Opinion: Journalists need to stop enabling junk forensics
Forensic scientists work in the D.C. crime lab. By Radley Balko Radley Balko Opinion writer focusing on civil liberties, the drug war and the criminal-justice system Email Bio Follow Opinion writer April 2 at 4:27 PM Earlier this year, ProPublica ran stories about Richard Vorder Bruegge, a longtime forensic “image examiner” with the FBI. In fact, Vorder Bruegge heads up the FBI’s Forensic Audio, Video and Image Analysis Unit in Quantico, Va.
Only 1 in 650 billion shirts would randomly match so precisely, Vorder Bruegge said, “give or take a few billion." . . . “Somehow they feel perfectly entitled to make outrageous statements,” said Kafadar, who said the 1-in-650-billion claim “makes about as much sense as the statement two plus two equals five.”
But back to Mr. Vorder Bruegge. Over the years, the FBI analyst has testified in numerous cases, claiming, for example, that he can use security camera footage to estimate the height of figure in that footage, that he can distinguish child pornography images that feature real children from those that are fake, or that he can identify specific automobiles from grainy images captured on video.
The process was used for the first time late last year to convict Charles Barbee, the leader of a white separatist gang responsible for two bank robberies in Spokane, Washington, in April 1996.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Opinion | We need to stop giving Trump a pass on his ignoranceWe have plenty of evidence that the president is oblivious to basic facts — even in relation to his core priorities.
Weiterlesen »
Opinion | Vape makers must do more to stop kids from using e-cigarettesOpinion: Vape makers must do more to stop kids from using e-cigarettes
Weiterlesen »
Opinion: To win titles, Mike Krzyzewski and John Calipari may need new building-roster planAs Duke and Kentucky have struggled in the NCAA tournament, older teams have been advancing further than young teams lately in college basketball.
Weiterlesen »
Opinion | If space is the future, that future needs to include everyoneHow can it be that in 2019, we’re unprepared to have two women spacewalk simultaneously?
Weiterlesen »
7 things you need to stop doing to become richer and more successfulAligning your habits with your long-term goals is a powerful way to get what you want, writes CEO Elle Kaplan.
Weiterlesen »
Opinion | Want to stop gun deaths? Stop talking about ‘weapons of war.’The guns that kill most people aren't the ones that stir up the strongest reactions.
Weiterlesen »
Federal Bank is partnering with Ripple to enable blockchain-powered remittancesFederal Bank, which already controls 15% of India's remittance market, could increase transfer volume even more with its new Ripple partnership:
Weiterlesen »