Category Archives: DNA profiling

Controversial use of familial DNA searches helps lead to finds in cold cases

Posted on October 27, 2016 by csidds

A broader look at familial DNA use within criminal investigations. Some good, some bad. What appears in all examples, is that ‘presumptions’ of guilt can be incorrect and send prosecutors off in the wrong direction. What’s also apparent is that … Continue reading →

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Messed up DNA testing fixed after 24 years in prison; Lazy ballistics

Posted on October 15, 2016 by csidds

Wisconsin man exonerated and released from prison after 24 years after Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office found lab analyst made errors in original 1992 DNA analysis report (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) A new study shows that PredPol, a predictive policing software … Continue reading →

Posted in criminal justice, CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling, forensic science misconduct, police crime labs | Tagged AAFS, ABFO, ADA, Anthropology, ASCLD, ASFO, bad ballistics, bias, bite mark, bite marks, bitemark, bitemark analysis, bitemark evidence, bitemark testimony, Bitemarks, board certified dentist, comparison confirmation bias, David Sheets, DNA, Dr. Greg Golden, Dr. L.T. Johnson, Dr. Michael Bowers, Dr. Michael West, Dr. Robert Barsley, Dr. roger Metcalf, Elsevier, exoneration, expert opinion, forensic, Forensic Dental Evidence, forensic dentist, forensic dentistry, forensic odontologist, Forensic Odontology, Forensic science, homicide case, Humberto Leal, Innocence partners, innocence project, Innocent, Investigator's Handbook, JADA, Kennedy Brewer, Kunco, Leal, Leigh Stubbs, Levon Brooks, Mary Bush, Michael bowers, Michael West, Mississippi Innocence, NAS National Academy of Science, National District Attorney Association, National Forensic Science Foundation, observer effects, Odontology, PCAST, Peter Bush, Ray Krone, Ray Miller, reliability research, Saliva, screening film, starks, Stinson, surveillance video, theIAI.org, toolmark, University of Buffalo, UV photography, validity, West, Wisconsin, wrongful conviction, wrongful convictions, wrongfully convicted | Leave a comment

StingRay surveillance gets hit in court; Flawed forensics and legal outcomes

Posted on July 19, 2016 by csidds

NEW YORK LEGAL AID SOCIETY dna NEWSLETTER July 19 2016 Federal judge suppresses evidence collected by warrantless StingRay cell-site simulator device in NY drug case. In his decision, U.S. District Judge William Pauley wrote: “Absent a search warrant, the Government may … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA profiling | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, Forensic science, junk forensic science, Miscarriage of justice | Leave a comment

The bloom is off forensic DNA’s infallibility – Scientific American

Posted on June 7, 2016 by csidds

Eric Frimpong and Santa Barbara defense attorney Robert Sanger in 2008. With the FBI making a step to reel in its history of wayward forensic conclusions, Scientific American wades into the “restructuring” of DNA opinions in much the same way. … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, DNA profiling, Forensic Science | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Bad forensic science, Bitemarks, crime labs, DNA, DNA profiling | Leave a comment

DNA “falsifiability” gets some airtime, CRIME LAB chaos in MA, “vigorous debate’ in SBS

Posted on May 18, 2016 by csidds

The latest in scientific quandaries within forensics from the NY Legal Aid Society Newsletter. Fool’s Gold: Legal Aid Society DNA Unit featured in Atlantic Magazine article about the increasing use of unreliable DNA “science” in the criminal justice system DNA … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Bad forensic science, DNA profiling, falsified evidence, forensic examiner error, Forensic science, junk forensic science | Leave a comment

Crime lab event collects missing girl’s family’s DNA. Body later ID’d.

Posted on December 21, 2015 by csidds

The identification was made based on DNA samples given from family members at the Attorney General’s event to raise awareness for and help loved ones locate missing persons, Never Forgotten: Arkansas Takes Action. http://txktoday.com/news/never-forgotten-event-helps-identify-missing-persons-remains/

Posted in DNA profiling, missing persons | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, DNA profiling, Forensic science, missing persons | Leave a comment

Forensics: DNA retest eliminates convicted man. DA says he’s guilty anyway.

Posted on December 18, 2015 by csidds

This case is certainty bizarre for its facts. A now convicted man is arguing for a new trial. Post conviction DNA re-testing on a gun is the center point. But the guy who got shot was killed by a police officer named Kaufman. … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, DNA profiling | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, DNA profiling, Forensic science | Leave a comment

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

Posted on December 2, 2015 by csidds

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 →

Posted in AAFS, Crime, CSI, DNA profiling | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science | Leave a comment

CSI Gartcosh: Scottish police reveal three forensic breakthroughs

Posted on November 25, 2015 by csidds

POLICE SCOTLAND’S new crime campus at Gartcosh is turning Scotland into a world leader in the area of forensics, and will help solve more sex crimes and kidnaps. And DNA 24 gives forensic teams more than double the number of … Continue reading →

Posted in DNA profiling, Forensic Science | Tagged DNA 24, Forensic science, Police Scotland | Leave a comment

FBI DNA software revamp falls onto each US state to review past convictions

Posted on October 26, 2015 by csidds

This article contains a broad spectrum of conflicting statements about how serious the “DNA software caused recount” will effect past cases. Of course, the law enforcement side estimate seems confident no major retrials will occur. That’s not what is happening … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, DNA profiling, FBI Crime Lab | Leave a comment