Comments on: Wrongfully exonerated? Report claims ‘DNA activism’ contaminates post-conviction investigations http://trueslant.com/mattstroud/2010/02/05/wrongfully-exonerated-report-claims-dna-activism-contaminates-post-conviction-investigations/ News and insights about corrections and justice in the United States. Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:22:30 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt Stroud http://trueslant.com/mattstroud/2010/02/05/wrongfully-exonerated-report-claims-dna-activism-contaminates-post-conviction-investigations/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Matt Stroud Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:35:27 +0000 http://trueslant.com/mattstroud/?p=1128#comment-106 The Miller-McCune article Steve's referring to is here: http://www.miller-mccune.com/legal-affairs/keystone-cops-at-the-police-lab-3631/ It goes into depth about divorcing science from law enforcement. In Steve's words: "One incompetent or dishonest criminalist can infect hundreds of cases in a crime laboratory, with some of those cases mutating into wrongful convictions." Worth a read. Thanks for your comments, Steve. They're always a pleasure to read and consider. The Miller-McCune article Steve’s referring to is here:

http://www.miller-mccune.com/legal-affairs/keystone-cops-at-the-police-lab-3631/

It goes into depth about divorcing science from law enforcement. In Steve’s words: “One incompetent or dishonest criminalist can infect hundreds of cases in a crime laboratory, with some of those cases mutating into wrongful convictions.”

Worth a read.

Thanks for your comments, Steve. They’re always a pleasure to read and consider.

]]> By: Steve Weinberg http://trueslant.com/mattstroud/2010/02/05/wrongfully-exonerated-report-claims-dna-activism-contaminates-post-conviction-investigations/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Steve Weinberg Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:10:51 +0000 http://trueslant.com/mattstroud/?p=1128#comment-101 DNA testing is not always conclusive, granted. But the "what ifs" offered by forensic examiners Jarvis and Collins serve as a form of extremism by otherwise knowledgeable practitioners. I have read the writings of Jarvis and Collins. I cannot peer inside their minds to understand the motives of what they write. Their plain words, however, seem to suggest their motives: to defend law enforcement crime laboratories (think CSI, the fictional television drama), or, put another way, to advocate the status quo. No professionals like to watch their calling undergo attack. Certainly journalists cringe when an out-of-control reporter or editor compromises the truth and stains the reputations of all journalists. Jarvis and Collins better become accustomed to criticism of crime laboratories, however, because even many within the forensic science establishment realize the moment has arrived for sweeping reform. I have discussed the proposed reforms to some extent on my T/S blog, "In Justice." I have written about the need for crime laboratory overhaul more extensively in Miller-McCune magazine. The investigation is available at miller-mccune.com or on my Web page, steveweinbergwriter.com. DNA testing is not always conclusive, granted. But the “what ifs” offered by forensic examiners Jarvis and Collins serve as a form of extremism by otherwise knowledgeable practitioners. I have read the writings of Jarvis and Collins. I cannot peer inside their minds to understand the motives of what they write. Their plain words, however, seem to suggest their motives: to defend law enforcement crime laboratories (think CSI, the fictional television drama), or, put another way, to advocate the status quo.

No professionals like to watch their calling undergo attack. Certainly journalists cringe when an out-of-control reporter or editor compromises the truth and stains the reputations of all journalists.

Jarvis and Collins better become accustomed to criticism of crime laboratories, however, because even many within the forensic science establishment realize the moment has arrived for sweeping reform.

I have discussed the proposed reforms to some extent on my T/S blog, “In Justice.” I have written about the need for crime laboratory overhaul more extensively in Miller-McCune magazine. The investigation is available at miller-mccune.com or on my Web page, steveweinbergwriter.com.

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