The Role of Science in the Criminal Justice System

There is increased interest in forensic science and a great deal of debate about the admissibility and reliability of not only new methods but also traditional scientific methods that have resulted in wrongful convictions. Many universities now offer programs in forensic science, either separately or as part of a criminal justice curriculum, in on-campus and online settings. This book offers an overview of forensic evidence, evidence collection, and analysis practices, and the uses of such evidence in casework. By doing so, it provides insight into the processes and procedures, who is considered an expert in a particular discipline, and how these factors impact the usage, reliability, and admissibility of evidence in the courts.

Part I of the book outlines the concept of admissible evidence and the legal standards used by courts to determine if expert testimony is reliable enough for a jury to consider in determining guilt or innocence. Part II is about the “who” disciplines, describing the admissibility and reliability of a variety of pattern identification disciplines, including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), fingerprints, hair comparison, ballistics (toolmarks), handwriting, footwear, and digital forensics. Part III describes the admissibility and reliability issues in a variety of “how” disciplines, including fire and explosions, gunshot residue, blood pattern analysis, and medical examiner testimony. Part IV describes the uses of science by law enforcement and private companies outside the courtroom, including the advent of genetic genealogy as an investigative tool. The final part discusses the future of forensic science, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and potential changes in law, regulatory, and educational requirements.

Hon. (ret.) Donald E. Shelton was a Circuit Judge in Ann Arbor, Michigan for almost 25 years. During his time on the bench, he served as Chief Judge of the Circuit, Juvenile and Probate Courts. The Michigan Constitution requires that judges leave the bench at age 70. After retiring from the bench, he was a Professor at the University of Michigan Dearborn and the Director of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program and Director of the University’s Justice Reform Project. Born in Jackson, Michigan Judge Shelton earned his undergraduate degree from Western Michigan University, his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School, his Masters degree in Criminology from Eastern Michigan University, and his PhD in Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada Reno. Dr. Shelton is a prolific author, particularly in the field of forensic science evidence His doctoral dissertation was “Criminal Adjudication: The Challenges of Forensic Science Evidence in the Early 21st Century” and his earlier books include “Forensic Science in Court: Challenges in the 21st Century” and “Forensic Science Evidence: Can the Law Keep up with Science?”. He has published many articles and research papers and was one of the earliest published researchers into the so-called “CSI Effect” and the expectation of jurors for scientific evidence. Judge Shelton is a Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the past Chair of the AAFS Jurisprudence Section. He continues to teach forensic science and criminal justice and recently served as a member and committee chair of the Michigan Governor’s Forensic Science Task Force.