Failed Evidence: Why Law Enforcement Resists Science

This event is free and open to the public. 1 hour of substantive credit is approved.

Pitt Law Professor David Harris will discuss how his latest book, Failed Evidence. The book is a direct challenge to police and prosecution leadership that has failed to come to grips with the insights that science has supplied for routine types of traditional police work like eyewitness identification, suspect interrogation, and forensics. The science concerning these issues is rigorous, well documented, and replicated. It tells law enforcement not only what not to do in order to avoid miscarriages of justice, but how to do the same tasks with much lower risk of mistakes. Yet, with the exception of DNA work, law enforcement has not embraced science.

During his presentation, Harris will offer recommendations for bringing the best that science has to offer to law enforcement, as well as examples from states in which breakthroughs have happened.

A panel of local experts will join Professor Harris to give their reactions.

Reception to immediately follow, Alcoa Room