The criminal justice system and science are both broadly looking for the same thing - the truth. But in many cases the two don’t mix well. Whether it’s court cases that attempt to decide the truth of a scientific dispute, or the use of fingerprints, DNA, or statistics by the prosecution in a murder case, a lot can go wrong - and there’s a lot at stake.
Inspired by the recent discussion, or perhaps lack of discussion, around [a criminal case nobody in the UK can talk about for legal reasons], Tom and Stuart spend this episode looking into what happens when science meets the law.
Our favourite online magazine is Works in Progress - so it’s particularly pleasing that they’re the sponsors of The Studies Show. Works in Progress publish in-depth essays on underrated ideas to improve the world, covering the history and future of science and technology. Go to worksinprogress.co to read their entire archive for free.
Show notes
UK man arrested for airport-related joke (2010); UK man arrested and punished (narrowly avoiding prison) for saying “burn auld fella, buuuuurn” upon the death of “Captain Tom” (2022)
Simon Singh successfully sued by chiropractors (but then successfully appeals; 2010)
Paper on the Italian criminal cases that helped fuel the anti-vaccine movement
Jim Carrey campaigns against vaccines
Tom’s 2018 New Scientist article on glyphosate and cancer
1995 article on the “phantom risks” of breast implants
Helen Joyce on the Sally Clark case
Tom’s 2024 Unherd article on “the dangers of trial by statistics”
2022 Royal Statistical Society report on the same topic
How Bayes-savvy statisticians helped overturn Lucia de Berk’s conviction
2022 philosophy paper on the issues with forensic science
2016 White House report on the gaps in forensic science
Dror & Hampikian (2011) study on bias in DNA interpretation
2009 “Texas sharpshooter” paper on the rarity (or not) of DNA matches
Useful 2023 review of human factors research in forensic science
Interviews with 150 forensic examiners on potential biases in their work
Credits
The Studies Show is produced by Julian Mayers at Yada Yada Productions.
Episode 41: Criminal justice and forensic science