New science, old convictions − Texas Senate Bill 344: identifying further necessary reform in forensic science

نویسنده

  • Naina Soni
چکیده

In June 2013, Texas Senate Bill 344 (SB 344) was signed into law after strong Innocence Project support. SB 344 has since transformed the Texan judicial landscape. Known as the 'Junk Science Writ', SB 344 enables the court to grant habeas corpus relief based on scientific evidence that '(1) was not available to be offered by a convicted person at the convicted person's trial; or (2) contradicts scientific evidence relied on by the state at trial'. Inmates, such as the 'San Antonio Four', whose convictions were based upon what is now considered 'faulty' medical and forensic testimony, have been released under SB 344. Yet, science, as a field dependent on innovation, is inherently prone to debunking the scientific and forensic methods the law has relied upon to convict individuals. This commentary identifies policy behind SB 344, how SB 344 may influence the perception of science in the courtroom, and how 'junk science' is defined and/or limited. Furthermore, this commentary concludes that to achieve justice in the legal system through habeas relief based on 'junk science', it is necessary to revitalize and standardize forensic science.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Implementation of Texas Senate Bill 19 to increase physical activity in elementary schools.

In 2001, the 77th Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 19 requiring students in publicly funded elementary schools to participate in physical activity and schools to implement a coordinated school health program by September 1, 2007. We report on awareness of and adherence to Senate Bill 19 in a statewide sample of elementary schools and a subsample in two public health regions located along th...

متن کامل

Factors Associated with Enrollment in Agricultural Science and Membership in the FFA in Texas

Beginning with A Nation at Risk in 1983, numerous reports were issued throughout the 1980s calling for educational reform in the United States. These reports resulted in sweeping educational reforms enacted by state legislatures nationwide. In Texas, significant educational changes were initiated in 1984 by House Bill 72. One of the outcomes of this bill was major reform in secondary agricultur...

متن کامل

Introduction and history of position statement on the insanity defense for the proposed Federal criminal code.

To understand the following position statement and testimony on the Insanity Defense that I submitted on ]\(ay 15. 1!174. to the United States Senate Sub-committee on Criminal Laws and Prou:dure of the Senate Judiciary Committee. it is necessary to review the legislative historv of these recent eflons to reform Federal criminal laws. Need to refo;m the archaic collection of laws in the present ...

متن کامل

Getting the facts straight on health care reform.

n engl j med 361;26 nejm.org december 24, 2009 2497 bill before the Senate would cover most uninsured Americans, sav­ ing thousands of lives each year and putting an end to our status as the only developed country that places so many of its citizens at risk for medical bankruptcy. Moreover, the bills would accom­ plish this aim while reducing the federal deficit over the next de­ cade and beyon...

متن کامل

The war isn't over.

H care reform advocates will and should celebrate their history-making legislative success. For many, the past year has been all health care all the time. Celebration should be limited, however. Major challenges lie ahead, and hard work remains to be done. Opponents will continue, and probably intensify, their opposition. They have promised legal challenges and are likely to seek repeal of all ...

متن کامل

ذخیره در منابع من


  با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

عنوان ژورنال:

دوره 2  شماره 

صفحات  -

تاریخ انتشار 2015