Category Archives: criminal justice reform
Forensics: Want a BS excuse for “bad forensics”? Blame it on “bad apples.”
This is truly ridiculous counterpoint to forensic science reform, but the forensic industry and its associated prosecutors take it as gospel. The medical profession used claims of “perfection” in the 18th century when they used to bleed patients to death … Continue reading
Forensics: regulating junk forensic expertise continues in Texas; other states lagging; from ‘Grits for Breakfast’
Top 10 junk forensic sciences challenged in Texas In the wake of the Forensic Science Commission declaring blood-spatter evidence in a 30-year old murder case “not accurate or scientifically supported,” Texas has lately again been getting deserved credit as a national leader on forensic … Continue reading
NIJ Forensics 2018: page 10 deprecates exonerations from criminal convictions aided by unvalidated methods
The US federal look on the forensic issues relating to convictions of innocent defendants is on page 10. Its mostly platitudes and clearly misdirects the reader to consider that stats used by innocence litigators are flawed. The article’s mainstays are, … Continue reading
Science versus police forensics’ “reasonable medical certainty” mythology.
For those unaware, the cop forensics use of “individualization” for pattern-matchers ain’t science. These authors explain why in simple terms for all of us. https://judicialstudies.duke.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/JUDICATURE102.1-THOMPSON-etal-1.pdf
Bias in Cop and Forensic Investigations …….
…….reads like my first 10 years of training from the bitemarkers at the ABFO. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/360/6386/243.full
Forensics: RAND study says pre-arrest forensics usually ignored
This data driven look at governmental says the use of physical evidence before arrest is lacking. Testing happening after arrest is not considered independent and is used merely to confirm prosecutorial conclusions. Some may be shocked at this The authors have … Continue reading
Hazards to Justice: False convictions and plea bargains
This author contrasts the criminal justice “system” with other societal systems in regards to accidents and mishaps. Plane crashes are studied much more than wrongful convictions and plea bargains. Seems odd, but remember lawyers and judges cloak themselves with their … Continue reading
Swinton bitemark exoneration generates praise for Conn Attorney General – Really?
The AG’s office declined to recharge Alfred Swinton after his 1991 conviction fell apart due to DNA “touch” analysis of the victim and a bitemark expert who recanted his trial testimony. The praise for the AG in this first article … Continue reading
Trump’s DOJ promises advancing good things for #Forensic #Science – #PCAST not so much
The governmental missives about improving forensics always gloss over or ignore what the NAS 2009 report and the 2016 PCAST report itemized as areas needing reform. Here we go: “The new guidance implements additional quality assurance measures based on science-informed … Continue reading
Posted in Bite Marks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform protecting the innocent
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, forensic examiner error, Forensic science, junk forensic science, latent fingerprints, Miscarriage of justice, wrongful convictions
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More examples of sub-standard death investigations by law enforcement – evidence ignored and bias from the beginning
This case has parents suing a Coroners Office to reopen their daughter’s death investigation. They argue that the actual crime scene was never processed and the circumstances of the young woman’s death raise significant questions regarding the death being suspicious. … Continue reading
