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Junk science and the American criminal justice system  Cover Image Book Book

Junk science and the American criminal justice system / M. Chris Fabricant.

Summary:

"From CSI to Forensic Files to the celebrated reputation of the FBI crime lab, forensic scientists have long been mythologized in American popular culture as infallible crime solvers. Juries put their faith in "expert witnesses" and innocent people have been executed as a result. Innocent people are still on death row today, condemned by junk science. In 2012, the Innocence Project began searching for prisoners convicted by junk science, and three men, each convicted of capital murder, became M. Chris Fabricant's clients. Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System chronicles the fights to overturn their wrongful convictions and to end the use of the "science" that destroyed their lives. Weaving together courtroom battles from Mississippi to Texas to New York City and beyond, Fabricant takes the reader on a journey into the heart of a broken, racist system of justice and the role forensic science plays in maintaining the status quo. At turns gripping, enraging, illuminating, and moving, Junk Science is a meticulously researched insider's perspective of the American criminal justice system. Previously untold stories of wrongful executions, corrupt prosecutors, and quackery masquerading as science animate Fabricant's true crime narrative." -- Provided by publisher.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781636140308
  • ISBN: 1636140300
  • Physical Description: 359 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm
  • Publisher: Brooklyn, New York : Akashic Books, [2022]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 335-[360]).
Formatted Contents Note:
Part I: Virginia v. Keith Allen Harward & the rise of junk science -- Junk science and the American Criminal Justice System -- The dentist as forensic scientist -- Credentials, case law, and Ted Bundy -- Virulence -- Lethal nonsense -- Junk science in the Supreme Court -- Life, liberty, and Daubert. Part II: Texas v. Steven Mark Chaney & the DNA revolution -- The Innocence Project -- The National Academy of Sciences hearings -- Steven Chaney's path forward -- The thirty-eight words that moved the junk science debate into criminal courts -- The principle of finality in the age of mass incarceration -- Denying innocence -- Executing the innocent -- Steven Chaney, back on the chain -- Status quo. Part III: Mississippi v. Eddie Lee Howard & a junk science reckoning (of sorts) -- A junk science recall -- The first shots of the bite mark wars -- Steven Chaney's new lawyers -- Keith Harward's lost lottery ticket -- The bite mark wars get nasty -- Steven Chaney's new prosecutors -- Keith Harward's checkmate. Part IV: Eddie Lee Howard, Steven Mark Chaney & the dentists' last stand -- Our heroes -- The Texas Forensic Science Commission hearings -- Steven Chaney faces his trial prosecutor.
Subject: Innocence Project.
Pseudoscience > United States.
Forensic sciences > United States.
Racism in criminal justice administration > United States.
Judicial error > United States.
Judicial corruption > United States.
Parasciences > États-Unis.
Criminalistique > États-Unis.
Racisme dans l'administration de la justice pénale.
Erreur judiciaire > États-Unis.
Corruption judiciaire > États-Unis.
Innocence Project.
Forensic sciences.
Judicial corruption.
Judicial error.
Pseudoscience.
Racism in criminal justice administration.
United States.

Available copies

  • 1 of 1 copy available at Homer Library. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Homer Library System. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Homer Public Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Homer Public Library 364.089 FAB (Text) 000165838 Nonfiction Available -

Syndetic Solutions - Table of Contents for ISBN Number 9781636140308
Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System
Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System
by Fabricant, M. Chris
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Table of Contents

Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System

SectionSection DescriptionPage Number
Part IVirginia V. Keith Allen Harward & The Rise of Junk Science
1    Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice Systemp. 26
2    The Dentist as Forensic Scientistp. 28
3    Credentials, Case Law, and Ted Bundyp. 33
4    Virulencep. 54
5    Lethal Nonsensep. 63
6    Junk Science in the Supreme Courtp. 66
7    Life, Liberty, and Daubertp. 71
Part IITexas V. Steven Mark Chaney & The DNA Revolution
1    The Innocence Projectp. 95
2    The National Academy of Sciences Hearingsp. 100
3    Steven Chaney's Path Forwardp. 138
4    The Thirty-Eight Words that Moved the Junk Science Debate into Criminal Courtsp. 144
5    The Principle of Finality in the Age of Mass Incarcerationp. 152
6    Denying Innocencep. 156
7    Executing the Innocentp. 162
8    Steven Chaney, Back on the Chainp. 183
9    Status Quop. 193
Part IIIMississippi V. Eddie Lee Howard & A Junk Science Reckoning (Of Sorts)
1    A Junk Science Recallp. 210
2    The First Shots of the Bite Mark Warsp. 220
3    Steven Chaney's New Lawyersp. 232
4    Keith Harward's Lost Lottery Ticketp. 241
5    The Bite Mark Wars Get Nastyp. 247
6    Steven Chaney's New Prosecutorsp. 256
7    Keith Harward's Checkmatep. 272
Part IVEddie Lee Howard, Steven Mark Chaney & The Dentists' Last Stand
1    Our Heroesp. 301
2    The Texas Forensic Science Commission Hearingsp. 310
3    Steven Chaney Faces His Trial Prosecutorp. 321
Epiloguep. 329
Acknowledgmentsp. 333
Notesp. 335

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