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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
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
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
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/
Forensics: AAFS 2012 meeting abstract on the failure of bitemark analysis
This one got me no love from the ABFO bitemarkers.
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
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
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
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