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Is forensic science the last bastion of resistance against statistics?

NCJ Number
307101
Journal
Science & Justice Volume: 53 Issue: 3 Dated: 2013 Pages: 251-252
Author(s)
James M. Curran
Date Published
2013
Length
2 pages
Annotation

This editorial is based on an author presentation at the sixth European Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting where they attempted to encourage debate, reflection, and possibly change in the field of forensic science.

Abstract

This editorial is based on a talk that I gave at the 6th European Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting where I attempted to encourage debate, reflection, and possibly change. Nothing I have written here is aimed at any one person. Over the last 15 years I have been involved in forensic research, education, and practice. This has given me considerable opportunities to see how the fruits of mine and my peers' research has affected, or changed, the way forensic scientists study, interpret, and present evidence. It is, therefore, rather disheartening to say that the impact appears to be low to negligible. I will briefly discuss my findings in three different fields with which I have had some interaction. These are: fingerprints; glass; and DNA.