This report was originally published on September 25, 2017.
ProPublica is asking a federal court for access to the source code
for New York City’s proprietary DNA software, which some scientists and
defense lawyers contend may be inaccurate in matching a defendant to a
complex sample of genetic material. Known as a pioneer in analyzing the
most difficult evidence from crime scenes, the New York City medical
examiner’s office has processed DNA samples supplied not only by local
police, but also by about 50 jurisdictions nationwide.
Employees developed the disputed software — known as the Forensic
Statistical Tool, or FST — to analyze evidence consisting of multiple
people’s DNA and determine the likelihood that a suspect’s DNA was
present. According to the medical examiner’s office, FST was used in
about 1,350 criminal cases from 2011 until this year, when it was phased
out. The office has long kept the source code secret, successfully
opposing requests in court by defense attorneys to examine it.
A motion ProPublica filed today in the Southern District of New York
asks Judge Valerie Caproni to lift a protective order she had issued in a
recent case, U.S. v. Kevin Johnson. While she became the first
judge to require the lab to turn over the source code to the defense,
her order barred parties in the case from sharing or discussing it.
Click here for the full article.
Source: ProPublica
No comments:
Post a Comment