Monthly Archives: March 2015

THe NIST Forensic Science Commission Lays an Egg with its Bitemark Study Group. Now its hatching.

OSAC Subcommittee on Ondontology (sic) The original source of this NIST  information is here.  Other than originally mis-spelling ODONTOLOGY, this NIST subcommittee (OSAC) on Forensic Dentistry should do well dealing with dental identification of unknown human remains, but in the … Continue reading

Posted in Forensic Science, National FOrensic Science Commission, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

NY Times: “DNA Analysis Exposes an Inexact Forensic Science” + Bitemark Cases

Originally posted on FORENSICS and LAW in FOCUS @ CSIDDS | News and Trends:
For over 2 decades, the US press has used “inexact” in writing about certain forensic methods which are used to convict criminal defendants. Bitemark experts included. Here is…

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New Junk Forensic Science comes your way from Alabama

Nothing says ‘forensic science’ better that the state of Alabama. Its evidentiary statutes and case law (stare decisis) contains convictions later overturned by DNA. And, its District Attorneys (Hi there, Steve Marshall, from Marshall County, ALA) allow forensic experts to testify like … Continue reading

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Conviction Integrity Units – A Skeptic’s Perspective

Originally posted on Wrongful Convictions Blog:
Anyone who has followed me at all on this blog must know that, as a group, prosecutors are not my favorite people. But it’s almost, kind-of not their fault. It’s just that the position…

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Hard data on factors leading to wrongful convictions : Forensics

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News Release: Crime lab ‘scientist’s’ pushback against last week’s “Using Faulty Science” op-ed scientists Kafadar and Mazza

Originally posted on FORENSICS and LAW in FOCUS @ CSIDDS | News and Trends:
This deserves a special blog post this morning. A new protector of forensic science integrity has emerged into public view. His rhetoric is familiar and attacks the op-ed I reposted…

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News Release: Crime lab ‘scientist’s’ pushback against last week’s “Using Faulty Science” op-ed scientists Kafadar and Mazza

This deserves a special blog post this morning. A new protector of forensic science integrity has emerged into public view. His rhetoric is familiar and attacks the op-ed I reposted last week from two researchers involved with forensic statistics and the National … Continue reading

Posted in exoneration, forensic science reform | Tagged , | 1 Comment

DNA should not be collected in misdemeanor cases – LA Times

This is an example when legislative intent leaves out common sense in its effects on ‘fighting crime.’ Less than three months ago, California voters adopted Proposition 47, an initiative that reduced six felonies to misdemeanors. By far, most of the affected … Continue reading

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