Category Archives: Forensic science misconduct

Today’s #Forensic News around the Globe: Crime rate within crime labs increasing

From the archives. Smithsonian talks about the career of a very reclusive founding father of scientific approaches to trace evidence analysis who worked from 1929 to 1954. Some called him “Detective X.” Somehow he determined the ransom notes in the Lindberg kidnapping … Continue reading

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2016 Top Ten Forensic Science Posts

The year’s most read posts from Forensics in Focus. Happy New Year. What is a partial forensic DNA “match”? Obstinate DA pursues new trial in William Richards’ case. PCAST: Forensic science reform gets knee-jerk backlash from law enforcement. Top 9 … Continue reading

Posted in criminal justice reform, CSI, Dr. Michael West, exoneration, Forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Felonious toxicologist ran Maricopa AZ crime lab for years

Deep dark secrets and a little help from his police colleagues got toxicologist Norman Wade rehired after running away from a California conviction (in my home town) and making it big again in Arizona. Seems he fit well into the … Continue reading

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Bickering Bitemark Analysts need to read this: Chemists’ guidelines and expectations on science

The American Chemical Society has taken a very proactive position in reinforcing scientific standards through its involvement in forensic reform and progress. A notable aspect of this group is its university and industrial component membership base that conforms to legitimate … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bitemarks, Forensic Science Bias, Forensic science misconduct | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A federal prosecutor’s technical spy expert gets some egg in a high-level espionage case dismissal

In a rare example of feds turning from a prosecution, with all their tech resources in science, the recently dismissed spy charges against  US Temple University physics professor Xi Xiaoxing is rare. He was accused of sending technical information [ … Continue reading

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Forensics: Anti-cognitive bias training, limitations of science testimony, politicos and rape kits in NYC

Peter Neufeld, co-founder of The Innocence Project, will speak at the University of St. Thomas as part of a symposium on forensic science this month. “When the Gavel Falls…Limitations of Scientific Testimony” Thursday, September 17, 2015 8:00 AM to 4:00 … Continue reading

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SF Police Chief Loses a $2M grant for rape kits. His Crime lab is “maxed out.” Plus Murder around the world.

S.F. Police Chief Greg Suhr during a news conference speaks about an audit of the crime lab’s DNA unit, which has come under fire for faking results, as well as other police misconduct, at the Hall of Justice, Friday, April … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, Civil rights, Community Dentistry, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, death penalty, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling, exoneration, expert testimony, forensic misconuct, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct, Forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform, forensic testimony, Identification DVI, Innocence March, National FOrensic Science Commission, Perjury by Prosecutors, police crime labs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Forensics: Prosecutor and crime lab workers not immune to civil rights suit: 7th Circuit Court of Appeals

Nothing much more to say, than, OMG. Everyone expects this to get moved upstream to the US Supremes. They have said “nay nay” to these lawsuits since the Connick v. Thompson SCOTUS decision. (originally from Louisiana). This plantiff is named Armstrong. … Continue reading

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Forensics: Fire Chief resigns after falsifying evidence, FBI hair debacle casts generalized doubts, TX leads in wrongful convictions and wants a fix

Fire chief resigns after lying about his credentials and arson evidence.  Forensic hair analysis: Evidence of more federal governmental dysfunction  How pizza can be tested for DNA evidence. Protocol used in Wash DC family murder investigation. Washington man imprisoned by … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, DNA mixtures, exoneration, Exoneration costs, expert testimony, Forensic Science Bias, Forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Politicos start talking about flawed forensic sciences

Five US Senators weigh into flawed forensic methods exemplified by the FBI hair comparison fiasco. More. US Senate hearing on backlogged rape kits. $1B spent so far over ten years, the end is still not in sight. More.  Sweat from … Continue reading

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