FBI overstated forensic hair matches in nearly all trials before 2000

[kpete]

The Justice Department and FBI have formally acknowledged that nearly every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials in which they offered evidence against criminal defendants over more than a two-decade period before 2000.

Of 28 examiners with the FBI Laboratory’s microscopic hair comparison unit, 26 overstated forensic matches in ways that favored prosecutors in more than 95 percent of the 268 trials reviewed so far, according to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Innocence Project, which are assisting the government with the country’s largest post-conviction review of questioned forensic evidence.

The cases include those of 32 defendants sentenced to death. Of those, 14 have been executed or died in prison, the groups said under an agreement with the government to release results after the review of the first 200 convictions.

The FBI errors alone do not mean there was not other evidence of a convict’s guilt. Defendants and federal and state prosecutors in 46 states and the District are being notified to determine whether there are grounds for appeals. Four defendants were previously exonerated.





more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/fbi-overstated-forensic-hair-matches-in-nearly-all-criminal-trials-for-decades/2015/04/18/39c8d8c6-e515-11e4-b510-962fcfabc310_story.html?hpid=z1

[AuntPatsy]

1. Needs exposure!!!!

[tech3149]

8. Definitely!

I'm a big fan of shows like NUM3ERS and NCIS that showcase forensic investigative skills and there are countless others that do the same.
As someone who has been involved in a technological endeavor, I have put my credibility on the line supporting an approach to solving a problem that worked to the degree that I could understand it and was generally right but when I was wrong, I was wrong. My support and acceptance of the technology lent an air of authority that could be accepted by those less involved and informed.
The BIG problem for me is that promoted and supported this technology were willing to do so knowing the that it was being presented as being less than ambiguous.

[PoliticAverse]

2. "The cases include those of 32 defendants sentenced to death" n/t

[DefenseLawyer]

3. Ballistics, handwriting, "tool marks", "blood splatter"

Just a few of the areas of "police science" which are at best deeply flawed and inaccurate and at worst simply made up as they go along.

[SamKnause]

4. The FBI errors alone do not mean there

was not other evidence of the convict's guilt.

Oh really.

Was the other evidence faulty, overstated, planted, or outright false.

Damn this country is so fucking sick.

[bananas]

5. But it's Science! How could it be wrong?

[frogmarch]

6. The only true matches with hair

are DNA matches. All other "matches" can only be termed "consistent with," meaning "similar to" or "could possibly be the same." I am surprised FBI forensic units don't know this, when I, a nobody in particular, do.

[Hestia]

7. We need to get real and demand national standards and certification for all forensic testing

that will be used in court cases. DoJ would be a great place to start since, they, you know, are supposed to be the arbiters of justice. It doesn't help with all the bullshit tests that were shown in CSI programs. They don't exist and if they did, states couldn't/wouldn't afford them.

[question everything]

9. K&R

If this is not enough to eliminate the death penalty, I don't know what is.

[DeSwiss]

10. What a fucked up country.

- What's worse, we'll just sit back an take it up the ass again like it's no big deal. Death penalty cases and these motherfuckers are lying.

Goddammit all!

K&R

[Logical]

11. Why would anyone trust the police or prosecutors? Their job is convictions, regardless of guilt. nt