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Category Archives: forensic science reform protecting the innocent
Using bitemarker cases to reflect on how courts should protect the innocent from junk forensic science – Some do and some don’t
Another mini-review of bitemark matching fallacies that present in the US courts since 1954 and which contributed to dozens wrongful convictions. That number continues to increase. This article focuses on Alfred Swinton’s recent release from a Connecticut prison. It does … Continue reading
Forensics: Incompetent officer field drug testing puts another innocent in jail for months – Vitamins “tested” as Oxycodone
Another field drug test mistake sends woman to jail — for months So much for “Law and Order” accuracy in field drug testing and law enforcement forensics. The recent USDOJ PR piece on forensic “transparency” and “validity” hasn’t made its … Continue reading
Swinton bitemark exoneration generates praise for Conn Attorney General – Really?
The AG’s office declined to recharge Alfred Swinton after his 1991 conviction fell apart due to DNA “touch” analysis of the victim and a bitemark expert who recanted his trial testimony. The praise for the AG in this first article … Continue reading
Junk drug testing from hair and alcohol continues to do damage from Canadian Motherisk lab scandal
This story underlies the devastation to victims of false and misleading forensic lab testing. Motherisk is a hospital chem lab that contracted to Canadian legal authorities responsible for enforcing child protection laws. This story is from Nova Scotia. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/motherisk-nova-scotia-investigation-1.4553531
The World’s largest Science Org blasts Forensic latent fingerprints for unsupportable opinions
The AAAS is relatively new to reviewing forensics, but it has taken on pattern-matchers with the full force of its multidisciplinary membership. Its candor is a refreshing look into latent print matching experts. The AAAS has no law enforcement affiliations … Continue reading
Another junk forensic bitemark case gets reversed – Swinton exonerated after 17 years – DAs still using bitemarks
This makes 30 cases the infamous practitioners of “forensic” odontology have contributed to false convictions and indictments. Needless to say, the few existing adherents to bitemark voodoo are still alive and well as members of the American Academy of … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform protecting the innocent
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, AMERICAN BOARD OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY, Bad forensic science, criminal justice, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions
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Trump’s DOJ promises advancing good things for #Forensic #Science – #PCAST not so much
The governmental missives about improving forensics always gloss over or ignore what the NAS 2009 report and the 2016 PCAST report itemized as areas needing reform. Here we go: “The new guidance implements additional quality assurance measures based on science-informed … Continue reading
Posted in Bite Marks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform protecting the innocent
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, forensic examiner error, Forensic science, junk forensic science, latent fingerprints, Miscarriage of justice, wrongful convictions
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Battle for freedom in another bitemark conviction heats up – DNA evidence from crime scene including murder weapon #AAFS
The John Kunco case in Pennsylvania goes back in my case archives for over 12 years. Early in Mr. Kunco’s post conviction appeals, the opinions of two famous bitemark experts ( at least as far as they are concerned ) … Continue reading
Anti-Junk forensics legislation continues to use bitemark “identifications” in the battle against false convictions.
Keith Harvard. Conviction in 1982. Released in 2016. So far, two states in the US have generated new laws which allow inmates to contest dubious, outmoded or outright false claims of forensic ‘experts’ used to aid their convictions. Texas and … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, criminal justice reform, forensic science reform protecting the innocent
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, AMERICAN BOARD OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY, Bad forensic science, forensic science reform protecting the innocent, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions
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“Accelerating forensic science” versus judicial inertia due to “stare decisis”
See the framework for “new” forensic paradigms entering the judicial environment in every convoluted detail. Here is an issue-laded Jurimetrics open access paper (18 pages) dealing with the interface of judges’ ‘science’ decision making and changes within forensic science. Simon Cole … Continue reading
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