Category Archives: criminal justice

Forensics: Drilling down on Cognitive and Human Factors in Expert Decision Making: Six Fallacies and the Eight Sources of Bias

Too bad this has a purchase firewall. Abstract inly. — Read on pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00704

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, expert testimony, facial recognition, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias | Leave a comment

The interpretation of forensic conclusions by criminal justice professionals: The same evidence interpreted differently – ScienceDirect

Bingo. A bit of a read, but at the end it is clear that experienced exMiners believe their own bs to much. The interpretation of forensic conclusions by criminal justice professionals: The same evidence interpreted differently – ScienceDirect — Read … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, criminal justice, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science, US Crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensics: Messed up DNA specimen evidence is discovered by defense DNA experts.

This story tells how unequal forensic resources leaves defendants without court approval for independent testing. The judge refused to grant funding. The defense garnered $$ from donations. Then there is the mixup of swabs that they discovered. Also, the prosecution … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, CSI, DNA profiling, expert testimony, Forensic Science Bias, Forensic science misconduct | Leave a comment

Forensics: False accusers. A public defender in Manhattan says The Central Park video is all too familiar.

An ugly incident between a birdwatcher and dog walker shows there needs to be accountability for playing the privilege card. — Read on http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/im-a-public-defender-in-manhattan-the-central-park-video-is-all-too-familiar/2020/05/26/73c3de60-9f99-11ea-81bb-c2f70f01034b_story.html

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, CSI, human rights violations, prosecutorial misconduct, Wrongful Conviction | Leave a comment

Forensics: Asylum-seeking women face myriad types of abuse.

The dangers are real. The politicians could care less. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1752928X20300664

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, Forensic Science Bias, human rights violations, prosecutorial misconduct | Leave a comment

Forensics: Notorious bitemark expert in Netflix documentary has a few words about his “science.”

The ex DA Forrest Allgood claims his “feelings” made him ignore the similarities of the multiple child murders in his jurisdiction. The “feeling” include his using a statement from a 7 year year old. He calls it “circumstantial evidence” of … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks, criminal justice, DNA profiling, Dr. Michael West, forensic evidence exaggeration, forensic fraud, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

Forensics: Florida’s House passes forensic analysis reform for convicted felons

This bill forces the state to access the police national DNA database when post conviction forensic testing reveals an unknown profile. HB 7077 would make forensic tests more accessible to convicted felons. — Read on floridapolitics.com/archives/322663-house-passes-forensic-analysis-reform-for-convicted-felons

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA profiling, exoneration, Wrongful Conviction | Leave a comment

Forensics: After Slow Start, State to Probe 81 Convictions Involving Debunked Hair Analysis – Oklahoma Watch

49 states to go. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is working with district attorneys and others to examine 81 cases for possible wrongful conviction due to use of microscopic hair analysis, a debunked science. — Read on oklahomawatch.org/2020/03/10/after-slow-start-state-to-probe-81-convictions-involving-debunked-hair-analysis/

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, junk forensic science | Leave a comment

Forensics: Junk shoeprint matching and DNA catches up with another famed forensic expert.

This is a continuing story involving Henry Lee and the crime lab where he has been a decades-long teacher and examiner. Added intrigue has to do with a FBI footprint guru teaching how to “definitely” identify a defendant from a … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, criminal justice, expert testimony, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science, forensic toxicology, junk forensic science | Leave a comment

Forensics: Bogus pattern matching in Australia leads back to the US FBI

Using science to correct false convictions goes on around the world. In Aussieland, this man spent 25 years in prison due to a “1/1,000 match” from a single hair. https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/02/why-is-courtroom-science-so-unscientific/

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, criminal justice, CSI, exoneration, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment