Category Archives: criminal justice reform
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
Forensics: Texas becomes the first State to call bitemarks “junk science.”
As usual in these innocence cases, it took decades to overcome the inequities of flawed and exaggerated forensic experts. In this case, Steven Chaney is has been finally declared “actually innocent” and will receive $2.5 million for his decades in … Continue reading
Forensics: When do District Attorneys refuse to test DNA? When the test could be paid by the incarcerated.
This story is from Florida. It could be from any state in the US. DAs always roll towards preserving their convictions. This makes platitudinous statements about “justice” from Attorney Generals and their deputies hollow, pathological mythomania. http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2018/narratives/blood-and-truth/the-lingering-case-of-tommy-zeigler/?platform=hootsuite
Forensics: Harvard murder from 50 years ago. New DNA shows just how wrong initial investigators’ theories can be
This is is commonly what happens once DNA testing is done AFTER a conviction. One of the problems is the cost of post conviction testing that has to be borne by the Innocence Project and other innocence litigators. Donate … Continue reading
Forensics: Another grassroots attempt to establish a Forensic Science Commission in Wisconsin. This paper written by PhD candidates.
http://www.sciencepolicyjournal.org/uploads/5/4/3/4/5434385/bratburd.pdf The LEO crime labs won’t like this intrusion on their domains. A 2005-2008 study suggesting similar went nowhere in the WI legislature.
Forensics: Excuses for using inaccurate dental ageing methods fill this interview with University of Texas adjunct professor Dr. David Senn
The UT system made $16,000 so far this year from ICE cases involving children claiming to be children. The method is quite popular with the man hired to do it. He also considers ” bitemark matching” to be useful for … Continue reading
