Description
Several forensic sciences, especially of the pattern-matching kind, are increasingly seen to lack the scientific foundation needed to justify continuing admission as trial evidence. Indeed, several have been abolished in the recent past. A likely next candidate for elimination is bitemark identification. A number of DNA exonerations have occurred in recent years for individuals convicted based on erroneous bitemark identifications. Intense scientific and legal scrutiny has resulted. An important National Academies review found little scientific support for the field. The Texas Forensic Science Commission recently recommended a moratorium on the admission of bitemark expert testimony. The California Supreme Court has a case before it that could start a national dismantling of forensic odontology. This article describes the (legal) basis for the rise of bitemark identification and the (scientific) basis for its impending fall. The article explains the general logic of forensic identification, the claims of bitemark identification, and reviews relevant empirical research on bitemark identification—highlighting both the lack of research and the lack of support provided by what research does exist. The rise and possible fall of bitemark identification evidence has broader implications—highlighting the weak scientific culture of forensic science and the law's difficulty in evaluating and responding to unreliable and unscientific evidence.
Details
Title
- Forensic bitemark identification: weak foundations, exaggerated claims
Contributors
- Saks, Michael (Author)
- Albright, Thomas (Author)
- Bohan, Thomas L. (Author)
- Bierer, Barbara E. (Author)
- Bowers, C. Michael (Author)
- Bush, Mary A. (Author)
- Bush, Peter J. (Author)
- Casadevall, Arturo (Author)
- Cole, Simon A. (Author)
- Denton, M. Bonner (Author)
- Seidman Diamond, Shari (Author)
- Dioso-Villa, Rachel (Author)
- Epstein, Jules (Author)
- Faigman, David (Author)
- Faigman, Lisa (Author)
- Fienberg, Stephen E. (Author)
- Garrett, Brandon L. (Author)
- Giannelli, Paul C. (Author)
- Greely, Henry T. (Author)
- Imwinkelried, Edward (Author)
- Jamieson, Allan (Author)
- Kafadar, Karen (Author)
- Kassirer, Jerome P. (Author)
- Koehler, Jonathan 'Jay' (Author)
- Korn, David (Author)
- Mnookin, Jennifer (Author)
- Morrison, Alan B. (Author)
- Murphy, Erin (Author)
- Peerwani, Nizam (Author)
- Peterson, Joseph L. (Author)
- Risinger, D. Michael (Author)
- Sensabaugh, George F. (Author)
- Spiegelman, Clifford (Author)
- Stern, Hal (Author)
- Thompson, William C. (Author)
- Wayman, James L. (Author)
- Zabell, Sandy (Author)
- Zumwalt, Ross E. (Author)
- Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law (Contributor)
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2016-11-23
Resource Type
Collections this item is in
Identifier
- Digital object identifier: 10.1093/jlb/lsw045
- Identifier TypeInternational standard serial numberIdentifier Value2053-9711
Note
- The final version of this article, as published in Journal of Law and the Biosciences, can be viewed online at: https://academic.oup.com/jlb/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/jlb/lsw045
Citation and reuse
Cite this item
This is a suggested citation. Consult the appropriate style guide for specific citation guidelines.
Saks, M. J., Albright, T., Bohan, T. L., Bierer, B. E., Bowers, C. M., Bush, M. A., . . . Zumwalt, R. E. (2016). Forensic bitemark identification: weak foundations, exaggerated claims. Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 3(3), 538-575. doi:10.1093/jlb/lsw045