“Cannot Decide”: The Fine Line Between Appropriate Inconclusive Determinations Versus Unjustifiably Deciding Not To Decide

Inconclusive decisions, deciding not to decide, are decisions. We present a cognitive model which takes into account that decisions are an outcome of interactions and intersections between the actual data and human cognition. Using this model it is suggested under which circumstances inconclusive decisions are justified and even warranted (reflecting proper caution and meta‐cognitive abilities in recognizing limited abilities), and, conversely, under what circumstances inconclusive decisions are unjustifiable and should not be permitted. The model further explores the limitations and problems in using categorical decision‐making when the data are actually a continuum. Solutions are suggested within the forensic fingerprinting domain, but they can be applied to other forensic domains, and, with modifications, may also be applied to other expert domains.     

Withdrawal: Torsello A,et al. Congenital Peritoneal Encapsulation and Nephrotic Syndrome. J Forensic Sci 2020 (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1556-4029.14292)

The above article, published online on January 27, 2020, in Wiley Online Library, has been withdrawn by agreement between the authors, the JFS Editor in Chief (Dr. Michael Peat), and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The withdrawal has been agreed by all parties given the ongoing confidential legal proceeding concerning the death of the individual included in the Case Report.     

Letter to the editor: Commentary on “Strategic choice in linear sequential unmasking,Roger Koppl,Science & Justice,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2018.10.010”

This letter to the Editor comments on the paper ‘Strategic choice in linear sequential unmasking’ by Roger Koppl (Science & Justice, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2018.10.010).