Publisher's Synopsis
In a spate of highly publicized miscarriages of justice the role of forensic science has become a subject of controversy in recent years, but concern about its use in criminal proceedings is longstanding. Forensic science evidence has not been subjected to the same degree of critical scrutiny as have other forms of evidence, such as confessions. Where problems have arisen, attention and blame have been focused upon individuals, with no examination of the system within which error or malpractice occurs and little consideration of the extent to which system factors may have contributed to these problems. This study aims to provide an in-depth account of the collection and presentation of forensic science evidence in criminal proceedings, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses in the way in which forensic science is used in the criminal justice process.
