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October 24, 2004
FORENSICS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE: Unproven techniques sway courts, erode justice
Chicago Tribune, October 17, 2004 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/chi-0410170393oct17,1,5880839.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Moderator comment: This article is only available to registered CT members (registration is free). However, anyone interested in the (mis)use of forensic techniques in the courtroom will find it worth registering to get access to the full article. [A] Tribune investigation of forensics in the courtroom shows how ... questionable science, flawed analysis and shoddy lab practices that sometimes undermine the quest for justice. Long considered unbiased and untainted, crime labs and analysts are facing new scrutiny and tough questions about their accuracy. At the center of this upheaval is the advent of DNA testing, which has injected a dose of truth serum into other forensic tools. With its dramatic precision, DNA has helped reveal the shaky scientific foundations of everything from fingerprinting to firearm identification, from arson investigation to such exotic methods as bite-mark comparison. It is difficult, if not impossible, to quantify precisely how many cases have been affected by faulty forensic testimony or poor analytical work, partly because defense attorneys often haven't challenged forensic evidence. Many lack the resources to do so, others assume the science is unassailable, and some simply don't bother. [...]
Posted by Emma at October 24, 2004 07:23 AM
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