Book Review: The Social Life of Forensic Evidence

• Author: Melanie M. Holland
• Published date: 01 June 2018
• Date: 01 June 2018
• DOI: 10.1177/1057567717723429
• Subject Matter: Book Reviews

Book Review

Book Review

Corinna, K. (2016). The social life of forensic evidence. Berkely: University of California Press. 208 pp. $39.95

(paperback), ISBN 978-0-520-28839-3.

Reviewed by: Melanie M. Holland, Pennsylvania State University, Altoona, PA, USA

DOI: 10.1177/1057567717723429

The search for truth is a struggle that frequently plagues the criminal justice system. This is

especially notable in the courts as courtroom actors endeavor to interpret forensic evidence into

meaningful knowledge of guilt or innocence. In her 2016 text, The Social Life of Forensic Evidence,

author Corinna Kruse presents an exploration of the evolution of evidence, the role of human

decision-making on this evolution, and the difficulty of transforming such evidence into a logical

narrative in the search of truth. In doing so, the author addresses several complex issues related to the

discovery, analysis, and storytelling associated with forensic evidence.

In an effort to unravel the complexities of the construction of “truth” from forensic evidence,

Kruse implemented an ethnographic fieldwork methodology. Over a series of several weeks, the

author interviewed several scientists, technicians, police officers, and courtroom actors working in

an unnamed Swedish jurisdiction. These interviews were coupled with unobtrusive observations in

which Kruse witnessed the proced ures and strategies utilized ac ross these various departments

within the criminal justice system. The inclusion of each of these specializations presents a unique

opportunity for a more holistic approach, providing insight into the manner in which each of these

departments function both independently and collaboratively.

The author first demonstrates the interdependence of the criminal justice system when

addressing the responsibilities of the prosecutor as he or she creates a narrative congruent

with the forensic evidence unearthed by the crime scene technicians and police investigators.

In Sweden, the prosecutor must objectively pursue evidence that is both supportive and

contradictive of the suspect’s statement. Once the evidence becomes accessible to the prose-

cutor, he or she must create and present a narrative that explains each piece of available

evidence. Therefore, the prosecutor must rely on investigators to effectively collect data and

researchers to properly analyze it. This evidence becomes a “fixed point” which the “legal

storytelling” of the prosecutor must successfully incorporate. Unfortunately, Kruse acknowl-

edges that there is no means of proving a given narrative’s truthfulness. Although the validity

of the prosecutor’s explanation may be improved with evidence, such substantiations rarely

provide a complete explanation and often leave many omissions to be filled by the attorneys

and ultimately the jury.

Although the various elements of the criminal justice system depend on one another, Kruse

observes a subculture that appears to be unique across departments. For instance, the author

observed that prosecutors and police investigators can sometimes fail to reach a consensus on an

issue. An investigator may perceive a case as solved while a prosecutor might remain unconvinced

that the evidence is necessarily condemning. As such, the investigator risks becoming frustrated as a

result of his or her perception of an overly cautious prosecutor.

International CriminalJustice Review

2018, Vol. 28(2) 179-180

ª2017 Georgia State University

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