In one of my favorite TV multi-series, CSI, lab-coated technicians match all sorts of crime-scene trace evidence to suspects – who, confronted with such powerful proof of guilt – confess before the commercial. At a forum on criminal justice issues sponsored not long ago by the Drum Major Institute (my post is here , the DMIBlog's is here) featured speaker Dallas DA Craig Watkins and panelist Barry Scheck spoke forcefully about flawed police and prosecution tactics which produce wrongful convictions. One of the more difficult tricks to defend against is the use of prosecution "experts" who testify about "forensic" procedures which have no scientific basis whatsoever.

Cross posted from the DMI blog. 

The Drum Major Institute hosted an event yesterday on preventing wrongful convictions and exonerating the innocent.  Dallas DA Craig Watkins, Barry Scheck from the Innocence Project, New York State Senator Eric Schneiderman, and Westchester DA Janet DiFiore discussed reforms for reducing the incarcerations of innocent people in Dallas and how these policies could work in New York and what it would take to get them implemented here.  Our liveblog and some video clips are posted below.