Statistics and the Law
The Royal Statistical Society's Statistics and the Law Working Group aims to improve understanding and use of statistics in the administration of justice. The group will provide an interface for the Society with the legal, scientific and justice communities.
As such it aims to:
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promote discussion within the statistical community of the application of statistical and probabilistic reasoning to problems of a forensic nature;
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promote discussion within the forensic science and forensic medicine communities, particularly in relation to expert witnesses evidence;
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promote the research and development of statistical and probabilistic reasoning in a forensic context;
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consider and report appropriately on relevant issues concerning the use of statistics for standards in legislation.
From its beginning the working group has drawn its membership from the statistical, legal and forensic scientific communities across the UK. Its work is further informed by an international advisory group.
Practitioner Guides
Under the auspices of the working group, four Practitioner Guides are being produced (of which two have been completed), on aspects of statistical evidence and probabilistic reasoning, intended to assist judges, lawyers, forensic scientists and other expert witnesses in coping with the demands of modern criminal litigation.
The case of Sally Clark
The Royal Statistical Society decided to undertake work on statistics and the law following a number of court cases where the interpretation of statistics has been of concern. Of particular note was the case of Sally Clark and miscalculation of the probability of two cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in a family.
The Society wrote a letter to the Lord Chancellor in January 2002 setting out its concerns.
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