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Prosecutor's fallacy

The error of transposing the random-match probability (the probability that a random person has the profile, given they are innocent) to state that the defendant is almost certainly guilty. Identified and condemned in R v. Doheny and Adams 1996 and addressed in SWGDAM guidance.

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Related terms

BSA 2023 § 39Daubert standardDefence attorney's fallacyELSI (Ethical, Legal and Social Implications)ENFSI DNA Working GroupFamilial searchingFrye standardHardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE)Likelihood ratio (LR)People v. Castro (1989)Prior oddsProduct rule

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