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: Trade secrets vs Crim Law. A Virginia defendant could be the first to see secret DNA software.

Prosecutors have used software to help convict thousands but have never revealed its source code. A Virginia defendant has won the right to examine it for errors. — Read on http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/trueallele-software-dna-courts/2021/07/12/66d27c44-6c9d-11eb-9f80-3d7646ce1bc0_story.html

Posted in AAFS, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling, Forensic Science, forensic science reform, forensic science reform protecting the innocent | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics: How an exoneration of Anthony Porter’s case led to abolition of death penalty in Illinois

John Hanlon said Anthony Porter’s case and exoneration in 1999 played a significant role in ultimately abolishing the death penalty in Illinois. — Read on http://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2021/07/11/anthony-porters-case-led-abolition-death-penalty-illinois/7910773002/

Posted in AAFS, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

Forensics: US opens its own investigation. My relatives went to a Catholic school for Native children. It was a place of horrors

After the discovery of 751 unmarked graves at the site of a former school for Native children in Canada, it is time to investigate similar abuses in the US — Read on http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/30/my-relatives-went-to-a-catholic-school-for-native-children-it-was-a-place-of-horrors

Posted in AAFS, human identification, human rights violations | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics: Taphonomy dispute. Father’s defense opens with expert pointing to potential wildlife role in 13-year-old son’s death

Father’s defense opens with expert pointing to potential wildlife role in 13-year-old son’s death — Read on http://www.mercurynews.com/2021/07/12/mark-redwine-trial-dylan-redwine-defense/

Posted in AAFS, Forensic Science, forensic testimony | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Anthropology: A racist scientist built a collection of human skulls. Should we still study them? | Science | AAAS

Anthropologists face a reckoning over remains of enslaved people in museums — Read on http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2021/07/racist-scientist-built-collection-human-skulls-should-we-still-study-them

Posted in AAFS, Forensic Science, forensic science reform, human identification | Tagged | Leave a comment

Anthropology: Northumbria expert leads ground-breaking forensic study on 18th century Caribbean slave graveyard

The remains of skeletons found at one of the largest cemeteries for enslaved people in the Caribbean are being studied at Northumbria University. — Read on newsroom.northumbria.ac.uk/pressreleases/northumbria-expert-leads-ground-breaking-forensic-study-on-18th-century-caribbean-graveyard-3115556

Posted in AAFS, forensic pathology, human identification | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics: Police hid body cam video for two years. FBI opens police shooting case based on new evidence.

http://www.huffpost.com/entry/body-cam-investigation-death-ronald-greene_n_60e6e9bce4b0f9cbbfd83750

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

Forensics: Body of missing Navajo Army veteran found | Indian Country Today

Missing Native women rates are an epidemic. https://www.hcn.org/issues/53.6/indigenous-affairs-justice-tribes-unveil-landmark-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-person-response Body of missing Navajo Army veteran found | Indian Country Today — Read on indiancountrytoday.com/.amp/news/body-of-missing-navajo-army-veteran-found

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

Forensics: Coerced confession ignored. Illinois Appellate Court Denies Exonerated Man’s Innocence Certificate

Illinois Appellate Court Denies Exonerated Man’s Innocence Certificate – Chicago, IL – Wayne Washington spent 11 years in prison for a crime that he says he didn’t commit. — Read on patch.com/illinois/chicago/illinois-appellate-court-denies-exonerated-mans-innocence-certificate

Posted in AAFS, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, human rights violations, wrongful convictions | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics: Wrongfully Convicted Man Who Exonerated Himself While in Prison Launches Non-Profit to Help Others

55-year old Clyde Beasley was wrongfully incarcerated for many years in the state of California. Now as a free man, he has launched The Prison Reform Project to help other innocent prisoners and their families. — Read on http://www.blacknews.com/news/clyde-beasley-wrongfully-convicted-man-exonerated-himself-prison-launches-non-profit-help-others/

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform, death penalty, wrongful convictions | Tagged , | Leave a comment