摘要
Forensic Scientists increasingly face challenges when testifying about pattern evidence.“Pattern evidence”here denotes fingerprint evidence,firearms,tool marks,footwear,tire impressions,handwriting,bite marks,etc.Critics question whether experts using only subjec-tive information can provide the court with reliable information.Detractors maintain that objective data,meaning statistics,is necessary for the expert to form an opinion in court cases.Some critics have used the depreciatory term“junk science”to suggest that certain forensic science disciplines have little or no validity and should no longer be used.