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.

Bitemark case spurs judicial reform in CA., intimidation in forensics continues, + more

Forensic reform in California based in part on another bitemark case.  2011: Bitemark experts sue forensic lecturer regarding mention of Bennie Starks’ vacated conviction case. Later became a full exoneration when the DA dropped lesser remaining charges. The plantiffs in … Continue reading

Posted in ABFO, Bitemarks, criminal justice, forensic science reform, William Richards Exoneration Case, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

More professional harassment of forensic experts, this time a pathologist. Plus political action spurred by bitemark case.

This is becoming commonplace. Another forensic expert gets job slammed for testifying against a Prosecutor’s “theory” of a case. CA: Prosecutors Suppress a Mountain of Evidence in Shaky Murder Case  Read about other examples of professional harassment of forensic experts both … Continue reading

Posted in Bitemarks, criminal justice, expert testimony, prosecutorial misconduct | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Who Pays the price for a False Forensic Identification? Plus Jack the Ripper is Backkkk , Cognitive Bias in Forensics.

When a forensic expert’s opinion on identification runs up against DNA. Who pays the price? http://bitemarks.org/  Expert testimony on eyewitness testimony allowed in state Supreme court. Experts on false confesses rejected. “the advent of DNA evidence, as well as hundreds of … Continue reading

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Real talk about forensics and real science: ex AAFS president is interested about forensic mistakes, DNA from bitemarks, + more.

This blog has reached 6,000 hits since its inception. Thank you all for being involved!  Cheers Mike Bowers  Please consider subscribing to this blog. ====================================== Real science POV. Forcing Change In Forensic Science.  http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i19/Forcing-Change-Forensic-Science.html … via @cenmag A world apart is the … Continue reading

Posted in Bitemarks, Forensic Science, forensic science reform, National FOrensic Science Commission | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Forensic in Focus: From Witch hunts, criminal justice to some not so real forensic science.

Proof that CJ is not “always right.” TN exoneration joins growing number of innocence cases. Bitemarks included. 1 of 25 are innocent. Prosecutorial misconduct in Japan. Japan’s Authoritarian Criminal Justice System. Tells the Facts, Names the Names  The American Board … Continue reading

Posted in criminal justice, fingerprints, Forensic Science, National FOrensic Science Commission, prosecutorial misconduct | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Forensics in Focus – “Crime lab whistleblowers” and……. -May 22, 2014

PowerPlex 21 DNA test to review cold cases. “Too prevent escalating costs.” New Commission to Regulate Prosecutorial Misconduct . Forensic science? Testimony from “dog scent lineup” sent woman to prison for crime she didn’t commit.  Asset forfeiture for college student pot … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Forensic Science, criminal justice, Exoneration costs, prosecutorial misconduct, Ray Krone bitemark case, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bitemark Identification Debunked? : People are still teaching dentists unreliable forensics

Sunday’s New York Times  piece on how “DNA Changed Forensic Science” was also an allegory. Much is in writing in the media about the deficiencies of bitemark identification. The 2009 landmark National Academies of Science Report on “Strengthening the Forensic … Continue reading

Posted in Bitemarks, criminal justice, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science reform | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

NY Times: “DNA Analysis Exposes an Inexact Forensic Science” + Bitemark Cases

For over 2 decades, the US press has used “inexact” in writing about certain forensic methods which are used to convict criminal defendants. Bitemark experts included. Here is the latest from the New York Times. It uses the debunked FBI’s … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Forensic Science, criminal justice, Forensic Science, forensic science reform | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Comments on the White House 2014 report on “Strengthening Forensic Science”

Opinions from a forensic examiner. This material contains excerpts from the WH 2014 Forensic Science Report .  My comments (in bold) are added in certain sections. The Report excerpts are in italics. See the full report here. =========================================== EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF … Continue reading

Posted in ABFO, Bitemarks, criminal justice, Forensic Science, forensic science reform, National FOrensic Science Commission | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Bitemark Case Law: The Judicial failure by accepting bitemark experts as “qualified to identify” defendants

“Bitemark Identification” acceptance stems from this list of appellate cases starting in 1975 (Marx). This is a short list of the seminal cases (allowing the jury of decide the evidence declared to be science) that flowed from this first appellate … Continue reading

Posted in Bitemarks, forensic science reform, junk forensic science, National FOrensic Science Commission | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment