Latest News on Forensic Science and Criminal Law
-
Join 223 other subscribers
Author Archives: csidds
Looking at your cellphone for spit, sweat, cosmetics, and DNA
Running labs test on personal items retrieved from crime scenes. None of these can indicate time of occurrence. Obviously will be used to influence confessions and plea deals. The only true biological “identifier” would be DNA. https://www.nij.gov/topics/forensics/evidence/trace/Pages/forensic-identification-using-individual-chemical-signatures.aspx No high … Continue reading
Look at how well law enforcement manages forensic science -Secret hearings?
Here is how OK City handles its problems with DNA evidence in their crime lab and in high profile murder cases that are under appeal. A 2 hour pro prosecutorial soirree was in the judge’s chamber with the DNA lab … Continue reading
Todays Forensics from the TwitterVerse
Photocopies of forensic evidence precautions. Senior DA from Los Angeles gets caught intimidating police. Brave lady criminologist calls out JSessions’ cancelling of National Forensic Commission. New study looking into how jurors perceive forensic science. Belying the USDOJ laissez faire denial … Continue reading
More input from scientists taking up the torch for better forensics
More academic folks talking about all the reasons this blog was begun in 2014. They describe the climate and environment of the US criminal justice relationship with empirically tested science and wrongful convictions. Apparently my concerns about low quality, … Continue reading
Cops bail on finding real perps after “their perp” gets freed from the “Country Dentist”
Nationally, the Innocence Projects have handed the police over 100 DNA profiles of ‘strong’ suspects uncovered by IP exoneration litigation. No one in the LEO industry does much about followup, according to this article. LEOs and DAs take the low … Continue reading
WH Science Office in Trump’s Rearview mirror
Ole No 45 is barreling down the highway, all the while leaving wreckage in his path. The science side of the OSTP office that historically brought the WH the best of the best in science and science policy advice has … Continue reading
Science and non-forensic orgs talk about “independent forensic management”
This probably is largely just blowin’ in the wind. tRump seems more interested in personal gain and fame. This is a good overview of the coalescence of science and forensic types occurring since 45 took office. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/science-organizations-renew-call-for-independent-us-committee-on-forensics/2017/06/28/3ab8cdea-5b6a-11e7-9b7d-14576dc0f39d_story.html?utm_term=.1a1340ebc6dc
Listen to how DNA analysts cheat their way to an ID from blood mixtures
For those wondering about why there is such a flap going on when crime scene blood specimens contain more than one human profile, there are similarities to bitemark analysis’ lack of bias control. Watch this: Published on Jan 12, 2015 … Continue reading
DNA rape kits left to rot in TX crime lab
Authorities promise no damage was one. Makes one wonder about any other biological evidence misdeeds lurking in the weeds. CSI never shows this side of police forensics. https://www.statesman.com/news/local/city-memo-mold-found-containers-about-850-austin-police-rape-kits/qEZ7rV5h3gnrcJPdJtMhjM/ http://kxan.com/2017/06/27/mold-found-on-hundreds-of-apd-dna-samples/ http://www.twcnews.com/tx/austin/news/2017/06/27/nearly-850-austin-police-rape-kits-found-with-mold.html
FORENSICS and LAW in FOCUS @ CSIDDS | News and Trends 