Genetic Witness: Science, Law, and Controversy in the Making of DNA Profiling

Author: Aronson, Jay D.

Brand: Rutgers University Press

Edition: None

Number Of Pages: 288

Details: When DNA profiling was first introduced into the American legal system in 1987, it was heralded as a technology that would revolutionize law enforcement. As an investigative tool, it has lived up to much of this hype—it is regularly used to track down unknown criminals, put murderers and rapists behind bars, and exonerate the innocent. Yet, this promise took ten turbulent years to be fulfilled. In Genetic Witness, Jay D. Aronson uncovers the dramatic early history of DNA profiling that has been obscured by the technique’s recent success. He demonstrates that robust quality control and quality assurance measures were initially nonexistent, interpretation of test results was based more on assumption than empirical evidence, and the technique was susceptible to error at every stage. Most of these issues came to light only through defense challenges to what prosecutors claimed to be an infallible technology. Although this process was fraught with controversy, inefficiency, and personal antagonism, the quality of DNA evidence improved dramatically as a result. Aronson argues, however, that the dream of a perfect identification technology remains unrealized.

EAN: 9780813541884

Release Date: 11-10-2007

Languages: English

Item Note: Book is in good condition! The cover has normal wear from use. The pages look good and do not have tears, folds, or marks.

Item Condition: UsedGood

Binding: Paperback

PartNumber: 8 figures