Category Archives: forensic science reform

A science-based blast at Prosecutors’ belief in alchemy, voodoo and bitemarks

Posted on November 24, 2016 by csidds

Oxford University Press’ Journal of Law and the Biosciences just published an amicus curiae (i.e. friend of the court) anti-bitemark treatise which empirically debunks the recent PCAST deniers such as the National DA Association, the IAI, a ‘congress’ of crime labs, the US Department … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, forensic science reform | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, AMERICAN BOARD OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY, Bad forensic science, bitemark testimony, junk forensic science | 1 Comment

Election non-relief: Judges allowing risky “probably” forensic opinions

Posted on November 8, 2016 by csidds

Bitemarks lead the list: NIST speaker reveals……. Conference: The 5 Problems That Stand Between Scientists and the Courtroom [excerpt:] Epstein showed the results of a recent survey of odonatologists that asked three questions about the reliability of bite marks. The … Continue reading →

Posted in forensic science reform, junk forensic science | Tagged AAFS, ABFO, ADA, Anthropology, ASCLD, ASFO, 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

The underbelly of science vs police science arguments in the News

Posted on October 12, 2016 by csidds

A former D.C. public defender has written an Op-Ed on Counterpunch.org titled, “Corrupted Evidence: How the Department of Justice is Blocking Forensic Evidence Reform” “Junk Science? —Legal Experts Slam Reliability of Much Forensic Evidence in Criminal Trials” (Ground Report) Thanks … Continue reading →

Posted in death penalty, forensic science reform, police crime labs, US Crime labs | Tagged AAFS, ABFO, ADA, Anthropology, ASCLD, ASFO, 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

Judges’ College puts together #PCAST forensics and FRE 702 rules

Posted on September 23, 2016 by csidds

The National JudicialCollege dives deep into explaining how overblown “feature-comparing” experts and actually ANYONE attesting to their “science” can be corralled through using rules within the Federal Rules of Evidence. I think they must have read from all the ABFO … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, forensic science reform | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Bad forensic science, crime labs, forensic examiner error, Forensic science, junk science | Leave a comment

“You have no balls” says a noted bite mark dentist – More about this and the #PCAST report on forensics

Posted on September 8, 2016 by csidds

Bill Richards, who spent nearly 23 years in prison based on dubious bite-mark evidence, was released in June. Photo: Courtesy of Michael Semanchik, California Innocence Project. The inimitable and award winning Jordan Smith at The Intercept once again lays the hammer on the prime example … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, forensic science reform | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Bad forensic science, criminal justice, Miscarriage of justice, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

‘Vindictive Prosecution’ hangs over DA reluctant to not recharge Bill Richards

Posted on June 29, 2016 by csidds

Today’s article from Jordan Smith at The Intercept provides history and new developments to Bill Richards’ 23 year journey from a murder conviction to freedom despite District Attorney Mike Ramos unerringly “stupid” threats of re-investigating Richards for the murder of … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bitemarks, exoneration, forensic science reform | Tagged Bad forensic science, forensic examiner error, junk science, william richards, wrongful convictions | Leave a comment

Advances of science affects some convictions – so far bitemarks aren’t included

Posted on May 18, 2016 by csidds

The resounding inconsistencies in how US courts “handle” forensic expertise is brain-numbing. The Mississippi Supreme Court and the state attorney General Jim Hood’s go to chief appellate guy, Jason Davis (pictured above), are still investing in the now bitemark rejecting … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, Bitemarks, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, forensic science reform | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Bad forensic science, criminal justice, district attorney, Forensic science, junk forensic science, Miscarriage of justice, wrongful convictions | 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

Inside Exoneration litigation in Mississippi – At Times it’s Utter Frustration #ELHoward

Posted on April 25, 2016 by csidds

In 2016, Texas determined that dental bitemark experts should not be admitted in court. What’s now happening in Mississippi (MS) is a classic legal and forensic science example of continuing that agenda. 1993. A bitemark ID was achieved in MS … Continue reading →

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, costs of wrongful convictions, death penalty, forensic science reform, junk forensic science | Tagged Eddie Lee Howard exoneration, forensic examiner error, junk forensic science, Miscarriage of justice, wrongful convictions | 1 Comment