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Monthly Archives: December 2015
Forensics: Arrests, Confessions and Convictions before substantive drug tests are finished.
The scenario: A “rush to justice” with considerable “war on drugs” overcharging of simple possession penalties leads to coerced plea bargains occurring months before definitive forensic testing is completed. http://www.takepart.com/feature/2015/11/20/houston-drug-war-exonerations?utm_source=Legal+Aid+DNA+Newsletter&utm_campaign=c1945f2fd3-DNA_Newsletter_144_28_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_332a53a218-c1945f2fd3-80240109&ct=t(DNA_Newsletter_144_28_2015)
Forensic Fraud: 4 lab pathologists under suspicion of DNA testing fraud in Mumbai
Noteworthy news about lab docs following the lure of getting paid from outside vendors for allowing them to cook-book medical DNA results. It is not limited to India by any means. http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-maharashtra-medical-council-files-chargesheet-against-4-pathologists-2152792
Forensics: Candid discussion on PTSD from noted Scot forensic expert
Professor Sue Black’s comments are short but extremely relevant. She should be commended for speaking of her personal experience. I suggest that forensic training courses and academic programs should recognize the subject of forensic-related PTSD prevention and treatment in their … Continue reading
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Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, CSI, Forensic Science PTSD
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Forensics: White House Science and Technology opinion on Bitemark Identification
Here is the keynote speaker ( Jo Handlesman Ph.D) at a 2015 NIJ conference on forensic science speaking about the unenviable position bitemarkers have attained by showing no reliability in their opinions and being individually inconsistent in their courtroom testimony. … Continue reading
Forensics: Itel Dror is a pioneer in “cognitvie bias” effects on CSI and courtroom testimony
Image from a prosecution’s bitemark expert. All it shows are common dental features. Overstated forensic science opinions can lead suspects into false confession. This Irish Times article gives this an overview and covers Itiel Dror’s decades long work examining how prosecutorial … Continue reading
Valena Beety on the facts behind the new book “Cops in Lab Coats and Forensics”
A soon to be published law review.pdf article by Valena Beety (WVA School of Law and director of the WVA Innocence Project), describes in detail why “Cops in Lab Coats” correctly lobbies for independent crime labs to prevent wrongful convictions. The full book … Continue reading
Forensics is not immune: The bullshit factor in academics and science
Title: “On the reception and detection of pseudo-profound bullshit” This is a decidedly serious discussion on the soft belly of science and other expertism that is largely uncontrolled by peer review. It may join the continuum Peter W. Huber’s book “Galileo’s … Continue reading
Forensics: Congrats to U of Dundee receiving a 10million pound Forensic Science grant
This money ( being in UK currency} makes it way larger than any single university US program funding by a power of about 30. The US NIJ should wake up and pay attention. This is a much better investment than some … Continue reading
Forensics: Can DNA predict a face? Courtroom application years away. Police buy it anyway.
Descriptive but not an over enthusiastic prediction of a novel attempt to revolutionize the future of “fighting crime.” The writer properly spells out the commercially developed DNA method as “skimpy” on validity. “In truth, the science for conjuring a person’s … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, Crime, CSI, DNA profiling
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science
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Why the NC Carolina CSI lab got slammed in the media. The Public is scared about wrongful convictions.
The above photo is from a recent exoneration case from North Carolina. The joy on Dwayne Dail’s face is palpable. You probably won’t often see this discussion on TV , but people are really upset about wrongful convictions occurring on a … Continue reading
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