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Check out Chris Fabricant's interview on "The Brian Lehrer Show," headed, 'What forensic science isn't', at the link below.
M. Chris Fabricant, director of strategic litigation for the Innocence Project and the author of Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System (Akashic Books, 2022), talks about cases in which forensic "science" led to wrongful convictions and tries to push back on the idea (from shows like CSI) that forensics takes human error out of the equation.
NOTA BENE: A link is enclosed on the site to the entire transcript of the interview. L.
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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: (BOOK REVIEW): "Fabricant recounts cases of convictions and the junk science involved. Perhaps the most outrageous is bite mark analysis, but readers—especially those fond of TV detectives and their infallible crime labs—will be flabbergasted by his list of forensic techniques long used by labs, including the FBI’s, and proclaimed by highly paid “expert witnesses” that, when investigated by competent researchers, turn out to be unreliable or worthless. These include arson investigation; hair and fiber microscopy; lie detector tests; voice spectrometry; and analyses of handwriting, bloodstains, shoe and tire prints, and bullet lead. Even fingerprints do not come out unscathed in Fabricant’s rigorous investigation. In 2009, after years of hearings and testimony by genuine experts, the National Academy of Sciences issued a massive 300-page report documenting the worthlessness of junk science that outraged the forensic establishment. Prosecutors and district attorneys downplay the findings because almost all are elected officials, and getting convictions keeps them in office. The report is not law, so they and judges often ignore it, and juries “tend to believe what prosecutors tell them.”
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BOOK REVIEW: "Junk Science and the American criminal justice system', by M. Chris Fabricant, as review by Kirkus.
GIST: "A chilling account of forensic science—beloved of prosecutors, judges, and TV writers but often wildly inaccurate.
Fabricant, the Innocence Project's Director of Strategic Litigation, points out that before pharmaceutical companies can market a drug, they must prove that it works.
Forensic science, on the other hand, is entirely unregulated.
When allowing “experts” to testify, a judge is not required to rule on their expertise, only on legal precedent.
Fabricant recounts cases of convictions and the junk science involved.
Perhaps the most outrageous is bite mark analysis, but readers—especially those fond of TV detectives and their infallible crime labs—will be flabbergasted by his list of forensic techniques long used by labs, including the FBI’s, and proclaimed by highly paid “expert witnesses” that, when investigated by competent researchers, turn out to be unreliable or worthless.
These include arson investigation; hair and fiber microscopy; lie detector tests; voice spectrometry; and analyses of handwriting, bloodstains, shoe and tire prints, and bullet lead. Even fingerprints do not come out unscathed in Fabricant’s rigorous investigation.
In 2009, after years of hearings and testimony by genuine experts, the National Academy of Sciences issued a massive 300-page report documenting the worthlessness of junk science that outraged the forensic establishment.
Prosecutors and district attorneys downplay the findings because almost all are elected officials, and getting convictions keeps them in office.
The report is not law, so they and judges often ignore it, and juries “tend to believe what prosecutors tell them.”
The author’s case reports and denunciation of junk science make fascinating reading, but this is not a story with a happy ending.
As Fabricant shows, Americans seem obsessed with punishing evildoers regardless of the fallout, and their elected officials loudly proclaim agreement.
The rate of incarceration in the U.S. is by far the highest in the world, disproportionately affecting Black Americans, who are “incarcerated at five times the rate of white people.”
A brilliant rebuttal of junk science in the courtroom.Pub Date: April 5, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-63614-030-8
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Akashic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 8, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2022
junk-science-and-the-american-criminal-justice-sys
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
