Re:Junk Arson Science Sent Claude Garrett to Prison for Murd...
by garyfirestorm on Wednesday October 10, 2018 @05:03AM
(#18183191)
What processes need to fall in place to systematically reevaluate all the old arson cases? This seems like a data problem that needs indexing and reevaluating. I know it's not that simple, but there has to be a way to undo bad decisions.
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Re:Junk Arson Science Sent Claude Garrett to Prison for Murd...
by boomboomsubban on Wednesday October 10, 2018 @08:45AM
(#18184292)
It won't happen. If we reevaluate arson cases, people will push for a wide reevaluation of other convictions based on types of evidence that have been shown to be flawed. This includes hair analysis, fingerprint analysis, bite mark analysis, bullet analysis, and eyewitness accounts. Too much added work and a truth too painful to acknowledge.
Re:Junk Arson Science Sent Claude Garrett to Prison for Murd...
by DubiousPusher on Wednesday October 10, 2018 @10:27AM
(#18185138)
Also, the criminal Justice system is notoriously confident and resilient to self examination. It's amazing what it can take to get even one person a new trial.
Re:Junk Arson Science Sent Claude Garrett to Prison for Murd...
by cavanasm on Wednesday October 10, 2018 @11:10AM
(#18185592)
I think a lot of the "confidence" is taken essentially philosophically too. A lot of people who are willing to work on the prosecution side firmly believe in some type of "procedural justice", the notion that a verdict reached by properly following all legal processes, even if factually incorrect, is a just verdict. There's a big "assuming the process is fair" part of that belief, but those people don't go in thinking the process is unfair, and then also contributing to the process being unfair.
Re:Junk Arson Science Sent Claude Garrett to Prison for Murd...
by sjg007 on Wednesday October 10, 2018 @11:33AM
(#18185814)
Even DNA analysis can be flawed.
Re:Junk Arson Science Sent Claude Garrett to Prison for Murd...
by boomboomsubban on Wednesday October 10, 2018 @03:43PM
(#18188210)
While it is not perfect, the other examples have been shown to basically be fraudulent. Different levels of flawed.
Re:Junk Arson Science Sent Claude Garrett to Prison for Murd...
by cannonedhamster on Thursday October 11, 2018 @03:46PM
(#18196468)
DNA has been used to help free people, but even when the evidence is available it's often suppressed to get a conviction.
Re:Junk Arson Science Sent Claude Garrett to Prison for Murd...
by boomboomsubban on Friday October 12, 2018 @03:55AM
(#18199961)
It still isn't perfect, and the certainty of a match has been over sold to get convictions too. It's rare, and requires intentionally misleading people, while my other examples could be wrong with everybody trying to be honest.