White House panel questions validity of criminal forensics

“Much of the forensic analysis used in criminal trials isn’t scientifically valid, according to a draft report by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The report… raises questions about the use of bite-mark, hair, footwear, firearm and tool-mark analysis routinely used as evidence in thousands of trials annually in state and federal courts.” [Gary Fields and Kate O’Keeffe, WSJ]

3 Comments

  • “It is the brain, the little gray cells on which one must rely. One must seek the truth within–not without.” ~ Poirot”

  • When you’re hell bent on releasing as many felons as possible, I suppose you need to come up with some sort of justification for doing so.

    • Bad forensics leads to convicting innocent people. Every innocent person wrongly convicted means a real criminal got away.

      Do you really think that there is no reason to worry about whether or not we are putting the right people in prison?