How DNA Changed the World of Forensics | Retro Report | The New York Times

Before DNA testing, prosecutors relied on less sophisticated forensic techniques, including microscopic hair analysis, to put criminals behind bars. But how reliable was hair analysis?
Produced by: Retro Report
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How DNA Changed the World of Forensics | Retro Report | The New York Times
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[@thereis1meleft]

First of all What a great series NYT! keep doing them coming!! and in regards to Kirk Odom , oh brother no words can ever describe the pain of being wrongfully convicted and on top of that missing important milestones of your daughter's life.

[@carlaeyyy649]

Wow, I'm so angry for Kirk Odom. The poor man spent 22 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, while perpetrator walked free because of the statue of limitations. 22 years of his life was wasted, he missed raising his child. Though it will never give him the years back, I hope he gets compensation.

[@StevieCooper]

According to an article I just googled, he was awarded 9.2million. I’d rather the 22 years back. 9.2 billion wouldn’t be enough. How that man can be so calm. Terrible.

[@robertlorenzen8614]

@@StevieCooper at least he was able to retire in just 22 years, but true he missed out on important stuff!

[@ajc5869]

Could you imagine getting locked up for 22 years for a crime you know you didn’t commit. So sad I can’t even fathom how he must have felt while in prison....

[@seanwebb605]

It is dangerous for me to speculate not know the specifics of the cases that they have cited. However, if I had to guess I would say that these men weren't convicted on just the hair analysis. If they generally matched the description of a suspect and had committed prior crimes the value of their testimony was probably questioned. There is a portion of the population that looks at someone like this and says "Well if he didn't commit this crime he probably committed some other crime and got away with it". There is quite a bit of pressure on law enforcement and the justice system to provide a conviction to appease the families of victims. There should be a high standard for a conviction. Twenty-two years of someone's life and long term damage of their reputation and earning ability is huge.

[@balder9033]

These retro reports are really great.

[@bossyspaghetti]

God the story if Kirk Odom is heartbreaking.

[@lemmadogman4924]

Hope you guys consider doing an updated video report on how other basic forensic science techniques are now coming into question!

[@jamesmanson2152]

It took me 100 videos like these to realize they’re not even popular. 55 comments? This is good content right here

[@user-jt7bx3ek8w]

you have to get it thru peoples head, that convincing a innocent person is not a victimless crime (they say: he might be guilty) the real culprit is is still out there. The damage is being done on the victim (a new trail), the accused (year in jail), and the new victims (being told that no one was even looking, because the case was closed "the problem solved")

[@krismas3880]

Kirk Odom should sue the FBI. He wasted a lot of years for 1 single hair mistake of FBI. 😤

[@bossyspaghetti]

The horrific truth is that this is not an isolated case; hundreds of people (usually black men) are wrongly accused of crimes based on erroneous identification by witnesses, usually because cross-racial identification is inherently faulty, as has been proven in several studies. Also, it is now known that hair matching via microscope is BY NO MEANS a reliable way to identify a criminal.

[@edwinE1981]

I really like this kind of things thanks

[@ghostcrystal7930]

8:35 So it's not the FBI's fault for doing bad science, it's the prosecutors' fault for misrepresenting that bad science as fact 😑 nice cover lads

[@Renwoxing13]

God I HATE junk science, and I pray for all those wrongfully convicted, especially the poor souls still sitting in prisons right at this moment!

[@nikkim7012]

That sketch was sketchy.

[@dangeejr]

That poor man spent 20 years behind bars, for something he had nothing to do with. How tragic.

[@praneeth5127]

These things need to be learned by the common public so that one day if they face any false accusations against them they can project these examples and cases.

[@ramyalynn755]

pov you are here from FLVS

[@micaiahchilders3897]

yupp.

[@_ccessa_]

Y’all got the answers for this? 😭

[@Cynthiaa315]

Who are the two men at 5:32. They look so familiar

[@ruzzelladrian907]

This would've come in handy for the Vizconde massacre.

[@kd17Burger]

They have such good Discrimination .... Obviously - LOL

[@christopherpaul4876]

Here we are in 2019, FBI SOS Different day

[@boomerrumor8252]

Sad

[@moonlandingagain3228]

Lei detector test is just as wrotkless as hair analyses

[@emilehobo]

"They saw things that I'd think you couldn't see." That's a red flag.

[@BLUEGENE13]

peter nuefeld defended oj simpson jsyk

[@robzmanz900]

MORE PLEASE HAHAAH, To add more to your curiosities why dont you have a docu, about HIV/AIDS, THE MILITARY ROBOTS DARPA PROJECTS, ect and ect. hahah

[@tyang1333]

Hair analysis sucked 👎😠

[@jonslg240]

Convicting the guilty!* Freeing the innocent*!

[@gracelord6476]

This is why I don’t believe in the death penalty, because in a perfect world we would know 100% who was innocent or guilty, but we don’t live in a perfect world. If there’s even a 1% chance the person being executed is innocent, then it shouldn’t happen. That’s just my opinion though.

[@ytubeanon]

wtf they've only had accurate DNA testing since 2012? the title of the video is misleading, this was actually a video about flaws in hair DNA analysis

[@susancastiglione8654]

I will never completely trust the Innocence Project after seeing some things they have done.

[@nickthefox72]

Whenever you like you can thank the British. We invented DNA testing

[@MsJourneyfan]

The world owes thanks to Sir Alec John Jeffreys. He did all the work to develop DNA testing.

[@noname-wo9yy]

Don't forget we invented the computer, anti antibiotics vaccinations, jet engines, VX the list goes on and on

[@thefirebirdflock3440]

Chems Fan keep in mind who won the Cold War

[@morganfaye3479]

ThePudgyBudgie oh right. You mean no one?

[@emilcurtis2645]

Rosalind Franklin discovered DNA and her research was stolen after she died by men who proceeded to receive a NPP for her work

[@AgainstAllOddz]

All black men railroaded by system

[@jebbie2595]

@Against All Odds *The "System" doesn't discriminate when it comes to " railroading" men & women. Black, white, yellow, or green... I do believe that the System targets low-income/poor people.*

[@robzmanz900]

the united nations are condemning the making of these military robots because you know cats and dogs are more friendly than humans if you know what I mean. lol

[@johncase1353]

What the hell does this have to do with the video?

[@Lacirose88]

Huh?