Category Archives: AAFS

Forensics: How Your DNA—or Someone Else’s—Can Send You to Jail

Although DNA is individual to you—a “fingerprint” of your genetic code—DNA samples don’t always tell a complete story. The DNA samples used in criminal prosecutions are generally of low quality, making them particularly complicated to analyze. They are not very … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias | Leave a comment

Forensics: What? Philly says it found the remains of the MOVE bombing victims it thought it had cremated and discarded

Health commissioner Thomas Farley resigned on Thursday after acknowledging he ordered the remains cremated and disposed. But the city found the remains in a basement office on Friday. — Read on http://www.inquirer.com/news/thomas-farley-philadelphia-health-commissioner-move-bombing-20210514.html

Posted in AAFS, forensic pathology, Forensic Science, gravesite desecration, human identification | Leave a comment

Forensics: Beware of forensic experts expressing certainty

Opinion piece about reigning-in exaggerated and one-sided expert testimony. Offers a free online tutorial via Coursera. Its organized by Christophe Champod and the UNIL forensics faculty. “Challenging Forensic Science: How science should speak to court.” I just signed up. Expert … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, expert testimony, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, forensic testimony | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Forensics: Texas Prosecutor Resigns After Misconduct in Clinton Young Death Case

A judge called his actions in the Clinton Young case “shocking prosecutorial misconduct that destroyed any semblance of a fair trial.” — Read on http://www.texasobserver.org/in-a-rare-show-of-accountability-a-texas-attorney-has-surrendered-his-license/

Posted in AAFS, Civil rights, criminal justice reform, Perjury by Prosecutors, prosecutorial misconduct | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics: 1985 MOVE massacre official fired for cremating victims.

http://www.huffpost.com/entry/philly-health-chief-ousted-move-bombing-remains_n_609dbff4e4b069dc48f8ea72

Posted in AAFS, forensic pathology, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, human identification, human rights violations | Leave a comment

Forensics: AAFS 2012 meeting abstract on the failure of bitemark analysis

This one got me no love from the ABFO bitemarkers.

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, junk forensic science, Uncategorized, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

Forensics: DC lawmaker calls for new leader at embattled District crime lab

They should rehire Max Houck. Hes the previous director the DC mayor and the current director ran out of town in 2015 A D.C. lawmaker is calling for new leadership at the District’s embattled Department of Forensic Sciences, which had … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice reform, forensic evidence exaggeration, forensic science misconduct, Medical errors | Leave a comment

Forensics: No qualified immunity in this case. Former Louisville detective who helped wrongfully convict 2 men will spend year in prison

A former Louisville police detective will spend a year in prison for his role in the wrongful convictions and imprisonment of two men. — Read on http://www.wlky.com/article/former-louisville-detective-who-helped-wrongfully-convict-2-men-will-spend-year-in-prison/36395027

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform, forensic science misconduct, human rights violations, wrongful convictions | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics: Staggering number of cases affected. The Massachusetts crime lab scandal is just the beginning.

In Massachusetts, it will take years to unravel the scope of such systemic errors. — Read on slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/05/massachusetts-crime-lab-houston-forensic-science.html

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic evidence exaggeration, forensic science misconduct, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

Forensics: As Philly reckons with MOVE remains tragedy, anthropologists must confront our role.

It’s time for those of us working in academic and other institutions to reassess our roles, and not just react in performative allyship with those harmed. — Read on http://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/anthropology-human-remains-ethics-move-bombing-remains-20210510.html

Posted in AAFS | Tagged , , | Leave a comment