Category Archives: CSI

Forensics: The White House Office of Sci Tech investigates Bitemark Believers on Jan 15

    The Obama Administration offers a potpourri of forensic practitioners at a public hearing scheduled for  Jan 15th. Among them is one of the pro bitemark witnesses who pled for mercy before the Texas For Sci Commission a month ago. Here is … Continue reading

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Forensic Research: Necrobiomes from Body Farm experiment

A mini study makes researchers optimistic about body fluids and such. http://www.regaltribune.com/necrobiomes-and-their-effects-on-forensic-science/24464/

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Major US Forensic Lab Scandals by State : The DOJ takes a stab at solution

Rumblings about mess-ups in US government-run  forensic labs has finally reached the US DOJ. The reliability aspects of who does the “accreditation” is another matter. Thanks to NACDL and @celiagivens at the DNA Newsletter. DOJ to Mandate Lab Accreditation The … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Forensics: Can DNA predict a face? Courtroom application years away. Police buy it anyway.

Descriptive but not an over enthusiastic prediction of a novel attempt to revolutionize the future of “fighting crime.”  The writer properly spells out the commercially developed DNA method as “skimpy” on validity. “In truth, the science for conjuring a person’s … Continue reading

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Why the NC Carolina CSI lab got slammed in the media. The Public is scared about wrongful convictions.

The above photo is from a recent exoneration case from North Carolina. The joy on Dwayne Dail’s  face is palpable. You probably won’t often see this discussion on TV , but people are really upset about wrongful convictions occurring on a … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice reform, CSI | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Australia gets rid of unreliable forensic expert’s convictions – So should Mississippi and other states

A long time Australian pathologist who retired in 1995, having recently been given an “unreliable” designation by the Aussie courts, is the subject of extensive re-litigation of many of his past trials. Coincidentally, the Mississippi Supreme Court has ordered another … Continue reading

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Forensic Science Reform Saves Lives

Changing forensic science practices and protocols to a basis of scientific proofs takes years. This one indelible fact reveals how slowly law enforcement, the courts, and “general  acceptance” of established forensic groups adapt to legitimate change. Read about how John … Continue reading

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Professor Christophe Champod interacts with famed Scottish forensics center

Lord Advocate: Scotland’s crime campus makes us world leaders in forensic fight against crime A refreshing look at political support for forensic science research and crime investigation using a multi-disciplinary scientific approach. Professor Christophe Champod, from Lausanne, Switzerland, is mentioned … Continue reading

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President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Seeks Forensic Info

PCAST Forensic Science Questions PCAST consists of 20 of the nation’s leading scientists and engineers, appointed by the President to provide direct advice to him and the White House on important matters of science and technology. PCAST has recently begun … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, Forensic Science | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Privately held DNA software “TrueAllele” taking hits from Criminal Defense lawyers

Considering the furor over DNA mixture analysis now raging in the media/courts, arguments about keeping secret prosecutors’ laboratory methods appear to be doomed at some point in this process of advancing legal discovery for criminal defendants. Unless a court wants … Continue reading

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