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About limits of forensic science / Sui limiti della scienza forense

"Wrongful convictions occur with shocking frequency in the United States. A record 166 exonerations were recorded in 2016 by the National Registry of Exonerations, bringing the total since 1989 to nearly 2,000. This represents only a fraction of those who should never have been sent to prison.

In 2005 I produced a documentary showcasing several cases in which flawed forensic analyses helped to get innocent people locked up. Riky Jackson went behind bars for two years because of incorrectly matched fingerprints. Jimmy Ray Bromgard spent nearly 15 years in jail, mainly because of hair comparisons that lacked scientific rigour. Now I’m a scientist who uses data analysis to promote human rights, and I’m disheartened to see these errors continue. That is why I hope that a US federal commission will vote next week to endorse practices that would transform how forensic analysts talk about evidence..." segue su "Nature" l'articolo Label the limits of forensic science, di Robin Mejia.

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