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Category Archives: DNA mixtures
Forensics: Trade secrets vs Crim Law. A Virginia defendant could be the first to see secret DNA software.
Prosecutors have used software to help convict thousands but have never revealed its source code. A Virginia defendant has won the right to examine it for errors. — Read on http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/trueallele-software-dna-courts/2021/07/12/66d27c44-6c9d-11eb-9f80-3d7646ce1bc0_story.html
Forensics: A pathologist’s career of helping victims. “You Save as Long as You Have To”
Distressed by authorities’ poor treatment of rape victims and destruction of evidence, one doctor became a DNA archivist long before we had the technology to test it. For potentially hundreds of survivors, his faith in science is paying off. — … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, DNA mixtures, forensic pathology
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Forensics: How Your DNA—or Someone Else’s—Can Send You to Jail
Although DNA is individual to you—a “fingerprint” of your genetic code—DNA samples don’t always tell a complete story. The DNA samples used in criminal prosecutions are generally of low quality, making them particularly complicated to analyze. They are not very … Continue reading
Forensics: A lookback on the DC crime lab’s political turmoil. Firings and nepotism reigned supreme.
The history of an acclaimed “independent” crime lab getting the shaft in Washington DC. Now the lab is in hot water for “deliberately concealed” botched lab tests. csidds.com/2016/05/25/wash-dc-crime-lab-continues-to-coverup-its-problems-of-law-enforcement-bungles/ Now the lab is suspended from operation. https://dcist.com/story/21/04/07/dc-crime-lab-loses-accreditation-over-allegations-of-conealing-information/
Forensics: Powerful DNA software used in hundreds of criminal cases faces new scrutiny
Error rates anyone? Powerful DNA software used in hundreds of criminal cases faces new scrutiny — Read on thenextweb.com/tech/2021/03/12/dna-software-for-criminal-cases-new-scrutiny-syndication/
Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling, US Crime labs
Tagged forensic DNA, probablistic DNA
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Federal Court Agrees: Prosecutors Can’t Keep Forensic DNA Evidence Secret from Defendants
An ongoing criminal court defense argument about DA refusal to disclose the prosecution-popular TrueAllele DNA software “code” is gaining judicial traction. When the government tries to convict you of a crime, you have a right to challenge its evidence. This … Continue reading
Forensics: World’s largest DNA sequencing of Viking skeletons reveals they weren’t all Scandinavian
Looks like Eric the Red may have been from New Jersey. — Read on phys.org/news/2020-09-world-largest-dna-sequencing-viking.amp
Posted in DNA mixtures, DNA profiling, human identification
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Forensics: How not to exaggerate DNA Likelihood ratios for lawyers.
It all starts with lawyers and judges learning some science. Good luck with that. Someone says “knowledge is not understanding.” This piece desxribes the didference. By Raymond ValerioChief of the Forensic Science Unit, Bronx County (New York) District Attorney’s Office … Continue reading
Forensics: read every word. DNA mixtures – Do you understand them? | Forensic Context
A simple introduction to DNA mixtures in forensic science, what are they, why they occur and the issues with assessing their evidential value. — Read on http://www.forensiccontext.com/dna-mixtures-do-you-understand-them/
Forensics: Convicted by software? Not so fast, says California lawmaker
The statements from the go to cop DNA mixture guru at TrueAllele continues to be self serving and problematic. Ive heard similar claims of accuracy from palm readers on TV. Doesnt seem to bother him much. Democratic Rep. Mark Takano … Continue reading
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