Category Archives: AAFS

Crime lab mess redux: Now it’s Alaska’s $90M boondoggle

Posted on January 19, 2017 by csidds

These stories just keep coming ……. It seems the public’s confidence in the “theory(ies) of crime detection” appears to be eroding from top ( governmental PCAST deniers) to the bottom. Take your pick on the bottom. Wanna try “Making a … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Crime, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice | Tagged costs of wrongful convictions, crime lab mismanagement, crime lab scandals, CSI, Forensic science, untested rape kits | Leave a comment

Anthropology bone measurements studied for data accuracy

Posted on January 18, 2017 by csidds

An impressive formulative study involving osteometric measurements from multiple examiners across international boundaries. Impressive work and forward thinking regarding ‘shape’ and dimensional accuracy of forensic examiners estimating the age of human remains and other skeletal features. Anthros independently are leading … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS | Tagged age estimation, forensic anthropology, forensic science research | Leave a comment

Narrative on forensics NAS/PCAST vs the world of law enforcement

Posted on January 10, 2017 by csidds

This look hits most of the highs and lows of contentious statements from law enforcement after the President’s Council took on their established police forensic turf. It does mention wrongful convictions stemming from overrated forensic ‘science’ which seemed left out … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice reform, CSI | Tagged Forensic science, forensic science reform protecting the innocent, junk forensic science, Miscarriage of justice, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

Natl Institute of Standards and Tech, praising advances in DNA, leaves out bitemark rejection

Posted on December 20, 2016 by csidds

NIST is the uber-arm of science in the world of the federal government and has a wide view on most things in our physical world. Its holiday post reflects on 2016’s triumphs and removal of some obsolete methods in forensics … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic science reform | Tagged Bad forensic science, Forensic science, NIST | Leave a comment

We are entering the Twilight Zone: Bitemarks can now prove innocence?

Posted on December 9, 2016 by csidds

No one escapes the Twilight Zone. The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including psychological horror………. The Politics of Forensics in the US is Alive and Well. Here are … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, AMERICAN BOARD OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY, Forensic science, wrongful convictions | 1 Comment

American Academy of Forensic Sciences asks public for bitemark validation studies

Posted on December 2, 2016 by csidds

In an equitable move [probably in the face of all the LEO crime labs complaining] requested by the President’s Council of Science and Technology chairman, Eric Lander, the AAFS is asking its membership to provide more information not mentioned in … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice reform, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling | Tagged criminal justice, CSI, junk science | 1 Comment

A science-based blast at Prosecutors’ belief in alchemy, voodoo and bitemarks

Posted on November 24, 2016 by csidds

Oxford University Press’ Journal of Law and the Biosciences just published an amicus curiae (i.e. friend of the court) anti-bitemark treatise which empirically debunks the recent PCAST deniers such as the National DA Association, the IAI, a ‘congress’ of crime labs, the US Department … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, forensic science reform | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, AMERICAN BOARD OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY, Bad forensic science, bitemark testimony, junk forensic science | 1 Comment

Controversial use of familial DNA searches helps lead to finds in cold cases

Posted on October 27, 2016 by csidds

A broader look at familial DNA use within criminal investigations. Some good, some bad. What appears in all examples, is that ‘presumptions’ of guilt can be incorrect and send prosecutors off in the wrong direction. What’s also apparent is that … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling | Tagged AAFS, ABFO, ADA, Anthropology, ASCLD, ASFO, bias, bite mark, bite marks, bitemark, bitemark analysis, bitemark evidence, bitemark testimony, Bitemarks, board certified dentist, comparison confirmation bias, David Sheets, DNA, DNA likelihood ratios, Dr. Greg Golden, Dr. L.T. Johnson, Dr. Michael Bowers, Dr. Michael West, Dr. Robert Barsley, Dr. roger Metcalf, Elsevier, exoneration, expert opinion, forensic, Forensic Dental Evidence, forensic dentist, forensic dentistry, forensic odontologist, Forensic Odontology, Forensic science, homicide case, Humberto Leal, Innocence partners, innocence project, Innocent, Investigator's Handbook, JADA, Kennedy Brewer, Kunco, Leal, Leigh Stubbs, Levon Brooks, Mary Bush, Michael bowers, Michael West, Mississippi Innocence, NAS National Academy of Science, National District Attorney Association, National Forensic Science Foundation, observer effects, Odontology, PCAST, Peter Bush, Ray Krone, Ray Miller, reliability research, Saliva, screening film, starks, Stinson, surveillance video, theIAI.org, toolmark, University of Buffalo, UV photography, validity, West, Wisconsin, wrongful conviction, wrongful convictions, wrongfully convicted | Leave a comment

Desperate Wife Takes Husband’s Colon to Austria for poison testing

Posted on October 11, 2016 by csidds

Desperate measures in forensic science occur all the time. I once carried an as yet unidentified ( an still unID’d) human skull on-board a flight to meet with the famous anthro Bill Maples in Florida. My Medical Examiner thought I … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS | Tagged AAFS, ABFO, ADA, Anthropology, ASCLD, ASFO, bias, bite mark, bite marks, bitemark, bitemark analysis, bitemark evidence, bitemark testimony, Bitemarks, board certified dentist, comparison confirmation bias, David Sheets, DNA, Dr. Greg Golden, Dr. L.T. Johnson, Dr. Michael Bowers, Dr. Michael West, Dr. Robert Barsley, Dr. roger Metcalf, Elsevier, exoneration, expert opinion, forensic, Forensic Dental Evidence, forensic dentist, forensic dentistry, forensic odontologist, Forensic Odontology, Forensic science, homicide case, Humberto Leal, Innocence partners, innocence project, Innocent, Investigator's Handbook, JADA, Kennedy Brewer, Kunco, Leal, Leigh Stubbs, Levon Brooks, Mary Bush, Michael bowers, Michael West, Mississippi Innocence, NAS National Academy of Science, National District Attorney Association, National Forensic Science Foundation, observer effects, Odontology, PCAST, Peter Bush, physical anthropology, Ray Krone, Ray Miller, reliability research, Saliva, screening film, starks, Stinson, surveillance video, theIAI.org, toolmark, University of Buffalo, UV photography, validity, West, Wisconsin, wrongful conviction, wrongful convictions, wrongfully convicted | Leave a comment

Disappointed? Am Academy of Forensic Sciences blurb on PCAST and forensic validation

Posted on October 10, 2016 by csidds

[Comments] and bold emphasis are mine. In summary, I call it misleading in certain important aspects. As Max Houck says in this re Tweet, Crime lab debate misses the point and culprits. Lab is political football AND under-resourced. [from this “Our … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks | Tagged AAFS, ABFO, ADA, ASCLD, ASCLDAAFS, ASFO, bias, bite mark, bite marks, bitemark, bitemark analysis, bitemark evidence, bitemark testimony, Bitemarks, board certified dentist, comparison confirmation bias, David Sheets, DNA, Dr. Greg Golden, Dr. L.T. Johnson, Dr. Michael Bowers, Dr. Michael West, Dr. Robert Barsley, Dr. roger Metcalf, Elsevier, exoneration, expert opinion, forensic, Forensic Dental Evidence, forensic dentist, forensic dentistry, forensic odontologist, Forensic Odontology, Forensic science, homicide case, Humberto Leal, Innocence partners, innocence project, Innocent, Investigator's Handbook, JADA, Kennedy Brewer, Kunco, Leal, Leigh Stubbs, Levon Brooks, Mary Bush, Michael bowers, Michael West, Mississippi Innocence, NAS National Academy of Science, National District Attorney Association, National Forensic Science Foundation, observer effects, Odontology, PCAST, Peter Bush, Ray Krone, Ray Miller, reliability research, Saliva, screening film, starks, Stinson, surveillance video, theIAI.org, toolmark, University of Buffalo, UV photography, validity, West, Wisconsin, wrongful conviction, wrongful convictions, wrongfully convicted | Leave a comment