UID:
almafu_9959231561702883
Format:
1 online resource (286 p.)
Edition:
1st ed.
ISBN:
9786611244200
,
1-281-24420-1
,
0-8135-4383-5
Content:
When DNA profiling was first introduced into the American legal system in 1987, it was heralded as a technology that would revolutionize law enforcement. As an investigative tool, it has lived up to much of this hype—it is regularly used to track down unknown criminals, put murderers and rapists behind bars, and exonerate the innocent. Yet, this promise took ten turbulent years to be fulfilled. In Genetic Witness, Jay D. Aronson uncovers the dramatic early history of DNA profiling that has been obscured by the technique’s recent success. He demonstrates that robust quality control and quality assurance measures were initially nonexistent, interpretation of test results was based more on assumption than empirical evidence, and the technique was susceptible to error at every stage. Most of these issues came to light only through defense challenges to what prosecutors claimed to be an infallible technology. Although this process was fraught with controversy, inefficiency, and personal antagonism, the quality of DNA evidence improved dramatically as a result. Aronson argues, however, that the dream of a perfect identification technology remains unrealized.
Note:
Description based upon print version of record.
,
Science for hire -- DNA on trial -- Challenging DNA -- Public science -- The DNA wars -- The debate in Washington -- The DNA wars are over -- The legacy of history.
,
English
Additional Edition:
ISBN 0-8135-4187-5
Additional Edition:
ISBN 0-8135-4188-3
Language:
English
DOI:
10.36019/9780813543833
URL:
https://www.degruyter.com/isbn/9780813543833
URL:
https://www.degruyter.com/isbn/9780813543833
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