Category Archives: Forensic Science
Forensics: Decertified DNA mixture methods affected 1300 convictions in the US.
An in-house DNA mixture program that has been abandoned by the NYCME’s office gets a jaundiced review by an ex-DA judge. Unfortunately, the legal and political barriers to its effect on past convictions is left up to lawyers to consider. … Continue reading
Forensics: Public familial DNA companies secretly aiding the FBI
Good thread on law enforcement’s expanding use of public corporations who have access to public DNA databases. Customers now worried. But its a business opportunity for one new company. We should add some convers on false positive or otherwise misleading … Continue reading
Forensics: let’s hear it for another biased and messed up Jack the Ripper case
This time its the Journal of Forensic Sciences that gets the gong for publishing a one-sided example of fumbled assumptions and disconnected exaggerations abt mitochondrial DNA. https://www.kxan.com/news/jack-the-ripper-identity-questioned-by-texas-state-research-professor/
Forensics: Decomp measurements linked to Post mortem interval..
Looking for answers in all the “right” places. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X19301421
Forensics: Botched digital measurements led to 11 years in prison. New trial ordered.
DAs expert used a fancy software program to analyze a robbery vid. He botched it. The perp is short. This man is 6’3″. A jailhouse snitch lied during his trial. The DA was mute during all of it. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2019/09/12/texas-man-subject-of-netflix-doc-ordered-released-after-11-years-behind-bars/
Forensics: Hearings | Hearings & Legislation | House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Hearings | Hearings & Legislation | House Committee on Science, Space and Technology — Read on science.house.gov/hearings/raising-the-bar-progress-and-future-needs-in-forensic-science Best minds in the business. Mostly female. Quite nice.
Forensics: Physics makes important inroads to outdated blood spatter expertise.
This is a well referenced look at BPA. The perspective is clearly science-based and unfettered by practitioner assumptions and biases. Rather refreshing, to put it mildly, and it also uncovers how BPA experts don’t agree with each other on basic … Continue reading
Looking at a Revolution? Getting Forensics Out of Law Enforcement
Many reform ideas in this series of Q&A to forensic and legal experts by the WaPo’s Radley Balko. All are logical and very practical. Prosecutors must be gagging. Here is a quote: Chris Fabricant, the Innocence Project Easiest reform: Eliminate … Continue reading
More judge-like delusions about error rates in forensics not being necessary.
This time it is in Australia. It does mentions that bitemarks are now outlawed Down Under? Now how did THAT happen? I havent heard a peep abt it. https://www.smh.com.au/national/csi-not-so-scientific-doubt-cast-on-veracity-of-forensic-evidence-20190816-p52hq9.html
