Forensic+Oversight+2011-4

=__**Forensic Oversight**__=

Definition:
Scientific findings that are either falsified, incorrectly evaluated, or error-ridden.

Inaccurate Scientific Evidence:
From "Scientific Evaluation"... -Hair microscopy -Bite mark comparisons -Firearm tool mark analysis -Shoe print comparisons

From "Testing"... -Blood typing -Inexperienced personnel

From "Forensic Misconduct"... -Fake test results -False testimony

Statistics:
-50% of DNA exonerations across the U.S. had inaccurate scientific "evidence" as the main contributor of the wrongful conviction -25% of suspects in a National Institute of Justice study were excluded once DNA testing was conducted during the criminal investigation (the study, conducted in 1995, included 10,060 cases where testing was performed by FBI labs) -Of Invalid & Unreliable Forensic, non-problematic & inculpatory (7%), invalid testimony (61%), vague testimony (12%), non-probative and non-problematic (20%) -See graph below from theinnocenceproject.com

Case Comparisons:[[image:http://widgets.innocenceproject.org/static/filebrowser/getting-it-right/types-of-forensic-testimony.png width="342" height="201"]]
Eugene Pitts--Arkansas -Been in prison for 30 years -Found guilty for killing Bernard Jones in 1979 -Hair strand that could prove his innocent has been lost -Soil samples and handwriting analysis also produced skewed results

Dennis Fritz and Ronald Williamson--Oklahoma -Both convicted of rape and murder -Williamson received death penalty, Fritz received life in prison -Blood and hair analyst gave inaccurate testimony -Unknowledgeable professional

State Comparisons:
-Missouri and New York have committee members monitor crime laboratories for errors -Arizona and Texas have "task forces" that inspect the execution of cold case files and investigate evidence such as human remains -Pennsylvania's Department of Forensic Sciences has authority to create agency that is separated entirely from the District's law department -Pennsylvania does not have committee members overseeing various forensic oversight issues, but has a committee with scientists in charge of re-investigating discipline and establishing new laws pertaining to the specific subject matter -Pennsylvania's "task force" is similar to the Department of Forensic Sciences

Proposed Reform by InnocenceProject.com:
-Analysts have correct and clear testimonies -Opinions based purely on scientific evidence -Thorough reports with accurate data/information -Observations to support other side of the argument