Erroneous convictions and DNA exonerations: Recognizing the role of forensic science in John Grisham’s book, ‘The Innocent man’. (Essay Sample)

Erroneous convictions and DNA exonerations: Recognizing the role of forensic science in John Grisham’s book, ‘The Innocent man’.
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Erroneous convictions and DNA exonerations: Recognizing the role of forensic science in John Grisham’s book, ‘The Innocent man’.
Forensic science is essentially the application of scientific principles to the arts of criminal case proceedings. Many juries heavily rely on forensic science and scientists are called as professional witnesses in most trials so as to convict the accused. The history of forensic science has had its twists and turns since it has greatly made impressive changes after much research has been conducted. There are science areas known as ‘junk science’, which has been discredited in the recent years. Some examples of junk science is seen in some cases dealing with hair analysis, bite marks, firearm analysis or shaken baby syndrome. Junk science has been the main driving force behind some wrongful convictions in most cases like that of Suzanne Johnson, JoAnn Parks, and William Richards. Also, in some non-fictions like “The Innocent Man” by John Grisham, junk science is clearly seen as the main reason behind two wrongful convictions, Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz.