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Category Archives: ABFO
#Forensics: How DNA transfer is affected by “shedder” status.
Any assumption that a DNA mixture can prove who was and wasn’t the perp gets clobbered in this study. Some people shed (i.e. leave) DNA more than others. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1872497319301164
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling
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#Forensics: Ageing the colors of a bruise. It doesn’t work.
Every dentist who has testified on the age of skin injuries from their color should contact the Innocence Project to initiate review of their unreliable opinion. Justice demands the advances of science should influence all these cases from the last … Continue reading
Forensics: Dundee and Glasgow take a look at the bitemarkers
Let’s see if prosecutors and the judiciary get the gumption and honesty to see this as the death knell for bitemark flim flam. Congrats to the Scots and Open Access publishing! https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00414-019-02163-5
#Forensics: Syrian Refugee Develops Dentistry Tech to ID Gender of War Victims
Finally, some legitimate research in the area of forensic dentistry. Kudos to Univ of Dundee and this young researcher. Syrian refugee Rawad Qaq has unveiled his Sex Calculator, which could help forensic scientists predict the sex of a skull. — … Continue reading
Forensics: Forensic Dental ageing expert claims his claims of “science” shouldn’t be the only method. Why use it at all?
For years, these dentists have inappropriate claims of high percentages of accuracy to their adult versus juvenile ageing methods which they present in US immigration courts. This WaPo article summarizes how the federal controlled courts and prosecutors continue to use … Continue reading
Forensics: Revealing the effects of politics tainting forensic science
The sociology of police crime labs is thoroughly disclosed in this short article. Max Houck recognizes the 10 year old NAS Report and he offers some improvements. Tell that to the USDOJ. Again. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X19300853
More judge-like delusions about error rates in forensics not being necessary.
This time it is in Australia. It does mentions that bitemarks are now outlawed Down Under? Now how did THAT happen? I havent heard a peep abt it. https://www.smh.com.au/national/csi-not-so-scientific-doubt-cast-on-veracity-of-forensic-evidence-20190816-p52hq9.html
A New Solution to Countering Bad Science in Forensics | Lab Manager
Aussie study follows up on the unacceptable “ad hoc” nature of 30 different crime lab methods. They also demand for forensic science to become more open. Even DNA has befuddled courts into accepting “proprietary secrets” regarding crime lab software. — … Continue reading
Blood spatter analysis (i.e. BPA) theories contradict physics and scientific research. Study reveals serious lack of university-level involvement in this police-adopted method.
Is anyone suprised? The spatterists still are throwing pig blood against walls and clothing. This study debunks their “velocity” of impact/force blood spatter paradigms. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/forensics-bloodstain-pattern-analysis/ Kudos to The Innocence Project’s Sarah Chu for her comments in this NOVA article. Read … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, criminal justice reform, CSI, Forensic Science Bias, junk forensic science, US Crime labs
Comments Off on Blood spatter analysis (i.e. BPA) theories contradict physics and scientific research. Study reveals serious lack of university-level involvement in this police-adopted method.
Forensic bias dangers from police interactions
Notables discuss the interface between police and anyone examining crime scene evidence. Especially those folks working police crime labs. Recent cases of experts being influenced by police theories certainly highlights this as creating cognitive bias. It is very hard to … Continue reading