Author Archives: csidds
Michigan Forensics: Legislation to create Forensic Science Commission
These authors have introduced a bill to establish a FSC in the US state of Michigan. The Texas FS Texas commission effectively delisted bitemarks four years ago. In both cases wrongful convictions will be continue to be revealed. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2019/09/16/opinion-michigan-needs-state-based-forensic-science-commission/2291922001/
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Forensics: Botched digital measurements led to 11 years in prison. New trial ordered.
DAs expert used a fancy software program to analyze a robbery vid. He botched it. The perp is short. This man is 6’3″. A jailhouse snitch lied during his trial. The DA was mute during all of it. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2019/09/12/texas-man-subject-of-netflix-doc-ordered-released-after-11-years-behind-bars/
Forensics: Hearings | Hearings & Legislation | House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Hearings | Hearings & Legislation | House Committee on Science, Space and Technology — Read on science.house.gov/hearings/raising-the-bar-progress-and-future-needs-in-forensic-science Best minds in the business. Mostly female. Quite nice.
Forensics Australia gets low marks from a senior judge
Unreliability of forensic experts gets serious attention from a high level jurist. Some of this started in California’s bitemark case of Bill Richards. @CA_Innocence. https://www.smh.com.au/national/top-judge-worried-forensic-evidence-putting-innocent-people-behind-bars-20190823-p52k3l.html
Forensics disaster in the UK. Looking at £s wasted and evidence lost
Take a close look at this one. Government “savings” turned into a mayhem of chaos since the 2012 closure of the FSS. Dont talk to police or politicians abt forensics. http://www.labnews.co.uk/article/2029976/forensics-in-crisis
Posted in AAFS, Bitemarks, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, CSI, Forensic crime lab security issues, forensic misconuct, Forensic science misconduct, police crime labs, US Crime labs, wrongful convictions
Tagged Bad forensic science, crime labs, Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science
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Forensics incorrect between 23% to 96% of court cases
A UK study group describes their study as demanding a “holistic overhaul” of these practices taken into criminal courts. It contains a good review of US exoneration efforts to effect forensics. Too bad the police controlled forensic managers seem deaf … Continue reading
Forensics: Physics makes important inroads to outdated blood spatter expertise.
This is a well referenced look at BPA. The perspective is clearly science-based and unfettered by practitioner assumptions and biases. Rather refreshing, to put it mildly, and it also uncovers how BPA experts don’t agree with each other on basic … Continue reading
Forensic experts identifying war and disaster victims
There is not enough funding to do this properly. Volunteers are commonly not reimbursed. Politicians ignore the dead. https://phys.org/news/2019-08-humanitarian-forensic-scientists-dead-comfort.html
Looking at a Revolution? Getting Forensics Out of Law Enforcement
Many reform ideas in this series of Q&A to forensic and legal experts by the WaPo’s Radley Balko. All are logical and very practical. Prosecutors must be gagging. Here is a quote: Chris Fabricant, the Innocence Project Easiest reform: Eliminate … Continue reading
