Lawyers and statisticians share a common goal: the successful application of statistics in the law. Statisticians must learn to think like lawyers and to present complex statistical concepts in terms jurists can understand. Lawyers must be able to grasp those concepts, apply them in a wide range of cases, and learn possible lines of vulnerability and counterattack. This book helps both lawyers and statisticians meet those challenges. Lawyers will learn how best to use the statistician's talents while enriching their own understanding of the law as it relates to statistical issues. Through actual cases, they will obtain the statistical background they need to understand and apply the law. Statisticians will learn that the law is what judges say it is - and to frame their arguments accordingly. Both lawyers and statisticians will increase their effectiveness in presenting, defending and attacking statistical arguments.

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This book is aimed at forensic scientists who are familiar with basic genetics but uncomfortable with statistics. The book begins with an introduction to basic probability theory and a demonstration of the Bayesian approach for interpreting forensic transfer evidence. Topics in basic statistics that are necessary for forensic scientists are covered, such as the theory underlying the estimation of allele proportions. Then the authors go on to consider the relevance of population genetics to forensic science, using population genetics in cases of disputed parentage and identification of human remains. Evett and Weir have concentrated on PCR nuclear DNA-based profiling systems, and have not included topics like mitochondrial DNA or measurement error. There are chapters on how to calculate match probabilities and how to explain such conclusions in a statement. Finally, the authors discuss the presentation of evidence in court. Complex mathematical ideas are separated from the main text, although a basic understanding of maths is assumed. There are also a number of exercises, with answers, to give the reader practice at the various techniques, and plenty of worked examples.

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This book is a collection of articles written by statisticians and legal scholars who have been concerned with problems in the use of statistical evidence. A number of articles describe DNA evidence and the difficulties of properly calculating the probability that a random individual's profile would "match" that of the evidence, as well as the proper way to interpret the result. In addition to the technical issues, several authors describe their experience in court and with the legal process. Other articles describe the role of statistical evidence in cases concerning discrimination against minorities, product liability, environmental regulation, and the appropriateness and fairness of sentences. Legal statistics has raised interesting statistical problems over the years, thereby necessitating further research. This book should be of interest to students, lawyers, and judges, as well as statisticians, epidemiologists, geneticists and legal evidence scholars.

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The main purpose of this book is to describe ways of assessing forensic science evidence and the means of communicating this assessment to a court of law. A clear exposition of probability from the Bayesian perspective is provided. The underlying theme of the book is the emphasis on the importance, for the assessment of the value of associative evidence linking a subject and a crime scene, of the comparison between two probabilities, the first being that of the evidence if the suspect is guilty, the second being that of the evidence if the suspect is innocent. Edited as a joint venture between a statistician and a forensic scientist, this book brings together contributions from leading researchers in the area. Technical expressions are kept to a minimum, with readers wanting more information on a particular statistical test being referred to standard textbooks as and when necessary. This book should be of interest to forensic scientists, lawyers, statisticians and others interested in medical jurisprudence and evidential reasoning.

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