They should have used computer models;
The Justice Department and FBI have formally acknowledged that nearly every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials in which they offered evidence against criminal defendants over more than a two-decade period before 2000.
[…]
The admissions mark a watershed in one of the country’s largest forensic scandals, highlighting the failure of the nation’s courts for decades to keep bogus scientific information from juries, legal analysts said. The question now, they said, is how state authorities and the courts will respond to findings that confirm long-suspected problems with subjective, pattern-based forensic techniques — like hair and bite-mark comparisons — that have contributed to wrongful convictions in more than one-quarter of 329 DNA-exoneration cases since 1989.
With anti-death-penalty leftists pushing this, I’m going to have to have a better source when these groups have been caught lying, often, in the past. Especially when they use weasel words like “overstating” instead of outright saying or proving “lied/perjured”. Also, I’m sure there was no other evidence that secured convictions in those cases–every single one of them came down to hair analysis and nothing else. (Gee, I wonder if doctors used as defence witnesses overstate evidence for their clients too???)
It died with my old hard-drive but I had bookmarked an Ace of Spades post where Ace was taken in by an Innocence Project report that attacked a single piece of evidence while ignoring all of the other evidence against the murderer in a death penalty case. Their and the MSM report only reported the one piece of supposedly exculpating evidence but when commenters Googled for all of the facts, it turned out IP was even lying about what evidence they claimed had been refuted that was the basis of their case that the killer should have been set free.
These are the same guys pushing CAGW and they use the same tactics and strategies. And like Moslems practicing taqiya, they believe there is no sin in lying to achieve their ends.
Well, Andy, I will agree with you that those pressure groups have an agenda, and aren’t above overstating their case to achieve it. But when even the FBI admits that they have been doing it wrong for years, you have to take notice. Blind hog, acorn, etc.
One thing notably missing from the stats? Any attempt to find cases in which the flawed hair comparisons were the only evidence, or decisive evidence, upon which a jury sent a person to jail or the death house. It’s probable that a vast majority of the convicted persons were indeed guilty, even if one piece of the case made against them was flawed.
It cuts to the whole issue of the level of scientific illiteracy in the general population. Lawyers and the police are not required to understand basic science nor the scientific method and as a result can be gulled by pseudo-scientific razzle dazzle. The whole legal industry is built around the throw-it-against-the-wall-and-see-what-sticks approach for decision making. Forensic experts are rarely, if ever, required to produce the scientific basis for their claims at any level in the legal system including the more arcane fields of forensics. Particularly when one has a single “expert” in a particularly arcane field, the obvious question which should arise is, “What auditing process, if any, is in place for this individual’s work?” Judges, likewise are given far more credit than they deserve for being able to determine which information is salient in determining an accused’s innocence or guilt.
As regards the IP using the overgeneralization argument i.e. because one piece of evidence is invalid, the entire case is invalid, the validity of the concern would have to be based on wether or not the invalid evidence was the crucial evidence which secured the conviction.
And then there was that Ontario coroner who “co-operated” with police to convict…..one fella for murder…when it was a crib death(natural cause)….
Note word is he found a new position in Saskabush……
Just who do those FBI think they are – RCMP??
When the science is settled we seem to run into all kinds of problems, don’t we ? Great parallel in the zeal to convict as well as the zeal to extract money for a harmless trace gas essential for life. 50% of all scientists come from the bottom of their class. Just like all other professions. It’s the human factor for mistakes and that’s the only science that’s settled.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38363300/ns/health
What’s settled today is junk tomorrow, as we have seen with hundreds of flip flops on almost every topic. Every scientific peer review and statement release should begin with the words,” our best guess is……”.
The use of forensic “investigative” evidence to get a judge to issue a Search warrant (probable cause) that results in obtaining hard evidence could be challenged in every case…throwing out all the incriminating evidence as tainted.
The Judges control the judicial system and when they allow the same “investigative” type of evidence to be presented to a jury in determining guilt… it is that Judge that must have their chain jerked.
Hey Slapper, cops ain’t hired for “smart”, and many of those smart cops are egenda driven. But you are rite in that judges need their chain yanked.
“one-quarter of 329 DNA-exoneration cases since 1989”.
DNA can be used to exclude and exonerate someone, but DNA should never be used to convict… DNA is a measure of Probability and probability is “Doubt”…. If a prosecutor introduces DNA to the Jury he has introduced “Doubt” The Judge has duty to instruct the Jury to bring back a “Not Guilty” verdict unless hard evidence overcomes the doubt of DNA…
All Models function on probability algorithms, that is why they are TOOLS used to test science. They do not stand alone as Science.
Imagine using probability algorithms for the Stanley Cup final game.. No need to actually play the game. It is ridicules.
Wonder if OJ is nervous.
ARREST ERIC HOLDER
An official, evidence-backrd admission which proves that no one lies so routinely under oath than police. It’s time the courts took this as established fact and when adjudicating cases on police testimony always err in favor of the defendant.
http://filmingcops.com/horrific-raw-video-shows-police-beating-man-into-oblivion-now-hes-fighting-back/
short version of your post is that absolutes DO NOT EXIST. Problem is that most do not understand that. DNA has a high degree of probability, tho recently that has been down graded some what!
Recently it was discovered that a fella, in the US, convicted on fingerprints, has at least one duplicate in Spain or Morocco.
In short, the assumption that all fingerprints are unique is now proven false.
trust us. yaaaa, hmmmmm, maybe, no.