Doug’s Dime: The accuracy of forensic evidence

New studies raise questions about the accuracy and efficacy of various different types of evidence used by forensic experts in criminal investigations. Scientific analysis of ballistics evidence produces considerably higher error rates than one might otherwise accept; in practical testing, examiners misidentified bullets 37 percent of the time. An Australian study found that drugs are not discovered following 75 percent of police dog alerts, and even bloodstain analysis — a staple of CSI shows — doesn’t hold up as strongly under blacklight. One study found that analysts correctly classified bloodstain patterns only 70 percent of the time on rigid surfaces and just 62 percent of the time on fabrics. Alberta Law Review