Category Archives: costs of wrongful convictions

TV Interview with Bill Richards on his 23 year conviction dismissal. #XONR8

See the KTLA TV interview with Bill Richards and his @CA_Innocence team minutes after San Bernardino DAs Mike Ramos and Michael Risley reluctantly dismiss all murder charges.

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Obstinate Prosecutor pursues new trial in Richards case despite forensics of innocence

Prosecutors have been well described in the media as “dogged’ and “relentless” by exerting punishment and retribution for crimes large and small against our citizenry. But there is a factual line drawn where cases of legitimate doubts are brought forward in post-conviction proceedings … Continue reading →

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Illinois crime lab bill created to seal faulty testing from public view

Cases of government-run crime labs  “hiding” forensic errors and gaffs from criminal defendants and the public got a boost in Illinois this week……We can use this to clearly understand who and how prosecutors and LE PACs control the legislators in … Continue reading →

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Forensic look at death penalty statistics: 25% of exonerated were on Death Row

A 2013 infographic study by the California Innocence Project puts the cost in California at a staggering $4 billion since 1978. Statistics contained in this report, when overlayed with the national increase of exonerations ( now at 1793) , in the … Continue reading →

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The Mississippi Sting operation that uncovered Michael West’s bitemark bunk

One of the extraordinary defense presentations at the recent EL Howard hearing in Columbus MS was given by the Honorable Chris Plourd (pictured above), the presiding Judge of Imperial County, CA Superior Court. Judge Plourd rose to the bench in … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, Dr. Michael West, exoneration, Ray Krone bitemark case, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Inside Exoneration litigation in Mississippi – At Times it’s Utter Frustration #ELHoward

  In 2016, Texas determined that dental bitemark experts should not be admitted in court. What’s now happening in Mississippi (MS) is a classic legal and forensic science example of continuing that agenda. 1993. A bitemark ID was achieved in MS … Continue reading →

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TX and CA: How Prosecutors ignore the effects of junk forensic science on their convictions.

CSI forensics seems to be infallible on TV. Not as much in the real world. Try reading”Bitten by Experts” from Jordan Smith at The Intercept. Its all about the junk. In the same vein, this article gives a closeup on where the … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment