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Monthly Archives: September 2017
NYC Medical Examiner strikes back to critics of her DNA lab
It is a very measured and short strike-back and is interspersed with personal and organizational pride. The ME says that the DNA methods recently criticized by the NY Times here, have also been used to exonerate the innocent. I’m beginning … Continue reading
Despite false convictions – Alford appeals used to preserve DA conviction stats
Would you choose: 1) immediate freedom as a murderer, or 2) call the DA’s bluff, refuse the deal, and pray for DNA? In this one, the DNA was already on the table when the DA threatened a retrial. San Bernardino, … Continue reading
Speaking of Error in Forensic Science – adversarial system quashes honesty
Very short but profound talk about the differences between real science and ‘police-forensic science.” From a NIST meeting on Forensic Error. Lynn Garcia from the Texas Forensic Commission sums up the organic differences: “That culture of fighting and not giving … Continue reading
Tryout for Facial Recognition Algorithm is a Total Flop
This one was done during a festival in the UK. “It was only a test, which was successful” seems a bit over the top. I can’t wait to see how the Rapid-DNA coming to your local cop shop does in … Continue reading
Customs and Border Patrol uses $5M polygraphs for……..what?
This is rather cringe-worthy for a number of reasons. Foremost is the continued bs that polys are reliable. “[Now] we have a commitment from CBP brass that adjudicators will immediately remove “unsuitable” job applicants from the hiring process when the … Continue reading
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Tagged junk forensic experts, junk forensic science, polygraphs
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Looking at wrongful convictions and the politics of US incarceration
A time line on the growing trends for future increase of innocents being convicted. Police forensics clearly has a hand in this. Racial targeting is another. Although Gross says there’s no way to know an exact number, “at least tens … Continue reading
Forensics at it’s worst – Is DNA change an “upgrade” or a “coverup” for past junk?
The New York Times and ProPublica presents: Thousands of Criminal Cases in New York Relied on Disputed DNA Testing Techniques Once again we look at the tenuous reliability of forensic expertise in US criminal courts. This time it is New … Continue reading
More on faked police lab testing: This time in Ireland
The veracity of police doing their own forensic testing takes another hit. We should note the current overwhelmingly optimistic popularity of cops using “magic boxes” to do their own DNA testing. Sounds like more of these dangers will continue into … Continue reading
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