The New Detectives: Case Studies in Forensic Science

I was watching one of the typical installments this weekend (spouse dies of "accidental poisoning" and it's clear from the first minute of narration that it's murder and that the surviving spouse did the killing), when I heard a remarkable statement: "In Maryland, convictions may be had on circumstantial evidence, but Florida requires irrefutable scientific proof." Hogwash. Every state permits conviction of the direst crimes, including murder, on circumstantial evidence--and why not? Circumstantial evidence includes everything except eyewitness testimony--and eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable. Fingerprint evidence, fiber evidence, DNA evidence--all are highly reliable, though not "irrefutable," and all are circumstantial.

Why did the narrator intone that Florida requires "irrefutable scientific proof"? Because in the case under discussion, a trial judge (and trial-level decisions do not set precedent) refused to allow into evidence a report that potassium had been found in the victim's body. The judge refused to allow the report into evidence because potassium is found naturally in the human body, and the report did not show that the amount found in the victim was so abnormal as to be indicative of poisoning. The report, therefore, proved nothing, and should not have been admitted in any state--not because it wasn't "irrefutable," but because it didn't provide any evidence that there had been a murder.

Florida doesn't require "irrefutable" scientific evidence, and neither does any other state, because there is no such thing (think of the O.J. Simpson case). There is no evidence, scientific or otherwise, that cannot be refuted. Florida's busy death row includes many a murderer convicted on circumstantial evidence alone--be it scientific or not (and it need not be scientific).

So don't head for Florida if you plan to dispose of your spouse. And don't take weighty statements of the law on The New Detectives at face value. You're likely to get burned. Enjoy it for its formulaic, murder-will-out expositions only. It's all been done before, and done at least this well.

Cant this show come back like Forensic Files is in 2020? This program is excellent. Bring it back

Most amazing, no drama crime show.

Focused on the serious stuff. Also the narrator is making a great job.

Very informative, well made. All my respect to the people involved! It is clear, this show was made by proffesionals and i greately appreciate their dedication. Fbi files, the same.

Sadly nowadays we dont have a show like these. I m very curious about how science has evolved now in 2021.

Thank you again for all your effort, for making something diffrent. Superior. Scientific. Unique.

10/10.

from the same people who brought you The F.B.I. Files comes this series about the high tech aspects of solving crime(such as the use of DNA and fingerprinting)as well as forensic anthropology and psychological profiling.for me,this series is much slower than the F.BI. Files and less interesting.it is much more dramatic,with less action.and i found it much darker in tone than the F:B:I: Files.it gets more in depth into the science of crime detection,and less on the crime itself.i found this aspect a bit dry at times.still, it is well made and at times compelling.certainly if you're into the scientific aspect of crime and crime solving,you should check this series out.in North America,seasons 1&2 are available as one collection.for me,The Detectives is a 6/10

This show is really a great show in My opinion. It shows reenactments and the real thing. Its on the Discovery Channel every week. Some of the cases are graphic because these things really happened and are not made up. I would not recommend a young child to watch this program without the guidance of a parent. The show gives the viewer the knowledge of how the Detectives, Police Officers, and F.B.I. agents do their work that is not as easy as you would think. The show is an excellent program to watch for people who love to see real crimes getting solved and killers getting jailed. If you like to see real crimes getting solved then I strongly recommend that you check out the Discovery Channel and watch this show today!