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Category Archives: AAFS
Forensic Bias? Did an autopsy doc get wind of a suspect’s confession now considered coerced?
The interplay of homicide death investigations conducted by medical personnel employed by the same agency investigating a suspect is fodder for doubts concerning undo influence. Its the subject of this The Intercept article just out from Jordan Smith. It is … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, criminal justice reform
Tagged crime labs, Criminal Justice, CSI, expert witnesses
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Is Forensic Science Capable of Correcting Its Woes?
The seminal theme of the US forensic community professes that it can solve its own problems. I doubt it. The public sees in the media these negative forensic themes: undo police/DA/politico attitude influences, the imbalance of drug testing predominating over … Continue reading
Taking bitemark evidence to the White House: Video speaker provides no answers to wrongful convictions
When you have no scientific proofs to contradict years of unreliable expert testimony and false forensic education on the subject, this speaker just blames everyone but himself. He doesn’t dare answer the scientific inquiries of this White House panel on … Continue reading
Forensic lab autonomy in Mexico way ahead of US counterpart labs managed by police
Police have no jurisdiction in Mexican forensic science laboratories and investigations. DNA crime scene collection is done by civilian investigators. Fascinating. My county has made at least four attempts, in the last 30+ years, to put the Ventura County ME’s office … Continue reading
Michigan crime lab gets slammed ( those damned defense attys) for faking it for $$
Here we go again. Seems that these Mich State crime lab guys, prosecutors and the cops might be incentivising each other to boost felony convictions and their own coffers. “What recently uncovered emails reveal is that the AG’s office, the … Continue reading
Forensics: The White House Office of Sci Tech investigates Bitemark Believers on Jan 15
The Obama Administration offers a potpourri of forensic practitioners at a public hearing scheduled for Jan 15th. Among them is one of the pro bitemark witnesses who pled for mercy before the Texas For Sci Commission a month ago. Here is … Continue reading
Forensics in Thailand shows an ugly lack of fairness in Aussie double murder case.
Here’s another case where human rights and so-called use of “forensic science” have little in common. A notable Thai forensic expert denounces the forensic “proof” left unavailable to defendants’ lawyers in this murder of two Australian tourists. Politics ran away … Continue reading
Bitemarks linked to child abuse arrest
(Note: Regardless of all the digital artwork, measurements seen in this case are not accurate for biter “matching”) The prevalance of bitemark injuries brought forth in child abuse investigations and prosecutions has never been disputed but they have been as … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Forensic science
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Forensics: Fire Science course in TX used to “fine-tune” arson protocols in light of Willingham case.
I’m sure John Lentini, at http://firescientist.com/, who has helped create major changes in arson evidence interpretation throughout the US, has some comments to add on this subject of “human case” analysis advances with fire investigators. http://www.firehouse.com/article/12146450/fatal-fire-investigations-forensic-fire-death-class-in-texas
Posted in AAFS
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How a DA used an “inconclusive” DNA result to imply it supported the victim’s testimony
No one ever denies that criminal trials are merely a war of words supporting implications of guilt or innocence. The experts were not at the crime scene, and neither was the jury nor the judge. That’s what makes victim visual … Continue reading
