Category Archives: AAFS

Twitter Comments about “”Awake-up call on the junk science” infestation

This is just a hit-or-miss snapshot of comments and shows diversity to say the least. Go to………”A wake-up call on the junk forensic science infesting our courtrooms” for the 164 comments at its end. By HTEdwards and JMnookin.  Some folks … Continue reading →

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How Bitemark evidence is still operating at the appellate level – The Kunco Case

The “relatively unique teeth” of John Kunco The “recaptured” evidence used against Kunco. There still is a long road for prison inmates to overcome what now is considered to be unvalidated “science” presented at their original trials. John Kunco’s case … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The saga continues at the Ventura County Medical Examiners office

I would like to commend Dr. Ann Bucholtz (shown above) for her short, but effective tenure as Ventura County’s Medical Examiner. My perspective is as the forensic dentistry consultant for the VCME office for over 30 years. Dr. Bucholtz’s legacy … Continue reading →

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LEOs not reporting police shooting/custody deaths still using their DOJ grant money and MRAPS

The disonant (or maybe permissive) Department of Justice federal oversight of local law enforcement agencies seems to rival a tragicomedy versions of “who’s on first?” Or more impolitely, the boondoggle. The decades-long sharing of military equipment with police ( 1033 program … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Civil rights, criminal justice, criminal justice reform | Tagged | Leave a comment

PCAST in the news – The DNA Blog from the New York Legal Aid Soc

Edited by Julie Fry Written by Celia Givens PCAST report raises questions about validity of forensic sciences in criminal courts A new draft report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has caused concerns about the … Continue reading →

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Clarification and Retraction of CSIDDS use of AAFS logo

Statement: To Whom It May Concern In RE: CSIDDS blog post from September 12, 2016 On occasion, I have used AAFS annual convention banners in my blog posts. The reader must not be not be misled or misconstrue or consider that … Continue reading →

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Regardless of #PCAST, bitemark matchers praise themselves and re-up their “Bitemark Breakfast”

*See note at bottom. To be expected, although in an ironic twist to the above image, the AAFS affiliated bite mark bunch continues to press on with their agenda. This is in the face of a tsunami of criticism from media … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform, junk forensic science | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“You have no balls” says a noted bite mark dentist – More about this and the #PCAST report on forensics

Bill Richards, who spent nearly 23 years in prison based on dubious bite-mark evidence, was released in June. Photo: Courtesy of Michael Semanchik, California Innocence Project. The inimitable and award winning Jordan Smith at The Intercept once again lays the hammer on the prime example … Continue reading →

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Forensics: How a criminal defense expert got some bad news from a judge – “Not qualified”

Nothing but warning signals come out in this news article about a self-styled yet prior qualified (in other cases) DNA expert running into some trouble. The record states he admitted having no direct experience in using actual DNA profiling lab equipment. … Continue reading →

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Forensic Science reform gets a knee jerk backlash from the District Attorneys – #PCAST

National District Attorneys Association slams President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology report Note that the NDAA (national DA association) president is none other than San Bernardino’s pro death penalty DA Michael Ramos (@michaelramos). I’m not surprised at this … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI | Tagged , , | 3 Comments