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.

The logic of forensic identification gets some airtime – Talking about PCAST

“Finding the Way Forward for Forensic Science in the US” from Forensic Science International. For some this article may seem esoteric, but its worth a try, especially if you are a non-science trained forensic tech, prosecutor or judge. “This paper is … Continue reading

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Chump change: Michigan Legislation allows $50K compensation bill for exonerees

Lets see what the District Attorney’s Association (@NDAAJustice) lobby in Michigan does to obstruct this process. It’s leadership is patently deaf to wrongful convictions by touting their accuracy rate primarily based on pleas deal before trial. Read about some of … Continue reading

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A very glib media look at TV forensics

Another ho-hum look at media shows using forensic science as characters using their mythology of “how it’s done.” I’ve never seen an equal amount of attention paid to what it takes to exonerate people from flawed convictions by prosecutors, exaggerated … Continue reading

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#Forensics – Pathologist Michael Baden takes on Steven Hayne in Mississippi

The horrific career of the notorious ex Mississippi prosecutors’ go-to non forensic pathologist will never end. This hearing recently occurred in MS and has death row inmate Jeff Havard (pictured above) hearing of  numerous examples of prosecutorial misconduct, lazy justice, … Continue reading

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Fingerprints convict and then unconvict Michigan man after 20 years in prison

Another case refuting idiots saying exoneration litigation is an “industry.” Criminal defense funding in the US is merely a fraction of what prosecutors and police get from asset forfeiture, local budgets, and federal grants. Take a look at who represented … Continue reading

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#IAFS NH judge goes postal on law enforcement dragging on review of 18,000 tainted cases

Judge, lawyers: State dragging feet on Amherst drug lab scandal This is not the first massive review of forensic that has fallen into prosecutorial limbo. The FBI crime labs self-discredited Bullet Lead and Hair Matching debacle are still “hanging fire” … Continue reading

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#IAFS $3 million dollar price tag for coroner mixup in burying wrong body in California

Man mistakenly buried in California body mix-up is exhumed This should make death investigators sit up and pay attention. “Matthew Eaton, an attorney for the Kerrigan and Dickens families, has filed complaints with the county seeking $3 million in damages. … Continue reading

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#IAFS Forensic technology vulnerable to hacking

DNA sequencing tools lack robust protections against cybersecurity risks Malware attacks on large scale forensic computer system is not a myth. http://www.washington.edu/news/2017/08/10/dna-sequencing-tools-lack-robust-protections-against-cybersecurity-risks/  

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#IAFS Police forensic testing bodes poorly for future police control of “rapid DNA”

Police in house testing requires adherence to fundamental scientific procedures. In this case, it is about DUI (OUI) testing in Massachusetts. Police are all over advancing into police station DNA testing with “magic boxes.” “He said he compared documents provided … Continue reading

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Nationwide, Judges continue to admit disavowed “science”

Originally posted on Christine Funk:
The Santa Cruz Sentinel is reporting the disturbing trend nationwide of judges continuing to allow evidence unsupported by science. Examples of judges continuing to allow forensic science which is not been properly validated into the…

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