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Category Archives: Forensic Science
Forensics: Physics makes important inroads to outdated blood spatter expertise.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
Forensics: The battle of open access for scientific research papers. UCLA get slapped by mega publisher Elsevier.
The publisher spans the world for science, medicine and some things forensics. It has one open access (i.e. free) journal about forensics. Good for them. This story covers the larger issue of corporate profiteering (over charging) for information that is … Continue reading
Forensics: Statements why Shaken Baby Syndrome diagnoses are flawed and influenced by the courts.
The scientific fallacies of SBS This article has a checkered past as the authors’ compelling analysis was initially rejected. It is telling that their story parallels the process of how overreaching expertism, once adopted by the courts and despite scant … Continue reading
Posted in criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, Forensic Science
Tagged science, Shaken Baby Syndrome
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Forensics: Have you left your DNA trail at a crime scene recently?
Terrible questions will come to mind when the police call you up for an “interview.” Read this in advance. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/long-handshake-spread-your-dna-objects-you-didnt-touch
Posted in DNA profiling, Forensic Science, Uncategorized
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The fascinating backstory of the periodic table, which is about to turn 150 years old – Los Angeles Times
Scientists around the world will be celebrating the 150th birthday of the periodic table this week. Here’s the backstory of how the table came together. — Read on http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-periodic-table-150-birthday-20190131-story.html Finally. Something I remember from high school.
Faulty Forensics Put Me on Death Row – VICE Video: Documentaries, Films, News Videos
Another look at bitemark “experts” running amok. Most people are introduced to forensic science through TV and film, and because of this we have come to see forensic techniques as foolproof methods for solving crimes. But many forensic science techniques … Continue reading
Forensics: Excuses for using inaccurate dental ageing methods fill this interview with University of Texas adjunct professor Dr. David Senn
The UT system made $16,000 so far this year from ICE cases involving children claiming to be children. The method is quite popular with the man hired to do it. He also considers ” bitemark matching” to be useful for … Continue reading