Questionable Forensic Techniques

Chicago Tribune reports:

In a 2004 series "Forensics Under the Microscope," the Tribune found that a number of forensic disciplines, including some used in police stations and courtrooms every day, relied on flawed science, and their use contributed to the arrests and convictions of innocent people.

Wednesday's National Academy of Sciences report on forensic disciplines mirrors many of the newspaper's findings.

Here is a look at four issues the report considered.

[1. Fingerprint comparisons
2. Bullet-lead analysis
3. Arson indicators
4. Bite-mark comparsions]

Check here for in depth descriptions of the four issues.