EP 457 An Autopsy of Crime Labs in America

 We have mythologized crime labs to such a degree in America that they have become a staple on television given a seal of authority that is not justified upon serious scrutiny. Duke Law Professor, Brandon Garrett, chapter by chapter in his book, ‘Autopsy of a Crime Lab’, debunks the rigor, quality controls and the science behind expert testimony in a range of cases.  Pick your favorite forensics-hair, fingerprints and DNA, to a lesser extent, and each has problems when it comes to the infallible reliability generally assumed by the public.  The whole field of forensics certainly demands greater critique and oversight given the stakes involved.  In some cases it’s a matter of life or death.

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