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Hundreds of inmates in prisons across the US have been exonerated and freed because of DNA evidence that proved their innocence.
And 48 states now give inmates some degree of access to DNA evidence that might not have been available at the time of their convictions.
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| Hank Skinner has asked the court of appeals in Texas to reverse his conviction so he can get the DNA testing done. | But other 'science' that put thousands behind bars is also coming under scrutiny. Much of what was regarded as unassailable – hair analysis, arson investigation conclusions, eye-witness identification – is now being seen as fallible.
In this half hour we look at several cases in the death-penalty-prone states of Texas and Oklahoma in which new technology is making a difference.
We talk to a recently released Oklahoma man, Curtis MCarty, who served 22 years for a murder he did not commit, originally convicted on the basis of erroneous testimony by a forensic lab worker.
We meet another, Hank Skinner, still scheduled for execution in Texas. He is trying to get access to the DNA he says will exonerate him.
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| Rob Reynolds outside the Texas penitentiary | And we compare the cases of two men convicted at about the same time for arson/murder
on the basis of the same "junk arson science". One - Todd Willingham - was executed, the other - Ernest Willis – released.
And we meet Craig Watkins, the new African-American district attorney of Dallas, Texas, who is changing the old 'presumed guilty' style of his office.
Watch American Justice - Fatal Flaws here:
Part 1:
Part 2:
American Justice aired from Saturday 10th November 2007 at the following times GMT:
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