Category Archives: criminal justice reform
A New Solution to Countering Bad Science in Forensics | Lab Manager
Aussie study follows up on the unacceptable “ad hoc” nature of 30 different crime lab methods. They also demand for forensic science to become more open. Even DNA has befuddled courts into accepting “proprietary secrets” regarding crime lab software. — … Continue reading
Blood spatter analysis (i.e. BPA) theories contradict physics and scientific research. Study reveals serious lack of university-level involvement in this police-adopted method.
Is anyone suprised? The spatterists still are throwing pig blood against walls and clothing. This study debunks their “velocity” of impact/force blood spatter paradigms. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/forensics-bloodstain-pattern-analysis/ Kudos to The Innocence Project’s Sarah Chu for her comments in this NOVA article. Read … Continue reading
FoxNews: Unreliable bitemarks still on the books in all 50 states.
https://fox6now.com/2019/07/17/its-essentially-junk-bite-mark-case-underscores-national-call-to-improve-forensic-evidence/ Excellent 8min video expose’ on the recent Stinson $7.5M award for wrongful conviction in Milwaukee. As usual, the city taxpayers take the financial hit. Kudos to all those who helped this case along. Heather Donnell and her staff are … Continue reading
Forensics: Statements why Shaken Baby Syndrome diagnoses are flawed and influenced by the courts.
The scientific fallacies of SBS This article has a checkered past as the authors’ compelling analysis was initially rejected. It is telling that their story parallels the process of how overreaching expertism, once adopted by the courts and despite scant … Continue reading
Posted in criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, Forensic Science
Tagged science, Shaken Baby Syndrome
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Forensics: Opinion piece publishing warnings abt weak forensic document examiners wins defamation appeal in 7th Circuit
This look at forensic entitlement leading to frivolous litigation shows the gap between forensics and legitimate scientific advance. — Read on http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/aba-publication-wins-defamation-appeal-in-7th-circuit
Forensics: The tip of the iceberg of Trump’s shutdown. Declined attendance at Forensic Conferences like the AAFS
(photo credits: Forensic Magazine). The American Academy of Forensic Science annual meeting is next month in Baltimore. The AAFS has a large percentage of crime labbers, students, and related government forensics-types who use the week-long meetings for education, networking, and … Continue reading
Clear evidence why the innocent stay in jail: The jumble of legalisms from judges
“At the heart of the matter is the role of reviewing courts. We all are taught in high school about how the system of appellate review in this country is supposed to weed out mistakes at trial. But over time, … Continue reading
Exonerated man testifies for forensic science bill
A bill to help people wrongfully convicted by flawed forensic science is under consideration in Virginia, helped by a man who spent more than three decades in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. — Read on http://www.cbs19news.com/content/news/Exonerated-man-testifies-for-forensic-science-bill-504840491.html Bitemarks leads … Continue reading
Probative Value of Forensic Science Conclusions Should be Based on Empirical Data, Not Subjective Impressions
The misapplication of forensic science is a contributing factor in 45% of the 362 wrongful convictions overturned by DNA evidence. — Read on http://www.innocenceproject.org/probative-value-forensic-science-conclusions/ Tell this to all your dentists who do bitemark comparisons. They refuse to admit any of … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bitemarks, criminal justice reform
Tagged CSI, Forensic science, wrongful convictions
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Forensics: The timeline of battling junk forensics in the Texas courts – lessons learned – all from bitemarks
“Grits” runs us the story on the enormous effort undertaken in Texas to teach judges and prosecutors that bitemarks are the spawn of the alchemists and soothsayers among us. Grits for Breakfast legal blog The timeline of getting TX courts … Continue reading
