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Category Archives: forensic science reform
Familiar? Another bitemark conviction getting a DNA-based look after 16 years
Forensic science is not immune to the need for retesting and consideration of its’ flawed methods -Anon The number of exonerations in the US is probably going to increase with the addition of ‘new DNA technology’ evidence recovered from a … Continue reading
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
Course syllabus for detecting science frauds, jerks and poseurs among us
Sherlock would be proud. Take the time to read down this U of Washington course outline on “bullshit” detection in academia and society in general. The online class is closed but plans for expansion are promised. New article from StatNews. … Continue reading
Brave New World of Prosecutor Misconduct – Bitemarks and Melissa Mourges – #AAFS2017
In a show of force, collegial prosecutors combine efforts to influence judges to accept half-truths and fraud from the forensic ‘world’ of bitemark matching. Nothing says it better than this new article from the Washington Post. (Ms. Mourges is a … Continue reading
PCAST ‘withering under intellectual scrutiny’ = #Alternativefacts #Forensic #Science
I’ve been waiting for this rag to come out with this type of mendacious Alt-Speak about the scientific efforts focused on forensics by the US Congress, National Academy of Sciences, and Obama’s Executive branch. This scrutiny (by established empirical scientists … Continue reading
Another reviewer looks at “Forensic Science Reform: Protecting the Innocent”
This one is from Brandon Garrett, Professor of Law at University of Virginia. He is the author of “Convicting the Innocent: Where Prosecutions Go Wrong. (2011). Reviews “There is a revolution in forensic science in this country and this book … Continue reading
Scientific Data Dumps Expanding because of President Trump?
In a world that does not conform to much common sense, some reports exist from December 2016 and today that DJT’s Executive Branch admin (which started today) poses a threat to existing weather and environmental data. Does this supposition apply … Continue reading
Touch DNA: “In the eye of the beholder” leads to conflicting interpretations
Pretty good over-view on “secondary transference” of epithelial cells being used in criminal cases that some deny happens and others use as a defense strategy. Clearly, it’s all in the “eye” of prosecutors and police. Michelle Mankin’s blog. Plus a … Continue reading
Posted in criminal justice, forensic science reform
Tagged criminal justice, DNA profiling, Forensic science, touch DNA
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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
Natl Institute of Standards and Tech, praising advances in DNA, leaves out bitemark rejection
NIST is the uber-arm of science in the world of the federal government and has a wide view on most things in our physical world. Its holiday post reflects on 2016’s triumphs and removal of some obsolete methods in forensics … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic science reform
Tagged Bad forensic science, Forensic science, NIST
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