Author Archives: csidds

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About csidds

Dr. Michael Bowers is a long time forensic consultant in the US and international court systems.

Forensics. Scientist Faces Legal threats and police searches: Debate explodes over baby shaking science

Forensic Science progress is personally and professionally risky. Waney Squire MD had similar retribution in the UK. Legal threats and police searches: Debate explodes over baby shaking science — Read on amp.theage.com.au/national/victoria/legal-threats-and-police-searches-debate-explodes-over-baby-shaking-science-20210513-p57rkp.html

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, criminal justice, expert testimony, Forensic Science Bias, junk forensic science | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics Australia: Review of ‘junk’ forensic science in courts abandoned

More proof that in general, politics, government, and forensic science improvement are incompatible partners. Complaints about confused juries, junk science and possible miscarriages of justice prompted an investigation into forensic science, which has been shelved. — Read on http://www.smh.com.au/national/review-of-junk-forensic-science-in-courts-abandoned-20210520-p57thx.html

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, junk forensic science | Leave a comment

Body cam video sheds light on traffic stop where police test child’s ashes for meth

Body cam video sheds light on traffic stop where police test child’s ashes for meth — Read on newschannel20.com/amp/news/local/body-cam-video-sheds-light-on-traffic-stop-where-police-test-childs-ashes-for-meth

Posted in AAFS, police crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensics: Op-Ed: Forensic Pathology’s Dirty Secret | MedPage Today

Why do we eat our own? — Read on http://www.medpagetoday.com/blogs/working-stiff/92683

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, forensic pathology | Leave a comment

Forensics: Director of D.C.’s troubled crime lab resigns after scathing audit report

Good grief. Their ballistics unit got the previous director fired. Back then the lab was praised for being independent from law enforcement. Then law enforcement took it back. The agency botched a ballistics exam in a murder case, then “misrepresented” … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform, Forensic Science, forensic science misconduct, US Crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensics: This should include ME/Coroner offices. Craft an African American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act

Universities and museums must catalogue the remains of Black Americans in their collections, and pause research pending consultation with descendant communities. — Read on http://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01320-4

Posted in AAFS, Civil rights, forensic pathology, Forensic Science, human identification | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics: Human tissue preserved since World War I yields new clues about 1918 pandemic | Science | AAAS

RNA found in specimens from German patients shows the virus may have adapted between first and second waves — Read on http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/05/human-tissue-preserved-world-war-i-yields-new-clues-about-1918-pandemic

Posted in AAFS, Forensic Science, Mass Disaster recovery | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics: Really? A Manhattan D.A. Candidate Touts Her Leadership of a Conviction Review Unit. Why Did It Exonerate So Few People? – The Appeal

Under Tali Farhadian Weinstein’s leadership, Brooklyn’s unit exonerated just three people—a far lower rate than in previous years. — Read on theappeal.org/tali-farhadian-weinstein-brooklyn-conviction-review-unit/

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform, Uncategorized, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

Forensic anthropologist helps police investigate bones found in Casco shed

Maine State Police detectives continue to investigate the recent discovery of skeletal remains in Casco, a process that includes a forensic anthropologist Marcella Sorg who could help uncover clues about the person’s identification. — Read on http://www.unionleader.com/content/tncms/live/

Posted in AAFS, human identification, missing persons | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics: SBS in OZ. Top scientists question basis for Victoria’s baby shaking prosecutions

Three young men are about to appeal against their convictions for killing or injuring infants by shaking them. The scientific community is split on the subject. So are the convictions sound? — Read on http://www.smh.com.au/national/top-scientists-question-basis-for-victoria-s-baby-shaking-prosecutions-20210513-p57rkm.html

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, forensic evidence exaggeration, forensic pathology, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science reform, Medical errors | Leave a comment