The Black Magic of Forensic Science

[koan]

Ever heard of Joyce Gilchrist? She has a tiny page on wikipedia. Too tiny.

This woman testified in over 3000 criminal cases and has been responsible for massive numbers of wrongful convictions. Her science was flawed to the point of criminal neglect. She earned the name "Black Magic" from the her co-workers because she could create evidence out of thin air. She really did. There was no evidence to link the people she helped convict. Apparently she had "cop syndrome" because she worked in league with the crime investigations. She pretty much decided who was guilty and made the evidence fit. Even by lab standards of her time her findings were completely unjustifiable. She faked it.

Why is this woman still free? Last I heard she was suing the city for firing her. She has put at least one innocent person to death and gave key evidence in 23 death row sentences.

CBS News printed an article about her in 2009 and since then... nothing.

The Innocence Project has now worked to secure the exoneration of 300 people. Not all of them were victims of Gilchrist but there is a growing body of evidence of corruption and methods employed intentionally to get convictions regardless of innocence or guilt.

The Innocence Project - Home