Author Archives: csidds

Unknown's avatar

About csidds

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

Forensic in the News – NY Legal Aid Society

Click on the above to read about “pattern-matching’ forensics. Of course bitemarks are #1. Where’s the commitment to correcting past flawed forensics?? Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced new DOJ policies on forensic science this week during a speech at … Continue reading

Posted in Forensic Science | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Junk drug testing from hair and alcohol continues to do damage from Canadian Motherisk lab scandal

This story underlies the devastation to victims of false and misleading forensic lab testing. Motherisk is a hospital chem lab that contracted to Canadian legal authorities responsible for enforcing child protection laws. This story is from Nova Scotia. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/motherisk-nova-scotia-investigation-1.4553531

Posted in Crime lab scandal, forensic science reform protecting the innocent | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Chicago Cops praise new technology in homicide drop; Trauma Centers get no credit

The Chicago Metro medical system is considered premier-quality regarding treating gun shot wounds and related trauma. The US military trains its trauma physicians in Chicago trauma centers. Combining health care with homicide statistics seems to be absent in this first … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The World’s largest Science Org blasts Forensic latent fingerprints for unsupportable opinions

The AAAS is relatively new to reviewing forensics, but it has taken on pattern-matchers with the full force of its multidisciplinary membership. Its candor is a refreshing look into latent print matching experts. The AAAS has no law enforcement affiliations … Continue reading

Posted in forensic science reform protecting the innocent, human rights violations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Cop Forensic Fail – DNA collection compliance sketchy to non-existent

This is in South Carolina. Police in each county are mandated to collect from suspected felons. Some do and some don’t. Here’s why data collection by law enforcement should contain large numbers of profiles in order to have proper racial … Continue reading

Posted in criminal justice, DNA profiling, Forensic Science | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Another junk forensic bitemark case gets reversed – Swinton exonerated after 17 years – DAs still using bitemarks

  This makes 30 cases the infamous practitioners of “forensic” odontology have contributed to false convictions and indictments. Needless to say, the few existing adherents to bitemark voodoo are still alive and well as members of the American Academy of … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform protecting the innocent | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trump’s DOJ promises advancing good things for #Forensic #Science – #PCAST not so much

The governmental missives about improving forensics always gloss over or ignore what the NAS 2009 report and the 2016 PCAST report itemized as areas needing reform. Here we go: “The new guidance implements additional quality assurance measures based on science-informed … Continue reading

Posted in Bite Marks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform protecting the innocent | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

More examples of sub-standard death investigations by law enforcement – evidence ignored and bias from the beginning

This case has parents suing a Coroners Office to reopen their daughter’s death investigation. They argue that the actual crime scene was never processed and the circumstances of the young woman’s death raise significant questions regarding the death being suspicious. … Continue reading

Posted in criminal justice reform | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Battle for freedom in another bitemark conviction heats up – DNA evidence from crime scene including murder weapon #AAFS

The John Kunco case in Pennsylvania goes back in my case archives for over 12 years. Early in Mr. Kunco’s post conviction appeals, the opinions of two famous bitemark experts ( at least as far as they are concerned ) … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, DNA profiling, forensic science reform protecting the innocent | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Sloppy and incompetent cop forensic experts at it again in the Holtzclaw case. #AAFS #Junk #Forensics

Holtzclaw is an ex-cop accused and convicted of numerous sexual assaults under the color of authority. The State’s DNA case against him lacks a serious amount of due process and quality control.  This article has recontructionist Brent Turvey talking about … Continue reading

Posted in Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform protecting the innocence | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment