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: Making sure your employer get paid regardless…….

An insider look about genetic ‘counselors’ selling imperfect testing services and exaggerating results in order to stay employed. Hmm, the same might be said for police using junk drug testing kits from Kmart.  https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/05/when-baby-due-genetic-counselors-seen-downplaying-false-alarms/bBC0KAFVidJASkkOiMg6DI/story.html

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Interim Austin Crime Lab boss gets the boot; lab closed

Austin’s police chief apologized Friday for massive problems at the Police Department’s crime lab, saying he had ceased all efforts to reopen the DNA part of the troubled facility and had removed the man recently hired to get it back … Continue reading

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The occasionally bizarre world of forensics in 2016 – Its a parallel universe

Since bitemarks don’t work, let’s use them for exonerations. Some prosecutors are just beyond funny. This NDAA president’s recent illogical support saying bitemarks in criminal investigations and court are capable of determining whether a person is NOT guilty of violent crime … Continue reading

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Prosecutors started to look at Austin PD DNA analyst 6 years ago

Its better late than never, I guess. Good example on how DA CIUs (conviction integrity units) get a bad rap. This Cleveland DA says some of them are just ‘news releases.’ “During that sexual assault trial, prosecutors wrote two memos … Continue reading

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More on Forensic Expertise that is largely arbitrary and amatuerish

When someone learns PhotoShop, danger often enters the courtroom when methods and skill sets are loose and standard methods largely not compulsory. Experts in this field have a paucity of validation testing about what they bring in front of a … Continue reading

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Regardless of UK LEO witch hunt, Forensic Expert continues to express herself

I have been following Dr. Waney Squier’s odyssey of medical retribution against her for doubting the ‘science’ behind the over-stimulated use of Shaken Baby criminal convictions. This article shows, after years of bumbling partisan tomfoolery against her, she is not … Continue reading

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The cost of Austin crime lab failure reaches $6.5 – $14 million estimates

Regardless of the politicians assurances, this taxpayer cost will surely go up to  include whatever additional legal costs that occur over the propose next five years. Its 12 years worth of crime lab cases. So far, no one has blamed … Continue reading

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Austin Crime Lab woes gets even worse – Pushback against DNA upgrades

Here’s a short bit from why the Austin TX police run crime lab road to recovery just fell off a cliff. The state’s overseers are having resistance to retraining some of the existing employees. As in ………. “a supervisor’s decision … Continue reading

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It’s a good start. The $2 drug tests are great for law enforcement drug warriors, but not much good for anyone else.

More Prosecutors Refuse To Accept Guilty Pleas Based On Faulty $2 Field Drug Tests Latest on cheapo, error prone drug tests apparently going south in Oregon. https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20161206/15130336213/more-prosecutors-refuse-to-accept-guilty-pleas-based-faulty-2-field-drug-tests.shtml

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Politics, Military Police and Forensic Science Conflicts

The white hats in the forensic science world like to say that “truth” in their investigations always wins out. Read this story about how a US military medical examiner in Afghanistan got his investigation quashed by a general whose name … Continue reading

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