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Inside the Cell: The Dark Side of Forensic DNA
Inside the Cell: The Dark Side of Forensic DNA | Erin E Murphy
3 posts | 1 read | 1 to read
Josiah Sutton was convicted of rape. He was five inches shorter and 65 pounds lighter than the suspect described by the victim, but at trial a lab analyst testified that his DNA was found at the crime scene. His case looked like many othersarrest, swab, match, conviction. But there was just one problemSutton was innocent. We think of DNA forensics as an infallible science that catches the bad guys and exonerates the innocent. But when the science goes rogue, it can lead to a gross miscarriage of justice. Erin Murphy exposes the dark side of forensic DNA testing: crime labs that receive little oversight and produce inconsistent results; prosecutors who push to test smaller and poorer-quality samples, inviting error and bias; law-enforcement officers who compile massive, unregulated, and racially skewed DNA databases; and industry lobbyists who push policies of stop and spit. DNA testing is rightly seen as a transformative technological breakthrough, but we should be wary of placing such a powerful weapon in the hands of the same broken criminal justice system that has produced mass incarceration, privileged government interests over personal privacy, and all too often enforced the law in a biased or unjust manner. "Inside the Cell" exposes the truth about forensic DNA, and shows us what it will take to harness the power of genetic identification in service of accuracy and fairness."
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catatonic1242
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I just finished reading this on the plane ride home. This book was dense, dry and not unbiased, but it was also fascinating, disheartening, and alarming. I loved it, but it may not be for everyone.

catatonic1242 I was recently a juror on a capital double-murder trial. DNA played a role in the case and it piqued my interest. Our justice system is broken, and I have seen it first-hand. Now I'm trying to figure out WHY and what can be done. 8y
NatalieR @catatonic1242 That's an incredible experience you had. I work in the justice system and you are so right, it is broken. I'm hopeful more of us can help change it. 8y
catatonic1242 @NatalieR The frustrating part is - where do I start? Victim's rights? Juror education/counseling/advocacy? I know I want to help, I want to be a small part of making things "better," but how does a layperson like me even begin? 8y
NatalieR @catatonic1242 I started by volunteering. Check out your area and see what opportunities are available. Helps get your foot in the door and you can try more things. 8y
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catatonic1242
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I am *loving* this book. It raises so many interesting questions about individual agency, legal principles and scientific issues.

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catatonic1242
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Hypothetical question, gang: What would you do if you spilled a small amount of, oh, say, Crystal Light on the closed pages of a library book? 😳

ReadingOver50 Return it and hope they don't notice 8y
Megabooks I'm with @ReadingOver50 🙈 8y
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