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Category Archives: costs of wrongful convictions
Forensics: Bitemarks. Prosecutors Want to Keep a Man in Prison for His Wife’s Murder — Despite Judge Saying Their Evidence is Junk
Slamming the bogus bite-mark analysis that sent Charles McCrory to prison in 1985, the judge vacated his conviction. — Read on theintercept.com/2026/10/28/bite-mark-forensics-junk-science-mccrory/
Forensics: Is Orange County Done Tracking People’s DNA?
The “spit and acquit” program holds thousands of people’s DNA, but under new rules the OCDA would have to delete large swaths of their database amid a pause on any new collection. — Read on voiceofoc.org/2026/10/is-orange-county-done-tracking-peoples-dna/
Forensics: Weak science. Court acceptance. Canadian Law Expert Questions Ballistics, Bloodstain and Sniffer Dog Evidence
Canadian Law Expert Questions Ballistics, Bloodstain and Sniffer Dog Evidence — Read on http://www.forensicmag.com/3594-All-News/628947-Canadian-Law-Expert-Questions-Ballistics-Bloodstain-and-Sniffer-Dog-Evidence/
Forensics: Law. Worthless. DOJ Inspector General Declines to Investigate Alleged Misconduct in Dismissed David Hearn Case
The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General declined to investigate allegations of criminal misconduct and prosecutorial impropriety in the dismissed case against former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, referring the matter instead to the Office of Professional Responsibility. — … Continue reading
Forensics: Junk pathology test from the 1700s. Maryland Used Discredited Science to Convict a Woman of Murdering Her Newborn
Advocates say the case is an alarming example of the prevalence of unsubstantiated forensic science. — Read on truthout.org/articles/maryland-used-discredited-science-to-convict-a-woman-of-murdering-her-newborn/
Forensics: Before Colorado DNA Scandal, Disgraced Lab Tech Handled 462 Cases At Wyoming Lab. “Lucky it was pre DNA.”
A disgraced forensic scientist who was sentenced to prison on Tuesday for deleting and manipulating DNA data in Colorado criminal cases handled 462 cases… — Read on cowboystatedaily.com/2026/09/10/before-colorado-dna-scandal-disgraced-lab-tech-handed-462-cases-at-wyoming-lab/
Forensics: Looking for the truth. When families question a death investigation, getting a second autopsy can be complicated
After investigators ruled 31-year-old high school counselor and coach Kelsey Harris’ death a suicide in 2021, her mother, Kellee, said she was not convinced the inquiry had answered the most important questions.About a week before Kelsey died, police had arrested … Continue reading
Forensics: A Primer On False Bitemark Evidence Cloaked as the Truth. When junk science decides guilt in the South. Case Studies.
Below is an opinion column by Jeremy Hutchinson, Mark Bowling and Mark Kate Mull: States should adopt the federal standard for expert testimony and make reliability a threshold requirement, not a question left for jurors to sort out after unreliable science … Continue reading
Forensics: Another bitemark case! 1989 Eugene murder conviction relied on junk science. Now the man wrongfully convicted has been released after 37 years.
A 1989 Eugene murder conviction relied on junk science. Now the man wrongfully convicted has been released – OPB — Read on http://www.opb.org/article/2026/07/18/a-1989-eugene-murder-conviction-relied-on-junk-science-now-the-man-wrongfully-convicted-has-been-released/
Forensics: Looking for scientific proofs. NJ Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision on Reliability of Fingerprint Evidence
In a landmark decision that could have a far reaching impact on forensic practices and expert testimony admissibility standards, the New Jersey… — Read on http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/nj-supreme-court-issues-landmark-6710351/