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Category Archives: AAFS
Missouri Forensic Science program is told they can help prevent wrongful convictions
“I’m not here to bash the judicial system,” Barry Beach ( over 30 years in prison ) told a forensic science class at the University of Montana on Friday. “I’m here to say, ‘Let’s do what we can to make … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Forensic science, wrongful convictions
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Forensics: How human bitemarks should be used by prosecutors.
(photo credit: C. Michael Bowers and Raymond Johansen. From Digital Analysis of Bitemark Evidence. c 2004). This is an experimentally produced bitemark on a deceased pig ear. The bitemark was made by Dr. Johansen biting the specimen. Unfortunately, this amount of … Continue reading
Dialogue about Science Peer Review in the Courts : Scientific American : Faigman
This is a “how to do it” from Law Professor David L. Faigman at Hastings of UCBerkeley. He shows an extensive review on where the US courts are on this subject and why they are not always reliable. He has some interesting … Continue reading
Harvards’ epic article on Innocence Litigation and the woman who exec directs the IP
A true Xmas season story about Maddy deLone who is the heartbeat of the NY Innocence Project. The challenges of the innocent in prison are described in vivid detail. A worthy and valuable read for those unaware of what “incarceration” does … Continue reading
Bickering Bitemark Analysts need to read this: Chemists’ guidelines and expectations on science
The American Chemical Society has taken a very proactive position in reinforcing scientific standards through its involvement in forensic reform and progress. A notable aspect of this group is its university and industrial component membership base that conforms to legitimate … Continue reading
Forensics: DNA retest eliminates convicted man. DA says he’s guilty anyway.
This case is certainty bizarre for its facts. A now convicted man is arguing for a new trial. Post conviction DNA re-testing on a gun is the center point. But the guy who got shot was killed by a police officer named Kaufman. … Continue reading
Fingerprint device captures prints as person walks past
Commerical press release lacks much depth but suggests interesting privacy implications with this just FBI approved optical printing system. “Each ANDI OTG system instantly captures four fingerprints from an individual as they walk past the device.” Im not sure what the … Continue reading
The odd “reform” coexistence of law enforcement, criminal justice and private forensic orgs
Taking some joy out of Xmas, the Wash Post columnist Radley Balko draws out the pattern of current forensic events focusing on methods review into a broader question. How difficult is it to change multi-governmental institutional culture? He describes how the … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks
Tagged Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science, junk science, National Commission on Forensic Science, Radley Balko
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Major US Forensic Lab Scandals by State : The DOJ takes a stab at solution
Rumblings about mess-ups in US government-run forensic labs has finally reached the US DOJ. The reliability aspects of who does the “accreditation” is another matter. Thanks to NACDL and @celiagivens at the DNA Newsletter. DOJ to Mandate Lab Accreditation The … Continue reading
Forensics: How Police actions can lead to a Homicide years after the incident
Remember that when a medical examiner renders homicide as the manner of a death, there are three subcategories ranging from 1) murder 2) manslaughter and 3) justifiable. This article talks about a police-action-related injury (brain injury) evolving years later to … Continue reading
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