This is a 50 page UBC Law Review narrative on the inadequacies of courts to recognize junk “forensic” experts. Battling Canadian bitemarkers leave a trail of exaggerated claims and criminal case law that is blind to scientific principles.
Forensics: Dr Fauci still taking heat from anti-science politicians.
Its a “GOP freedom” vs mass casualty pandemic thingy.
www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-obsessed-fauci-matthew-dowd_n_60793599e4b09614f9b43af0
Forensics: “Autopsy of a Crime Lab” mentions bitemarks and “police forensics.”
Garrett’s new book details injustices in police and prosecutor controlled expert crime scene analyses. His narrative includes steps to insure true quality controls, full disclosure of lab results and avoidance of cognitive biases.
Forensics: “Bitemarks no longer accepted.” Appeals court says man can challenge bite mark evidence in 1978 Wood River murder
John N. Prante had challenged the bite mark evidence that contributed to a murder conviction and a 75-year prison sentence.
Forensics: Fingerprint Source Identity Lacks Scientific Basis for Legal Certainty | American Association for the Advancement of Science
A sweeping denial of fingerprint reliability.
More Research into Validity of Fingerprint Comparisons Needed, Forensic Report Says Courtroom testimony and reports stating that fingerprints collected from a crime scene belong to a single person lack scientific foundation.
— Read on www.aaas.org/news/fingerprint-source-identity-lacks-scientific-basis-legal-certainty
Forensics: They prefer bleach? White Republicans Are More Likely to Reject the COVID-19 Vaccine
According to a recent poll, 56% of white Republicans said they were either unsure or would not take a COVID-19 vaccine if it were available to them.
— Read on www.businessinsider.com/white-republicans-more-likely-to-reject-covid-19-vaccine-2021-3
Posted in junk forensic science, Mass Disaster recovery
Tagged anti-science, vaccine reluctance
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Forensics: Personal attacks and pushback against forensic bias researchers
Today’s Quattrone Center podcast with Itiel Dror, Brandon Garrett and Maneka Sinha reveals recent complaints leveled at Dror by @theNAME1996 forensic pathologists demanding retraction and his dismissal from UCL. His recent article on ME bias has hit a big nerve. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1556-4029.14697
Their discussion centered on the arena of forensic expertise in criminal courts. The topics include:
1. Poor financial support allowing defense experts to explain weaknesses in prosecutors’ arguments.
2. 95% of cases being plea bargained without forensic review.
3. Poor regulation of some forensic disciplines.
4. Error rate statements (if available) that are overstated, flawed and misleading.
5. Self-professed experts lacking data and proficiency review.
6. The “own bias blindspot” seen in forensics. (Read the above article on cognitive bias).
7. Anti-science backlash in police controlled forensics.
The podcast will be posted on The Quattrone Center’s archive at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR5Q3wC5nyVkVC9R4yP4lV3N5wvJLmO7z
Dror’s background:
Forensics: Insights: Error Rates, Likelihood Ratios, and Jury Evaluation of Forensic Evidence – CSAFE
A study on the effect when known error rates are presented to juries. Assuming a forensic method even knows its error rate.
This is the overview page with links to the actual research.
Insights: Error Rates, Likelihood Ratios, and Jury Evaluation of Forensic Evidence – Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence
— Read on forensicstats.org/blog/2020/04/29/algorithmic-evidence-in-criminal-trials-2/
Forensics: Autopsy of a Crime Lab | Dispelling the myth of a perfect forensic match – YouTube
New book! Brandon Garrett, the L. Neil Williams Professor of Law at Duke University School of Law and Director of the Wilson Center for Science and Justice, discusses the fallacies and flaws in forensic “science.”
— Read on www.youtube.com/watch
Posted in AAFS, Crime lab scandal, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform, wrongful convictions
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Bad forensic science, Brandon Garret, Criminal Justice, wrongful convictions
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Forensics: Why Defense Forensics Experts Matter | Psychology Today
I have opposed many a prosecution bitemarker expert claiming equivalency to “its just like a fingerprint.” DAs were never happy. 12 exoneration cases Ive assisted proves who was right.
‘CSI is often presented in a one-sided way at criminal trials. A recent study explores what happens when the defense is given an expert to allow for a real battle of the experts.’
— Read on www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/law-and-psychology/202104/why-defense-forensics-experts-matter
