Truth Machine

by Michael Lynch

DNA profiling-commonly known as DNA fingerprinting-is often heralded as unassailable criminal evidence, a veritable "truth machine" that can overturn convictions based on eyewitness testimony, confessions, and other forms of forensic evidence. But DNA evidence is far from infallible. It is subject to the same possibilities for error-in sample collection, forensic analysis, and clerical record keeping-as any other aspect of criminal justice practice. Truth Machine traces the controversial history of DNA fingerprinting by looking at court cases in the United States and United Kingdom...