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In this episode, Professor Aliza Kaplan, director of the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School, returns to discuss the impact of implicit racial bias in forensic science. Drawing on her co-authored paper Perpetuating the Presumption of Guilt, Kaplan explains how unconscious bias can influence forensic technicians, prosecutors, and even jurors—leading to wrongful convictions, especially among people of color. She outlines key reform efforts, including the importance of independent crime labs and blind testing methods. Through compelling real-world examples and deep systemic insights, Kaplan highlights the urgent need to rethink how science is applied in the courtroom and how we can move toward a more just and equitable legal system.
In this episode, Professor Aliza Kaplan, director of the Criminal Justice Reform Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School, returns to discuss the impact of implicit racial bias in forensic science. Drawing on her co-authored paper Perpetuating the Presumption of Guilt, Kaplan explains how unconscious bias can influence forensic technicians, prosecutors, and even jurors—leading to wrongful convictions, especially among people of color. She outlines key reform efforts, including the importance of independent crime labs and blind testing methods. Through compelling real-world examples and deep systemic insights, Kaplan highlights the urgent need to rethink how science is applied in the courtroom and how we can move toward a more just and equitable legal system.