Board-Certified Criminal Defense Representation In Central Florida

The problem with forensics

On Behalf of | Aug 22, 2022 | Criminal Defense |

When you’re facing criminal charges, there is nothing worse than being falsely accused or held responsible for something based on bad evidence. Forensic science is often touted as if it’s infallible, but the truth is that it is far from it.

Forensic science does contribute to many of the wrongful convictions that happen today. In fact, around 45% of all DNA exoneration cases are linked to issues with the forensics used in the case. Fortunately, you can take a stance against forensics and protect yourself against false allegations with the right approach.

What are some of the problems with forensic science?

There are several major issues with forensics. Some of these include that:

  • Forensics are invalid and unreliable as a discipline, because studies have shown that some methods used aren’t able to produce consistent results. For example, bite-mark analysis is often unreliable.
  • Some forensic disciplines don’t have enough research behind them to show that they’re actually valid. There may not been enough research to show that these methods are accurate or that they can be interpreted correctly.
  • Forensics can lead to misleading testimonies. The forensic information may overexaggerate the importance of certain evidence, or it may make it appear implied that the suspect is the source of the evidence when that isn’t necessarily the truth.
  • Forensics may downplay the importance of certain information, too, which could hurt a defendant.
  • Forensic testimonies may not go over the limitations of the methods used, minimizing the jury’s knowledge about how the evidence was obtained or analyzed.

Realistically, forensics are largely prone to error and may lead to false results or even fabricated evidence. That’s why it’s important to have your attorney go over the forensic evidence that has been collected and to take action to try to get it removed from evidence whenever possible.

Additionally, by knowing about the evidence, you can build your defense around showing why that evidence isn’t good or why it is not as important as it may seem. There are reforms and solutions being presented for the issues surrounding forensics, but until they are put into place, it’s vital to take forensic information with a grain of salt.