LAWS2351 Policy Notes - Expert Evidence and the Forensic Sciences Materials Summary Notes

Description

LAWS2351 Court Evidence, Process and Proof Summary notes of assigned materials on Class 15 (Part A): Expert Evidence and the Forensic Sciences. The materials consider contemporary challenges to the validity and reliability of many forensic comparison techniques (such as fingerprints, hair analysis, ballistics evidence and complex DNA mixtures) that are, or have been, regularly relied on by courts in Australia. The online content is drawn primarily from the United States, but the issues discussed apply equally in our jurisdiction(s). Includes summary on: 1. Video: Overview of two key Reports on problems with the forensic sciences (the 'NAS Report from 2009 and the 'PCAST Report' from 2016 2. Press Release: 3. Summary of the PCAST Report: 4. Article: Jon Schuppe, '"We are going backwards": How the justice system ignores science in the pursuit of convictions' (Jan 23 2019, NBCNews) Useful for policy question/essay.