Category Archives: criminal justice reform

Forensics: Academic and CJ repression in the Deep South. UM Fires History Professor Who Criticizes ‘Powerful, Racist Donors’ and ‘Carceral State’

Clearly, “Ole Miss” managers consider outing the political history of the Crim Justice system by its own faculty is anathema. Their excuses are shallow and dissembling and have a racist “ivory Tower” smell. Its a miracle that the Ole Miss … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, Civil rights, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, wrongful convictions | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics non-science: The danger of relying on a single piece of evidence – great overview on expert exaggeration in police crime labs.

From Africa. An excellent look. The author mentions bitemarks and a list of other misleading forensic opinions. Courts have problems with weak standards and poor understanding of robust scientific methods. Mentions the 2009 NAS Report which some crime labbers and … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA profiling, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct, Medical errors, wrongful convictions | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics: Interviewing a Senior Advisor on Forensic Science Policy ( Sarah Chu ) – Major Investigators

This podcast is hosted by a very bright 9yo! She puts Sarah C through her paces. SC has a very important job at the NYIP. Listen to this episode from Major Investigators on Spotify. In this episode, we have a … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, expert testimony, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct, junk forensic science, US Crime labs | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics: Trump’s Lawyers Will Get Away with Facilitating His Anti-Democratic Antics and They Know It

This is failure of legal discipline actions has been well researched in 2009 by the NorCal Innocence Project. Most ethics and moral turpitude complaints end up as “harmless error.” https://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/harmless_error_new_study_claims_prosecutorial_misconduct_rampant This law prof says much the same. Public shaming won’t … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics: Confusing statements. ‘You can trust this laboratory’: DC crime lab director responds to scrutiny of firearms unit

The director of the D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences shares her thoughts on how her department handles ballistics evidence after the discovery of a botched firearms analysis. — Read on wtop.com/dc/2020/12/you-can-trust-this-laboratory-dc-crime-lab-director-responds-to-scrutiny-of-firearms-unit/

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science Bias | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics: The Confrontation Clause: Can the Sixth Amendment Protect Defendants from Junk Science?

A defendant appeals claiming his right to cross-examine a prosecution’s DNA expert was denied at trial. Amazing how simple this sounds in theory. DAs, however, often get around defendants’ Constitutional protections. Then the judge won’t pay for a defense expert … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, Civil rights, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science reform, human rights violations, US Crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensics: Judge Tranquilli resigns ahead of misconduct trial | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Here is poor choice of behavior for someone named Tranquill. 😜 Judge Tranquilli resigns ahead of misconduct trial | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Read on http://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2020/11/17/pittsburgh-judge-mark-tranquilli-misconduct-trial-racist-statements/stories/202011170131

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics: OMG. Ballistics ID refused. A D.C. judge’s much-needed opinion on ‘junk science’ – The Washington Post

Ballistic IDs got seriously limited in this one. Judge says “no expert opinion without science to back it up.” You know, stuff abt accuracy and error rates. DAs and USDOJers say all is still good with police forensics. Not. Much … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, Bitemarks, criminal justice reform, CSI, expert testimony, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science Bias, junk forensic science, police crime labs, US Crime labs | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics: DC judge orders forensic lab to turn over firearms documents sought by prosecutors

An audit of the police gun lab shows multiple gun-matching “discrepancies.” A judge has ordered D.C.’s forensic sciences lab to turn over several documents related to a botched firearms analysis at the center of an ongoing murder case. — Read … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, Crime, criminal justice reform, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science, police crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensics: The truth of about plea deals. Most criminal justice in Colorado comes through plea deals, but DAs don’t track whether the process is racially biased

“Most?” Only 1% go to trial. This means that 99% of any forensic opinions favoring the prosecutors never get an independent review presented before the court. Most criminal justice in Colorado comes through plea deals, but DAs don’t track whether … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science | Tagged , , | Leave a comment