Category Archives: AAFS

Trouble with teeth and the better side of new forensic research – National Geographic

A general review of past police forensic methods that led to wrongful convictions and the newer development in forensics that could change criminalistic communities. Genetic phenotyping for facial reconstruction being the hottest topic in the media. Full article:  The Trouble With … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Another obstinate and proudly relentless prosecutor from Louisiana

On to Louisiana and its about a death penalty conviction for child murder. “Dale Cox (pictured above) was the Louisiana prosecutor against Crawford (the defendant), a case which rested almost exclusively on the testimony of a state forensic pathologist who claimed … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, death penalty, expert testimony, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Unfounded calculation assumptions in LifeCode DNA testimony: 2016 SC ruling in Simmons

VACATED IN PART AND REMANDED A telling tale with highlights of the court’s opine on DNA testimony from the commercial DNA lab LifeCodes reveals what forensic malfeasance or misconduct or “puffing results” really means. Lets say that over selling “science” … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Forensics: Rehab program for academics caught cooking research data shows trends

This is certainly food for thought for those folks who consider academics and researchers above reproach. “Criminality” may be an overstatement in most cases, so maybe “misconduct” could be combined with “ineptitude.”  I’ve seen intellectual dishonesty quite popular with the … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The bloom is off forensic DNA’s infallibility – Scientific American

Eric Frimpong and Santa Barbara defense attorney Robert Sanger in 2008. With the FBI making a step to reel in its history of wayward forensic conclusions, Scientific American wades into the “restructuring” of DNA opinions in much the same way. … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, DNA profiling, Forensic Science | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forensic look at death penalty statistics: 25% of exonerated were on Death Row

A 2013 infographic study by the California Innocence Project puts the cost in California at a staggering $4 billion since 1978. Statistics contained in this report, when overlayed with the national increase of exonerations ( now at 1793) , in the … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Washington DC crime lab continues to coverup its law enforcement bungles

    Backstory before the story about guns walking away from the DC crime lab. After a sweetheart period with its “independence” from LEO management via its multi-million dollar facility up grade and hiring forensic scientist Max Houck to run … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, US Crime labs | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Mississippi Sting operation that uncovered Michael West’s bitemark bunk

One of the extraordinary defense presentations at the recent EL Howard hearing in Columbus MS was given by the Honorable Chris Plourd (pictured above), the presiding Judge of Imperial County, CA Superior Court. Judge Plourd rose to the bench in … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, Dr. Michael West, exoneration, Ray Krone bitemark case, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advances of science affects some convictions – so far bitemarks aren’t included

The resounding inconsistencies in how US courts “handle” forensic expertise is brain-numbing. The Mississippi Supreme Court and the state attorney General Jim Hood’s go to chief appellate guy, Jason Davis (pictured above), are still investing in the now bitemark rejecting … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, Bitemarks, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, forensic science reform | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

DNA “falsifiability” gets some airtime, CRIME LAB chaos in MA, “vigorous debate’ in SBS

The latest in scientific quandaries within forensics from the NY Legal Aid Society Newsletter. Fool’s Gold: Legal Aid Society DNA Unit featured in Atlantic Magazine article about the increasing use of unreliable DNA “science” in the criminal justice system DNA … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment