1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 In this episode of Crime and the Courtroom, John Collins discusses the central themes of his new book, Valid Comparisons: The Forensic and Judicial Examination of Stochastic Patterns, and examines the ongoing challenges facing forensic science in the courtroom. He addresses the growing tension between scientific reality and legal expectations, emphasizing that while forensic disciplines cannot offer absolute certainty, they remain grounded in decades of practical validation and real-world application. He reflects on how past mistakes—particularly in areas like bite mark evidence—have influenced public perception, and argues that the forensic community must take responsibility for communicating both its strengths and its limitations more clearly.&amp;nbsp; Throughout the episode, Collins makes the case for a more disciplined and transparent approach to forensic testimony—one that acknowledges uncertainty without surrendering confidence in well-established methods. This discussion offers an important perspective for forensic practitioners, attorneys, and anyone interested in how scientific evidence is evaluated in the pursuit of justice. Season:&amp;nbsp; 6 Episode:&amp;nbsp; 111 Duration:&amp;nbsp; 1:04:02 YOUTUBE CHANNELS Main Podcast Channel Highlights Channel REFERENCED RESOURCES Valid Comparisons (Book Page) Valid Comparisons (Press Release) Advanced Expert Witnessing ABOUT YOUR HOST John Morrey Collins is a leadership and expertise coach specializing in working with clients in authoritative, high-stakes occupations, but with a primary emphasis on serving leaders, professionals, and organizations that support our complicated systems of criminal and civil justice. John started his private practice, Critical Victories, in 2013 after retiring his award-winning, 20-year career as a forensic laboratory scientist and executive administrator, having served as the Director of Forensic Science for the State of Michigan. His forensic technical expertise was in the examination and testing of firearms and firearm-related evidence, having provided expert courtroom testimony in approximately 130 criminal trials, including death penalty cases and Daubert hearings. John is also the author of three books on forensic science and criminal justice reform. In 2022, he released his fourth book, “The New Superior – A Better Way to Be the One in Charge,” which is available in print and audio. John’s many career highlights include his part in the forensic investigation of the Atlanta serial bombings, which included the bombing of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, as well as his 2013 participation in a historic meeting with the US Attorney General and other firearm experts to discuss the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. John has a master’s degree in organizational management and is formally certified as a Senior HR Professional by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In 2012, John was trained as a professional coach by the College of Executive Coaching, and he became certified as a Gallup Strengths Coach in 2022. He lives and works near Detroit, Michigan. For more books and other information, please visit www.criticalvictories.com. Crime and the Courtroom http://criticalvictories.com/podcast <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/41141920/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/41141920