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.

Bite mark experts sound desperate in AP review of bad forensic science

Well, the story had to come out eventually. The Associate Press extensive investigation into the US forensic dental organization, the American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO), reviews their past mistakes in court cases and current denials of problems in their … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Forensic Science, CSI, Forensic Dentistry, Forensic Science, William Richards Exoneration Case | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

PBS-2012 Nova Production On Doubtful Forensic Science

With major contributors from the forensic science community, this in-depth PBS presentation discusses the strengths and weaknesses of forensic examiners and their effects on the US judicial system. Erroneous convictions involving bite mark identification and other “impression evidence” are the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Forensic Science, CSI, Forensic Dentistry, Forensic Science | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

An academic’s views on problems existing in forensic science testimony and methods

This is a repost of a 2009 article published by UCLA Today. The author is well established as an external evaluator of forensic methods. Shortly after this article appeared she was given a $700,000 research grant by the NIJ to … Continue reading →

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FORENSIC TESTIMONY: Science Biases and Subjectivity

This is a repost of my June 5, 2013 blog on the important subject of bias in forensic science   Added comment: The expanding revelations of extraneous influences that can plague forensic experts in court has added to the existing literature … Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Forensic Science, criminal justice, CSI, Forensic Dentistry, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

50 Years of Judicially Determined BRADY Violations Against Prosecutors are Worthless

This op-ed from the HuffPost’s Radley Balko makes the case that prosecutorial misconduct is a factor in a majority of exoneration cases and exists in other criminal convictions.  The judicial and legal organizational responses to violations of Brady are nil. Legal … Continue reading →

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The “equitable balance” of constitutional rights faces off with legal procedural technicalities

This op-ed politely discusses the dis-connect between what the Supreme Court considers their “view” of constitutional rights (really a procedural statute of limitations argument) without touching on the personal rights and privileges of the inmate seeking a review of eyewitness … Continue reading →

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Research on eyewitness, victim and expert recantations after convictions

The University of Michigan continues its investigation into the causes of wrongful convictions via their archive of over 1000 cases where an innocent person was sent to prison. The varied judicial responses to recanting witnesses contained in this 10 page … Continue reading →

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Brooklyn’s Sordid Prosecutorial Past, and Present?

The New York Times ——————————————————————————– May 11, 2013 Review of 50 Brooklyn Murder Cases Ordered By FRANCES ROBLES and N. R. KLEINFIELD The Brooklyn district attorney’s office has ordered a review of some 50 murder cases assigned to an acclaimed … Continue reading →

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Three more cases of discredited medical testimony and prosecutorial fallacies leading to wrongful convictions

5-19-2013 The Innocence March continues through Santa Barbara County towards  Sacramento where they hope to present to Governor Jerry Brown petitions for clemency for 12 clients they consider factually innocent of serious crime. http://www.innocencemarch.com. The California Innocence Project (CIP) also highlights … Continue reading →

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Justin Brooks Update from the Innocence March…

Justin Brooks Update from the Innocence March….

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