Category Archives: criminal justice

Eyewitness IDs : The Main cause of Wrongful Convictions gets a do-over by the National Research Counsel

After decades of legal and more recent research on doubtful eyewitness testimony has led to this Report from the NRC/NAS. The best reads on this type of “evidence” used by prosecutors are: 1) Professor Brandon Garrett’s “Convicting the Innocent.” 2) … Continue reading

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SpaghettiO caper, Battles over Forensics, Public Policy efforts and wrongful convictions

In California, another bill involving a valiant attempt to prevent the strong correlation of prosecutorial misconduct (in over 800 cases, only less than a 2  handfusl have led to Bar sanctions against state prosecutors) and wrongful convictions was vetoed this … Continue reading

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Time runs out for an innocent man trying to get compensation for 23 years in prison, plus Forensic News

1) The court system is quick to convict and interminably slow to correct prosecutorial mistakes and worse: The Watch @WPTheWatch  We need to fix how we compensate the wrongly convicted.  2) A somewhat hilarious yet sadly true exposition on the civil … Continue reading

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Good forensic science. Bad forensic science. Dangerous forensic science. Plus other stuff.

Today’s New York Times exclusive on the failure of bitemark identification resurging in a MS death penalty case. “Startling gap between “CSI” and certain forensic science.” PBS Nova program. KY: Prosecutor’s office focus of criticism from defendant. ADA lied to judge … Continue reading

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Forensics : Prosecutorial misconduct, exonerations and the Politics of Criminal Justice

From the Wrongful Convictions blog: “Prosecutorial arrogance and tunnel vision” plus more CJ and its politics http://wp.me/p2224n-4NX  via @WrongConvBlog   Not another one! But the best version I’ve read about this serial case from the 1880’s. “Forensic Scientist Claims To … Continue reading

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#Disputed : #Ferguson Policeman Darren Wilson received injuries during encounter with #Michael #Brown: Facial Fractures

Forensic aspects of the Mike Brown officer-involved shooting predominate this post. Georgia officials refuse to pay $800K medical expenses of toddler injured by a grenade in fruitless SWAT raid. Effort by US DOJ in Mike Brown shooting actually unprecedented in … Continue reading

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Just what IS ‘malicious prosecutorial misconduct? How about “criminally negligent?” Plus more on #Forensic #Science

Brooklyn 36-win 0-loss DA getting heat for a mega-list of alleged misconduct thats ugly but probably not “malicious” http://nydn.us/1mDXPLk Here’s what “non malicious” prosecutors are all about. They are “negligent.” How about “criminally negligent?  See next. “altho committing misconduct, the … Continue reading

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It’s “Proper” Forensic Sci Week, FBI celebrates Dahmer case, and more

The article is here.  Forensics | Gov. Pence Issues Proclamation Declaring “Proper” Forensic Science week. That is an interesting disclaimer. I guess its not “Improper” forensic science week. Uhm, there must be a story behind who writes for the governor … Continue reading

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Doubtful testing in Miama crime lab, lying jail house snitch in Willingham execution, tricky DAs and a really stupid burglar

Its not CSI Miami. Broward Crime Lab Scandal Could Taint Many Cases – http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2014-08-07/news/broward-crime-lab-scandal-could-taint-many-cases/ … The FBI crime lab managers might learn from this case. FBI having its own forensic probs and goes after Mingo, WVA with a vengeance in “FBI – … Continue reading

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Top 9 examples of what junk forensic science is all about

Video Shows Controversial Forensic Specialist Michael West Fabricating Bite Marks via HuffPostCrime Australian grad student says she can narrow down bullet lead components to specific companies = 97% accuracy. So what? The FBI decommissioned “bullet lead” (actually a misnomer) a … Continue reading

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