Category Archives: Crime

Forensics: In depth look at bogus pattern-matching police labs. Stinson bitemark exoneration compared to toolmark conviction under appeal in Colorado’s Genrich case.

Posted on September 5, 2019 by csidds

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-crisis-of-american-forensics/

Posted in Bite Marks, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, exoneration, Forensic Science, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

Forensics incorrect between 23% to 96% of court cases

Posted on August 31, 2019 by csidds

A UK study group describes their study as demanding a “holistic overhaul” of these practices taken into criminal courts. It contains a good review of US exoneration efforts to effect forensics. Too bad the police controlled forensic managers seem deaf … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Bitemarks, Crime, criminal justice, CSI, expert testimony, Forensic Science Bias, Forensic science misconduct, junk forensic science, police crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensic bias dangers from police interactions

Posted on August 10, 2019 by csidds

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 →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, CSI, Dr. Michael West, Forensic crime lab security issues, Forensic Science Bias | Leave a comment

Crime lab mess redux: Now it’s Alaska’s $90M boondoggle

Posted on January 19, 2017 by csidds

These stories just keep coming ……. It seems the public’s confidence in the “theory(ies) of crime detection” appears to be eroding from top ( governmental PCAST deniers) to the bottom. Take your pick on the bottom. Wanna try “Making a … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Crime, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice | Tagged costs of wrongful convictions, crime lab mismanagement, crime lab scandals, CSI, Forensic science, untested rape kits | Leave a comment

Fentanyl-like drugs are pouring in primarily from China, U.S. officials say

Posted on December 21, 2016 by csidds

This is a real war on drugs being fought at the DEA and forensic crime labs. Fentanyl is 50 stronger than heroin. San Francisco Chronicle.

Posted in Crime, CSI, forensic toxicology | Tagged DEA forensics, fentanyl, US opioid deaths | Leave a comment

Sketchy police use of body cameras; LEO use of predictive crime software biased and useless

Posted on October 14, 2016 by csidds

NYPD has yet to outfit any of their officers with body cameras despite a 2013 federal court ruling that ordered the implementation of a body camera pilot program in at least 5 NYPD precincts: “Envisioned as a tool to bolster … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI | Tagged AAFS, ABFO, ADA, Anthropology, ASCLD, ASFO, bias, bite mark, bite marks, bitemark, bitemark analysis, bitemark evidence, bitemark testimony, Bitemarks, board certified dentist, comparison confirmation bias, David Sheets, DNA, Dr. Greg Golden, Dr. L.T. Johnson, Dr. Michael Bowers, Dr. Michael West, Dr. Robert Barsley, Dr. roger Metcalf, Elsevier, exoneration, expert opinion, forensic, Forensic Dental Evidence, forensic dentist, forensic dentistry, forensic odontologist, Forensic Odontology, Forensic science, homicide case, Humberto Leal, Innocence partners, innocence project, Innocent, Investigator's Handbook, JADA, Kennedy Brewer, Kunco, Leal, Leigh Stubbs, Levon Brooks, Mary Bush, Michael bowers, Michael West, Mississippi Innocence, NAS National Academy of Science, National District Attorney Association, National Forensic Science Foundation, observer effects, Odontology, PCAST, Peter Bush, police body cameras, predictive crime software, Ray Krone, Ray Miller, reliability research, Saliva, screening film, starks, Stinson, surveillance video, theIAI.org, toolmark, University of Buffalo, UV photography, validity, West, Wisconsin, wrongful conviction, wrongful convictions, wrongfully convicted | Leave a comment

Here we go again. New appeal case. Waukegan. Dead baby. “Missed evidence.” Kathleen Zellner

Posted on August 19, 2016 by csidds

Another example how weak physical evidence relating to COD, the baby’s prior medical history, the DA and Def atty’s fumblings, a courthouse with cops’ history of witness coercion with wrongful convictions, and a “new statement” from the DA’s pathologist, brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, CSI, expert testimony, forensic pathology | Tagged Forensic science, Miscarriage of justice, wrongful convictions | 1 Comment

Forensic Anthro in Central Park

Posted on December 23, 2015 by csidds

Professor Angelique Corthals of the Department of Sciences set up a crime scene in the composting area of the park near the 102nd street entrance after receiving a permit from the Central Park Conservancy to perform the exercise. “The permit process took … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Crime, missing persons | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, forensic anthropology, Forensic science | Leave a comment

Forensics: Can DNA predict a face? Courtroom application years away. Police buy it anyway.

Posted on December 2, 2015 by csidds

Descriptive but not an over enthusiastic prediction of a novel attempt to revolutionize the future of “fighting crime.” The writer properly spells out the commercially developed DNA method as “skimpy” on validity. “In truth, the science for conjuring a person’s … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Crime, CSI, DNA profiling | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science | Leave a comment

Editorial: Taking another bite out of junk science in the Texas criminal justice system

Posted on September 17, 2015 by csidds

“In numerous instances, experts diverge widely in their evaluations of the same bite mark evidence, which has led to questioning of the value and scientific objectivity of such evidence.” The Dallas Daily News

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Crime, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice reform | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, AMERICAN BOARD OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY, Bad forensic science, bite mark, bitemark evidence, junk forensic science | Leave a comment