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A comment on Bad Science and Bad Statistics in the Courtroom Convict Innocent People. Parent comment

Re:Bad Science and Bad Statistics in the Courtroom Convict I... by michaelt on Monday December 11, 2023 @01:19PM (#38603286)
For better or worse, a huge amount of our justice system depends on eyewitness statements.

For example, if my crazy neighbour knocked on my door, pushed their way into my home when I answered then beat me up - the only evidence of who did it would be my eyewitness testimony.

There would be incontrovertible evidence that someone had assaulted me, in the form of my bruise-covered face and body. But only eyewitness testimony as to who.

With the current justice system, that would almost certainly be enough for a jury to convict.

There are tragic miscarriages of justice from time to time, and certainly DNA evidence should be used whenever possible. But would I prefer to live in a world which rejects eyewitness testimony, where a crazy person can barge into my house and beat me up with no consequences? Or a world where I have to have CCTV in my own home? Not really to be honest.

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Re:Bad Science and Bad Statistics in the Courtroom Convict I... by hobotime on Monday December 11, 2023 @01:34PM (#38603513)
That wouldn't me just your verbal evidence there, as your other neighbors would be able to collaborate that you neighbor was crazy. There would be bruises on his knuckles. His clothing would have your blood on them.

In cases of rape, where there's usually ample forensic evidence, there need not be a complete reliance on someone's testimony.

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Re:Bad Science and Bad Statistics in the Courtroom Convict I... by WalterBright on Monday December 11, 2023 @02:40PM (#38604455)
There were the semen samples taken, but this was before DNA matching.
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Re:Bad Science and Bad Statistics in the Courtroom Convict I... by graphe on Monday December 11, 2023 @01:27PM (#38603405)
The manpower involved could also be an issue, they can gather dna and evidence but more likely it’ll be ignored over other cases.

For better or worst, we should accept that our justice system has holes and flaws, and we should do our best to avoid them. There isn’t much to help you and they might not have any suitable punishment or aid to give to the crazy person.

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