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Category Archives: criminal justice reform
Forensics: DC crime lab goes after lab auditor Bruce Budowle then says it never concealed findings
Defending itself against allegations of “fraudulent behavior” that led to the loss of its accreditation, D.C.’s embattled crime lab said it never deliberately concealed any information from its accrediting board. — Read on wtop.com/dc/2021/06/documents-dc-crime-lab-says-it-never-concealed-findings/
Forensics: Opinion | Ignoring deep-seated problems at D.C.’s crime lab will cost lives and taxpayers – The Washington Post
DC Politicos are whitewashing these issues. The Department of Forensic Sciences needs oversight and new leadership committed to scientific integrity. — Read on http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/11/dc-crime-lab-disaster-council-bowser/
Forensics Australia: “Triad” absolutists vs lack of scientific data. Critique of baby shaking prosecutions raises troubling response
Forensic science practices and methodologies should not be allowed to continue without a rigorous independent review. — Read on http://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/critique-of-baby-shaking-prosecutions-raises-troubling-response-20210523-p57ubw.html
Forensics Australia: Review of ‘junk’ forensic science in courts abandoned
More proof that in general, politics, government, and forensic science improvement are incompatible partners. Complaints about confused juries, junk science and possible miscarriages of justice prompted an investigation into forensic science, which has been shelved. — Read on http://www.smh.com.au/national/review-of-junk-forensic-science-in-courts-abandoned-20210520-p57thx.html
Forensics: Director of D.C.’s troubled crime lab resigns after scathing audit report
Good grief. Their ballistics unit got the previous director fired. Back then the lab was praised for being independent from law enforcement. Then law enforcement took it back. The agency botched a ballistics exam in a murder case, then “misrepresented” … Continue reading
Forensics: Really? A Manhattan D.A. Candidate Touts Her Leadership of a Conviction Review Unit. Why Did It Exonerate So Few People? – The Appeal
Under Tali Farhadian Weinstein’s leadership, Brooklyn’s unit exonerated just three people—a far lower rate than in previous years. — Read on theappeal.org/tali-farhadian-weinstein-brooklyn-conviction-review-unit/
Forensics: Beware of forensic experts expressing certainty
Opinion piece about reigning-in exaggerated and one-sided expert testimony. Offers a free online tutorial via Coursera. Its organized by Christophe Champod and the UNIL forensics faculty. “Challenging Forensic Science: How science should speak to court.” I just signed up. Expert … Continue reading
Forensics: Texas Prosecutor Resigns After Misconduct in Clinton Young Death Case
A judge called his actions in the Clinton Young case “shocking prosecutorial misconduct that destroyed any semblance of a fair trial.” — Read on http://www.texasobserver.org/in-a-rare-show-of-accountability-a-texas-attorney-has-surrendered-his-license/
Forensics: AAFS 2012 meeting abstract on the failure of bitemark analysis
This one got me no love from the ABFO bitemarkers.
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