tested using intoxilyzer highly accurate reliable device measuring concentration levels reasoned likelihood posttest samples proving exculpatory extremely low observed defendants able attack reliability test results presenting evidence ways intoxilyzer might malfunctioned case differs trombetta conclusive tests performed relevant evidence distinct possibility case one present trombetta proper test exonerated respondent unrebutted conclusive test results consequence although discarded evidence trombetta impeachment value might shown test results incorrect lost respondent possibility complete exoneration trombetta specific analysis therefore directly controlling exculpatory value clothing case determined certainty precisely police allowed samples deteriorate know several important things evidence first semen samples clothing undoubtedly came assailant second samples tested using technology available use local police department show either blood type assailant assailant nonsecreter someone secrete marker body fluids semen third evidence clearly important semen sample rape case identity questioned always significant see hilliard spalding people nation cal fourth reasonable police officer recognized clothing required refrigeration fifth know inconclusive test done swab test suggested assailant nonsecreter although equally likely sample swab small accurate results obtained sixth know respondent secreter samples clothing tested results shown either blood type assailant assailant nonsecreter constitutional materiality clear state conduct deprived defendant courts opportunity determine certainty import evidence interfere accused ability present defense imposing requirement government actions rendered impossible fulfill hilliard spalding good faith intolerable unless particular circumstances case indicate either evidence likely prove exculpatory defendant able use effective alternative means prove point destroyed evidence otherwise made recognize difficulties presented situation societal interest seeing criminals punished rightly requires indictments dismissed unavailability evidence prevents defendant receiving fair trial situation substance lost evidence known materiality analysis laid trombetta adequate situation like present one due process requires something rather allow state ineptitude saddle defendant impossible burden focus type evidence possibility might prove exculpatory existence evidence going point contention determining whether failure preserve evidence question violated due process put succinctly comparable evidence likely available defendant police must preserve physical evidence type reasonably know potential tested reveal immutable characteristics criminal hence exculpate defendant charged crime first inquiry standard concerns particular evidence must type clearly relevant requirement satisfied case identity issue physical evidence come assailant samples blood body fluids fingerprints hair tissue samples used implicate guilty defendants exonerate innocent suspects say physical evidence type must preserved example case blood sample found circumstances make unclear whether sample came assailant dictates due process might compel preservation although principles sound investigation might certainly case doubt sample came assailant presumption must preserved corollary particularly applicable case evidence embody immutable characteristic assailant determined available testing methods example clear fingerprint compared defendant fingerprints yield conclusive result blood sample sample body fluid contains blood markers either completely exonerate strongly implicate defendant technology develops potential type evidence provide conclusive results number questions increase current genetic testing measures frequently used civil paternity suits extraordinarily precise see clark jeter importance types evidence indisputable requiring police recognize importance unreasonable next inquiry whether evidence obviously relevant indicates immutable characteristic actual assailant type likely independently exculpatory requiring defendant prove particular piece evidence probably independently exculpatory require defendant prove content something state misconduct focusing type evidence solves problem able consider type evidence available technology well circumstances case determine likelihood evidence might proved exculpatory evidence must also without equivalent particular case must cumulative collateral cf agurs must bear directly question innocence guilt due process must also take account burdens preservation evidence places police law enforcement officers must provided option implicit trombetta performing proper tests physical evidence discarding suspect arrested police reasonable time may inform defense counsel plans discard evidence defense informed existence evidence reasonable time burden preservation may shift defense also flexibility deal evidence unusually dangerous difficult store iii applying standard facts case conclude arizona appeals correct overturning respondent conviction clothing worn victim contained samples assailant semen appeals found samples probably larger less contaminated likely yield conclusive test results samples collected use assault kit clothing semen stains clothing therefore obviously material semen body fluid tested available methods show immutable characteristic assailant genuine possibility results testing might exonerated respondent evidence implicating respondent testimony victim eyewitness significant physical evidence respondent car seized police examined turned wrecking company dismantled without victim viewed police also failed check car confirm refute elements victim testimony although closer question equivalent evidence available respondent swab contained semen sample sufficient allow proper testing respondent access evidence tending show assailant evidence shown physically impossible respondent assailant preservation evidence burden upon police obviously refrigeration available preservation swab indicates items clothing likely tax available storage space considered context entire trial failure prosecution preserve evidence deprived respondent fair trial still remains fundamental value determination society far worse convict innocent man let guilty man go free winship concurring opinion evidence case far conclusive possibility evidence denied respondent exonerated remote result denied fair trial actions state consequently denied due process law opinion improperly limits scope due process ignores proper focus futile pursuit rule dissent footnotes agurs went note standard applied considering harm suffered defendant different standard applied new evidence discovered neutral source trial prosecutor servant law twofold aim guilt shall escape innocence suffer quoting berger holding prosecution higher standard necessary lest special significance prosecutor obligation serve cause justice lost provide support majority bad faith requirement case defendant deprived certain testimony trial government deported potential witnesses determining possessed material evidence relevant criminal trial deportations result malice negligence carried pursuant immigration policy consideration government motive first step due process inquiry government acted good faith defendant required make plausible showing evidence lost material favorable defense defendant able meet burden majority bad faith test defendant opportunity try killian notes question related witnesses statements used prepare receipts witnesses signed destroyed accord usual practice usual practice agents destroy notes reports prepared notes destroyed different question closer one decides today presented cases relied upon majority proposition bad faith necessary show due process violation marion lovasco concerned claims preindictment delay violated due process harm caused delay certainly speculative caused deprivation material exculpatory evidence cases statutes limitations due process clause provide primary protection defendants interests cases shaky foundation radical step taken today noted california trombetta absence doctrinal development area reflects part difficulty developing rules deal evidence destroyed prosecutorial neglect oversight whenever potentially exculpatory evidence permanently lost courts face treacherous task divining import materials whose contents unknown often disputed inquiry difficult one read trombetta say believe impossible respect constitutional rights demands inquiry made need case discuss whether police duty test evidence whether due process requires police testing cutting edge technology uncertainty questions highlights importance preserving evidence defense opportunity least use whatever scientifically recognized tests available issue case recognized inherently suspect qualities eyewitness identification evidence watkins sowders brennan dissenting evidence notoriously unreliable ibid see wade manson brathwaite distinct impacts juries evidence points rather strikingly conclusion almost nothing convincing live human takes stand points finger defendant says one loftus eyewitness testimony studies show children likely make mistaken identifications adults especially encouraged adults see generally cohen harnick susceptibility child witnesses suggestion law human behavior studies show another element possible relevance case crossracial identifications much less likely accurate race identifications rahaim brodsky empirical evidence versus common sense juror lawyer knowledge eyewitness accuracy law psych rev authorities suggest eyewitness testimony alone absence corroboration viewed suspicion victim testified car loud muffler country music playing radio car started using key respondent others testified car inoperative night incident working ran quietly radio work car started using screwdriver police check disposing car see app even standard articulated majority proper resolution case remand consider whether police act good faith arizona appeals state opinion bad faith part police rather held proper standard applied consideration whether failure preserve evidence deprived respondent fair trial result holding imply bad faith part state certainly sufficient basis record finding police acted bad faith destruction respondent car police may serve remand alternative ground finding constitutional violation see question left open certainly suggests police may conducted investigation improper animus although majority provides guidance lack good faith determined egregious police action must police actions case raise colorable claim bad faith arizona courts remand determine failure refrigerate clothing part overall investigation marred bad faith even majority test conviction overturned