UNDER THE MICR SC PE
N.Y.P.D crime lab’s hair-and-fibre unit can’t make promises; at best, it can give a likely answer. The world’s fascination with TV shows like CSI has many asking “Why?”
By Jeffrey Toobin
–Š‡‡˜‡‹‰‘ˆƒ”…ŠͳͲǡʹͲͲ͵ǡ–™‘‡™‘”‘Ž‹…‡‡’ƒ”–‡–†‡–‡…–‹˜‡•ǡƒ‡•Ǥ‡‘”‹
ƒ†‘†‡›Ǥ†”‡™•ǡ™‡”‡•Š‘–ƒ†‹ŽŽ‡†‹ƒ—ƒ”‡†’‘Ž‹…‡…ƒ”™Š‹Ž‡ƒ––‡’–‹‰ƒ—†‡”-­‐
…‘˜‡”’—”…Šƒ•‡‘ˆƒ‡…Ǧͻƒ••ƒ—Ž–’‹•–‘Ž‘–ƒ–‡•Žƒ†ǤŠ‡…ƒ•‡™ƒ••‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‘–Œ—•–„‡…ƒ—•‡
–™‘‘ˆϐ‹…‡”•Šƒ††‹‡†„—–„‡…ƒ—•‡–Š‡ƒ™Š‘™ƒ•‡˜‡–—ƒŽŽ›…Šƒ”‰‡†™‹–Š–Š‡—”†‡”•ǡ‘‡ŽŽ
‹Ž•‘ǡˆƒ…‡†–Š‡’‘••‹„‹Ž‹–›‘ˆ„‡…‘‹‰–Š‡ϐ‹”•–’‡”•‘‹‘”‡–Šƒϐ‹ˆ–››‡ƒ”•–‘„‡‡š‡…—–‡†
ˆ‘”ƒ…”‹‡‹‡™‘”–ƒ–‡Ǥ
Š‡‰‘˜‡”‡–ǯ•–Š‡‘”›™ƒ•–Šƒ–‹Ž•‘ǡ™Š‘™ƒ•™‹–Šƒƒ……‘’Ž‹…‡‹–Š‡„ƒ…•‡ƒ–‘ˆ
–Š‡…ƒ”ǡ•Š‘––Š‡†‡–‡…–‹˜‡•†—”‹‰ƒ”‘„„‡”›ƒ––‡’–Ǥ‘‰–Š‡‡˜‹†‡…‡”‡–”‹‡˜‡†ˆ”‘–Š‡…”‹‡
•…‡‡™‡”‡Š—†”‡†•‘ˆŠƒ‹”•ƒ†ϐ‹„”‡•ǡƒ†’”‘•‡…—–‘”•‡Ž‹•–‡†‹•ƒƒ„‡”ǡƒ…”‹‹ƒŽ‹•–ƒ†
–Š‡•—’‡”˜‹•‘”‘ˆ–Š‡ǤǤǤǤ…”‹‡Žƒ„ǯ•Šƒ‹”Ǧƒ†Ǧϐ‹„”‡—‹–ǡ–‘–‡•–‹ˆ›ƒ–‹Ž•‘ǯ•–”‹ƒŽǡŽƒ•–™‹–‡”Ǥ
Under questioning in Brooklyn federal court, Faber said that she had compared samples of fabric ˆ”‘–Š‡†‡–‡…–‹˜‡•ǯ…ƒ”™‹–Šϐ‹„”‡•ˆ‘—†‘‰Ž‘˜‡•ǡŒ‡ƒ•ǡƒ†ƒ„ƒ•‡„ƒŽŽ…ƒ’–Šƒ–‹Ž•‘Šƒ†ƒŽŽ‡‰‡†Ž›„‡‡™‡ƒ”‹‰‘–Š‡
night of the crime. The prosecutor asked Faber to describe the methods and equipment she had used to make her analysis. Š‡•Š‡ƒ•‡†ƒ„‡”™Šƒ–•Š‡Šƒ†ˆ‘—†ǤDz›…‘…Ž—•‹‘‹•–Šƒ–ƒŽŽ‘ˆ–Š‘•‡“—‡•–‹‘‡†ϐ‹„”‡•…‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡‘”‹‰‹ƒ–‡†ˆ”‘
–Š‡‹–‡”‹‘”‘ˆ–Š‡‹••ƒƒš‹ƒǡˆ”‘–Š‡•‡ƒ–•ǡƒ†Ȁ‘”–Š‡„ƒ…”‡•–•ǡdzƒ„‡”•ƒ‹†ǤŠ‡ƒ††‡†–Šƒ–‹Š‡”ϐ‹‡Ž†Dz–Š‡•–”‘-­‐
‰‡•–ƒ••‘…‹ƒ–‹‘›‘—…ƒ•ƒ›‹•–Šƒ–Ǯ‹–…‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡…‘‡ˆ”‘ǯdz–Š‡•‘—”…‡‹“—‡•–‹‘Ǥ
ƒ„‡”ǯ•–‡•–‹‘›™ƒ•…ƒ”‡ˆ—Žƒ†”‡•’‘•‹„Ž‡Ȅƒ†‘–˜‡”›•‹‰‹ϐ‹…ƒ–ǤŠ‡…‘—Ž†‘–•ƒ›Š‘™…‘‘–Š‡ƒ—–‘-­‐
‘„‹Ž‡ˆƒ„”‹…–Šƒ–•Š‡Šƒ†‡šƒ‹‡†‹•ǡ‘”Š‘™ƒ›‘†‡Ž•ƒ†„”ƒ†•—•‡‹–Ǥ‘”…‘—Ž†•Š‡•ƒ›Š‘™Ž‹‡Ž›‹–™ƒ•–Šƒ––Š‡
ˆƒ„”‹…ˆ”‘–Š‡…ƒ”™‘—Ž†•Š‘™—’‘‹Ž•‘ǯ•…Ž‘–Š‡•Ǥƒ„‡”—•‡†‘•–ƒ–‹•–‹…•ǡ„‡…ƒ—•‡–Š‡”‡™ƒ•‘™ƒ›–‘‡•–ƒ„Ž‹•Š™‹–Š
ƒ›’”‡…‹•‹‘–Š‡’”‘„ƒ„‹Ž‹–›–Šƒ––Š‡ϐ‹„”‡•…ƒ‡ˆ”‘–Š‡†‡Ǧ–‡…–‹˜‡•ǯ…ƒ”Ǥ–‡•–•Šƒ†’”‘˜‡†–Šƒ–„Ž‘‘†ˆ”‘‘‡‘ˆ
–Š‡†‡–‡…–‹˜‡•™ƒ•‘‹Ž•‘ǯ•…Ž‘–Š‡•ǡƒ†„ƒ•‡†‘–Š‹•ˆƒ…–ǡƒ•™‡ŽŽƒ•‘–‡•–‹‘›ˆ”‘Š‹•ƒ……‘’Ž‹…‡ƒ†ˆ”‘ƒ„‡”ǡ
‹Ž•‘™ƒ•…‘˜‹…–‡†ƒ†•‡–‡…‡†–‘†‡ƒ–ŠǤDz
‹˜‡Š‘™—…Š‡˜‹†‡…‡–Š‡›Šƒ†‹–Š‡…ƒ•‡ǡ™ƒ•ǯ–…”—…‹ƒŽǡdzƒ„‡”–‘Ž†
‡ǤDzŠ‡’”‘•‡…—–‘”•Ž‹‡†–Š‡‹†‡ƒ‘ˆϐ‹„”‡‡˜‹†‡…‡‹ƒ††‹–‹‘–‘‡˜‡”›–Š‹‰‡Ž•‡Ǥƒ›„‡–Š‡›–Š‘—‰Š––Š‡Œ—”›™‘—Ž†Ž‹‡‹–
„‡…ƒ—•‡‹–™ƒ•‘”‡ǮǯǦ‡•“—‡Ǥdz
Dzǣ”‹‡…‡‡˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‹‘ǡdz–Š‡–‡Ž‡˜‹•‹‘•‡”‹‡•ǡƒ†‹–•–™‘•’‹‘ˆˆ•ȄDzǣ‹ƒ‹dzƒ†Dzǣ‡™‘”dzȄ
”‘—–‹‡Ž›ƒ’’‡ƒ”‡ƒ”–Š‡–‘’‘ˆ–Š‡‹‡Ž•‡”ƒ–‹‰•Ǥȋ”‡…‡–‹–‡”ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ•—”˜‡›…‘…Ž—†‡†–Šƒ–Dzǣ‹ƒ‹dz™ƒ•–Š‡
most popular program in the world.) In large part because of the series’ success, Faber’s profession has acquired an air of glamour, and its practitioners an aura of infallibility. “I just met with the conference of Louisiana judges, and, when I asked if ‘CSI’ Šƒ†‹ϐŽ—‡…‡†–Š‡‹”Œ—”‹‡•ǡ‡˜‡”›‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡”ƒ‹•‡†–Š‡‹”Šƒ†•ǡdz
Carol Henderson, the director of the National Clearinghouse for Sci-­‐
‡…‡ǡ‡…Š‘Ž‘‰›ƒ†–Š‡ƒ™ǡƒ––‡–•‘‹˜‡”•‹–›ǡ‹Ž‘”‹†ƒǡ–‘Ž†‡Ǥ
Dz‡‘’Ž‡ƒ”‡”‹˜‡–‡†„›–Š‡‹†‡ƒ–Šƒ–•…‹‡…‡…ƒ•‘Ž˜‡…”‹‡•Ǥdz––Š‡ƒ•
‡‰ƒ•…”‹‹ƒŽ‹•–‹…•„—”‡ƒ—™Š‡”‡–Š‡‘”‹‰‹ƒŽ˜‡”•‹‘‘ˆ–Š‡•Š‘™‹••‡–ǡ
the number of job applications has increased dramatically in the past few years. In the pilot for the series, which was broadcast in 2000, Gil Grissom, the ϐ‹”•–•–ƒ”…”‹‹ƒŽ‹•–ǡ™Š‘™ƒ•’Žƒ›‡†„›‹ŽŽ‹ƒ‡–‡”•‡ǡ•‘Ž˜‡†ƒ—”†‡”„›
comparing toenail clippings. “If I can match the nail in the sneaker to the sus-­‐
’‡…–ǯ•…Ž‹’’‹‰ǤǤǤdz
”‹••‘—•‡†ǡ–Š‡†‹†Œ—•––Šƒ–Ǥ–Š‡‡š–‡’‹•‘†‡ǡ–Š‡ƒ•‡‰ƒ•‹˜‡•–‹‰ƒ–‘”••‘Ž˜‡†ƒ…”‹‡
„›…‘’ƒ”‹‰•–”‹ƒ–‹‘ƒ”•‘„—ŽŽ‡–•ǤDz‡‰‘–ƒƒ–…Šǡdz‘‡•ƒ‹†Ǥƒ–‡”‹–Š‡•ƒ‡•Š‘™ǡ‹…–‘‡•ȋ
‡‘”‰‡
ƒ†•Ȍ‹ˆ‘”•
”‹••‘ǡŠ‹•„‘••ǡDzŒ—•–ϐ‹‹•Š‡†–Š‡…ƒ”’‡–Ǧ•™ƒ–…Š…‘’ƒ”‹•‘•Ǥ
‘–ƒƒ–…ŠǤdz
Š‡ϐ‹…–‹‘ƒŽ…”‹‹ƒŽ‹•–••’‡ƒ™‹–Šƒ…‡”–ƒ‹–›–Šƒ––Š‡‹””‡ƒŽǦŽ‹ˆ‡…‘—–‡”’ƒ”–•†‘‘–ǤDz‡‡˜‡”—•‡–Š‡
™‘”†Ǯƒ–…Šǡǯdzƒ„‡”ǡƒ–Š‹”–›Ǧ‡‹‰Š–Ǧ›‡ƒ”Ǧ‘Ž†ƒ”˜ƒ”†‰”ƒ†—ƒ–‡ǡ–‘Ž†‡ǤDzŠ‡–‡”‹‘Ž‘‰›‹•˜‡”›‹’‘”–ƒ–Ǥǡ
–Š‡›ƒŽ™ƒ›•Ž‹‡–‘•ƒ›™‘”†•Ž‹‡Ǯƒ–…Šǡǯ„—–™‡•ƒ›Ǯ•‹‹Žƒ”ǡǯ‘”Ǯ…‘—Ž†Šƒ˜‡…‘‡ˆ”‘ǯ‘”Ǯ‹•ƒ••‘…‹ƒ–‡†™‹–ŠǤǯdz
‹”–—ƒŽŽ›ƒŽŽ–Š‡ˆ‘”‡•‹…Ǧ•…‹‡…‡–‡•–•†‡’‹…–‡†‘DzdzȄ‹…Ž—†‹‰ƒƒŽ›•‡•‘ˆ„‹–‡ƒ”•ǡ„Ž‘‘†•’ƒ––‡”ǡŠƒ†™”‹–-­‐
‹‰ǡϐ‹”‡ƒ”ƒ†–‘‘Žƒ”•ǡƒ†˜‘‹…‡•ǡƒ•™‡ŽŽƒ•‘ˆŠƒ‹”ƒ†ϐ‹„”‡•Ȅ”‡Ž›‘–Š‡Œ—†‰‡–•‘ˆ‹†‹˜‹†—ƒŽ‡š’‡”–•ƒ†
…ƒ‘–‡ƒ•‹Ž›„‡•—„Œ‡…–‡†–‘•–ƒ–‹•–‹…ƒŽ˜‡”‹ϐ‹…ƒ–‹‘Ǥƒ›‘ˆ–Š‡–‡•–•™‡”‡†‡˜‡Ž‘’‡†„›’‘Ž‹…‡†‡’ƒ”–‡–•‘”‡
–ŠƒƒŠ—†”‡†›‡ƒ”•ƒ‰‘ǡƒ†ˆ‘”†‡…ƒ†‡•–Š‡›Šƒ˜‡„‡‡ƒ†‹––‡†ƒ•‡˜‹†‡…‡‹…”‹‹ƒŽ–”‹ƒŽ•–‘Š‡Ž’„”‹‰ƒ„‘—–
…‘˜‹…–‹‘•Ǥ–Š‡‹†Ǧ‹‡–‡‡Ǧ‹‡–‹‡•ǡ—…Ž‡ƒ”ǦƒƒŽ›•‹•Ȅ™Š‹…Š…ƒŽ‹•—•’‡…–•–‘…”‹‡Ǧ•…‡‡‡˜‹†‡…‡
™‹–Šƒ–Š‡ƒ–‹…ƒŽ…‡”–ƒ‹–›Ȅ„‡…ƒ‡™‹†‡Ž›ƒ˜ƒ‹Žƒ„Ž‡ǡ’”‘’–‹‰•‘‡Ž‡‰ƒŽ•…Š‘Žƒ”•–‘ƒ”‰—‡–Šƒ–‘Ž†‡”ǡŽ‡••”‡Ž‹-­‐
ƒ„Ž‡–‡•–•ǡ•—…Šƒ•Šƒ‹”ƒ†ϐ‹„”‡ƒƒŽ›•‹•ǡ•Š‘—Ž†‘Ž‘‰‡”„‡ƒŽŽ‘™‡†‹…‘—”–Ǥͳͻͻ͸ǡ–Š‡ƒ—–Š‘”•‘ˆƒ‡šŠƒ—•–‹˜‡
•–—†›‘ˆˆ‘”‡•‹…Šƒ‹”…‘’ƒ”‹•‘•’—„Ž‹•Š‡†‹–Š‡‘Ž—„‹ƒ—ƒ‹‰Š–•ƒ™‡˜‹‡™…‘…Ž—†‡†ǡDzˆ–Š‡’—”˜‡›-­‐
‘”•‘ˆ–Š‹•†—„‹‘—••…‹‡…‡…ƒ‘–†‘ƒ„‡––‡”Œ‘„‘ˆ˜ƒŽ‹†ƒ–‹‰Šƒ‹”ƒƒŽ›•‹•–Šƒ–Š‡›Šƒ˜‡†‘‡•‘ˆƒ”ǡˆ‘”‡•‹…Šƒ‹”
…‘’ƒ”‹•‘ƒƒŽ›•‹••Š‘—Ž†„‡‡š…Ž—†‡†ƒŽ–‘‰‡–Š‡”ˆ”‘…”‹‹ƒŽ–”‹ƒŽ•Ǥdz
…‘‹••‹‘‘ˆ‘”‡•‹…•…‹‡…‡•’‘•‘”‡†„›–Š‡ƒ–‹‘ƒŽ…ƒ†‡›‘ˆ…‹‡…‡•Š‡Ž†ƒ‘’‡•‡••‹‘‹
ƒ•Š‹‰–‘ƒ–™Š‹…Š•‡˜‡”ƒŽ’ƒ”–‹…‹’ƒ–•“—‡•–‹‘‡†–Š‡˜ƒŽ‹†‹–›‘ˆŠƒ‹”ƒ†ϐ‹„”‡‡˜‹†‡…‡Ǥƒš‘—…ǡ–Š‡†‹”‡…–‘”
‘ˆ–Š‡‘”‡•‹……‹‡…‡‹–‹ƒ–‹˜‡ƒ–‡•–‹”‰‹‹ƒ‹˜‡”•‹–›ƒ†–Š‡…‘Ǧƒ—–Š‘”‘ˆƒ‹’‘”–ƒ–•–—†›–Šƒ–”‡˜‹‡™‡†
Šƒ‹”ƒƒŽ›•‡•„›–Š‡ǤǤǤǡ™ƒ•ϐ‹‡”…‡Ž›…”‹–‹…‹œ‡†„›•‡˜‡”ƒŽ‡„‡”•‘ˆ–Š‡…‘‹••‹‘ǡ‹…Ž—†‹‰‘‡‘ˆ–Š‡…‘Ǧ
chairs, Harry T. Edwards, a senior federal-­‐appeals-­‐court judge. “It sounds like there is a lot of impressionistic and •—„Œ‡…–‹˜‡‡šƒ‹ƒ–‹‘‰‘‹‰‘ǡdz†™ƒ”†••ƒ‹†ǡƒˆ–‡”‘—…†‡•…”‹„‡†–Š‡•–—†›ǤDz‘ŽŽ‘™Ǧ—’‡šƒ‹‡”•”‡’‡ƒ–‡†
Continued on page 23.
William Petersen (Dr. Gil Grissom) and the rest of the CSI TV gang
analyze DNA, hair, fibre and even a toenail or two at times. Most of
these will reveal a perfect match. The glory of TV allows them to do
this, but the real world does not.
Lisa Faber uses the best of available technology to determine if a
stand of hair or fibre will help reach any conclusions. Even with
what seems to be a perfect match, she can only speculate.