May 31, 2004

The Myths of Finger Prints

This story in the New York Times and this one in the Washington Post show that there are some deeply troubling holes in our justice system, holes than can lead to horrifying results for those who are wrongly accused. If there's one thing people throughout the American justice system (from police to juries) seem to rely on without a great deal of critical thought it is finger printing. Mistakes of this magnitude being exposed should lead to changes that will help protect the innocent, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

Though here's an idea, maybe prosecutors should check the height of the people they're holding more carefully. If the person you've got is half a foot taller than who you're looking for, you might want to consider the possiblity that you've got the wrong guy.

Posted by armand at May 31, 2004 10:58 AM | TrackBack | Posted to Law and the Courts


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