A study by Southampton University found that two thirds of experts, who were unknowingly given the same sets of prints twice, came to a different conclusion on the second occasion. (c)
In one experiment, the researchers presented six examiners with marks that, unbeknown to them, they had analysed before. This time, the examiners were furnished with certain details about the case — that the suspect had confessed to the crime, for example, or that the suspect was in police custody at the time the crime was committed. In 17% of their examinations, they changed their decision in the direction suggested by the information. (c)
Ну офигеть теперь. Я даже не думала, что идентификация отпечатков может быть настолько ненадежной.