Category Archives: Bite Marks

BIte Mark Matchers now under scrutiny by the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board

THE FIELD: BITE-MARK COMPARISON Forensic dentist Richard Souviron, during a police workshop, urges caution over bite-mark comparisons: “You’ve got to be real careful with this kind of evidence.” Tribune photos by Alex Garcia. Tribune photo by Alex Garcia   Yes, … Continue reading

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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

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Forensics: Focus on bitemark beliefs and “The Syndrome”

While spending nearly a full May 5th springtime time day listening to the “Country Dentist” Dr Michael West lavish a Mississippi courtroom with his god-like powers of forensic observation aided by a blue light flashlight, I began to reflect on … Continue reading

Posted in Bite Marks, Bitemarks, criminal justice reform, CSI, death penalty, Dr. Michael West, exoneration, forensic testimony | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MS Court hears substantial testimony about why bitemark conviction from 1992 was flawed

  The following May 5th, 2016 newspaper article from the Columbus MS Dispatch outlines the dynamics of last week’s hearing in which Superior Court Judge Howard accepted voluminous evidence requested by the MS Supreme Court regarding bitemark and DNA evidence relevant … Continue reading

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Better news from within the American Brd of Forensic Odontology bitemark scandal

  This is a short story but its carries an important metaphor about the “forensic science “reform” process rocketing through the media and courtrooms in the US and the UK. A pertinent question I have is “how does the our legal … Continue reading

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ABFO/ An AAFS forensic affiliate runs into problems with another bitemark matching case

The American Board of Forensic Odontology just lost its’ a face-off with the Texas Forensic Science Commission. The TFSC recommended a moratorium ( Texas Panel Calls for an End to Criminal IDs via Bitemarks ) on biting evidence after a seven-month investigation … Continue reading

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Getting rid of bitemarks in Texas is progressing nicely, but more work needed

Note: the challenge in all this is to influence 50 state courts to wake up about the damage created by forensic flim-flam experts. Texas Forensic Science Commission to recommend a moratorium on bite mark evidence by Radley Balko This is … Continue reading

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Tx Forensic Sci Commission gets kudos for driving bitemark analysts to ground

Well, its not just the bitemarker zealots being scoured by the Tx Commission as mentioned in the January issue of Texas Monthly. But, its title is “False Impressions” and its headpiece image is the above closeup of some badly busted … Continue reading

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Forensics: White House Science and Technology opinion on Bitemark Identification

Here is the keynote speaker ( Jo Handlesman Ph.D) at a 2015 NIJ conference on forensic science speaking about the unenviable position bitemarkers have attained by showing no reliability in their opinions and being individually inconsistent in their courtroom testimony. … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice reform | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Forensics : DAs mess up their own DNA evidence and judge lets them use it against the defense

Douglas Prade has spent over 29 years in prison, then was released by another judge for 16 months and then re-imprisoned since July 2014 by another judge. The physical evidence (a bitemark)  of his identification presented at the original trial that … Continue reading

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