Pseudoscience and Dubious Forensics
According to the Innocence Project, nearly half of wrongful convictions were a result of misapplied forensics. Forensic science comprises many disciplines and offers valuable methods of gathering evidence, but when misapplied, the consequences for defendants whose life and liberty is at stake are devastating. Steven Mark Chaney of Texas was wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned for nearly 30 years largely based on bite mark evidence and testimony built on shaky scientific underpinnings. Chris Fabricant of the Innocence Project discusses some of the major problems with forensic evidence, including unreliability of testing methods in disciplines like bite mark matching and erroneous or exaggerated expert testimony, and how misapplied forensics have sent clients to prison for decades for crimes they did not commit.
Watch Part 2 of Pseudoscience and Dubious Forensics.
For more information on pseudoscience and faulty forensics:
- Read Chris Fabrikant's book: Junk Science (2022); or
- Vist the Junk Science Archives at the Innocence Project
