The Keyboard Detective

Nation's Forensics System is Shaky, says National Academy of Sciences

Too many episodes of CSI might give you the idea that forensic science is infallible, but the National Academy of Sciences put the lie to that one this week. The NAS has released a report calling the nation's forensics system badly flawed and in need of reform.

According to the report, the certification process for forensic scientists isn't widespread or rigorous enough, and there is not enough evidence supporting the reliability of many forensic techniques.

DNA aside, "no forensic method has been rigorously shown able to consistently, and with a high degree of certainty, demonstrate a connection between evidence and a specific individual or source," read a press release from the NAS.

The report also noted that forensics labs are underfunded and understaffed and don't have enough oversight.

An article at FindLaw supports that, pointing to problems found at the Baltimore and Detroit police departments, among others. Police in Detroit had to go so far as to shut down the crime lab there because of a 10% error rate in ballistics analysis. The New York Times also has an excellent piece on crime lab failures across the country.

And, the LA Times reported last month that nearly 1,000 criminal cases would have to be reviewed after a discovery that six fingerprint analysts had made serious mistakes. At least two people have been falsely linked to crimes because of the errors, the paper reported.

A recent Times investigation found that errors were partly the result of the unit's being marred by inadequate training, antiquated facilities, poor supervision, careless handling of evidence and other shortfalls.

Closer to home, an Okaloosa County man was recently freed from prison when the FBI admitted the Comparative Bullet Lead Analysis that led to his murder conviction was flawed. Jimmy Ates had already served 10 years.

Remember this if you're ever picked to serve on a jury. Don't simply assume the evidence is solid just because the witness presenting it wears a white lab coat to work.