The Fight To Reform Forensic Science 93
carmendrahl writes "Despite a 2009 report from the National Academy of Sciences that found the science in crime labs wanting, very little reform of forensic science has taken place. At a session about the Innocence Project, a group that exonerates prisoners with DNA evidence, speakers called on chemists to join the fight for reform. But forensic chemists don't all agree on what needs reforming."
Must-see Frontline (Score:5, Interesting)
I posted this link on a related story some time back. This is a must see if you think you know how bad forensic science (or lack of science) really is:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/real-csi/ [pbs.org]
Re:What needs reform is.. (Score:5, Interesting)
Too often the forensic office is friends with and/or pressured by the police or DA to get results.
More likely they are willing to do whatever they can to "fight crime". As an example, I give you the case of Joyce Gilcrist [wikimedia.org]. From the Wilipedia entry
"Joyce Gilchrist is a former forensic chemist who had participated in over 3,000 criminal cases in 21 years while working for the Oklahoma City police department, and who was accused of falsifying evidence. Her evidence led in part to 23 people being sentenced to death, 11 of whom have been executed."
We'll never know how many of those 3000 were actually innocent, while the guilty walked free. She should have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder through depraved indifference, but that's just my opinion.