Category Archives: Forensic Science

Disproportionate number of minorities in DNA databases misdirects cases

Here is a lede from the New York Legal Aid Society about the slowly trending use of racially skewed DNA bases being LEO searched for relatives of suspects. (More news below). The limitations of familial DNA also made headlines in … Continue reading

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When flies besmirch the crime scene, this might avoid DNA mistakes

Interesting look at separating fly DNA from human DNA at a messy crime scene. Hopefully the fly crap can be separated out after the research is completed. There are cases where flyspecks (regurg and poop) are mis-identified as blood spatter and … Continue reading

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Forensics: Making sure your employer get paid regardless…….

An insider look about genetic ‘counselors’ selling imperfect testing services and exaggerating results in order to stay employed. Hmm, the same might be said for police using junk drug testing kits from Kmart.  https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/05/when-baby-due-genetic-counselors-seen-downplaying-false-alarms/bBC0KAFVidJASkkOiMg6DI/story.html

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Big Civil Payout in Digital Fingerprint Mis-handling and Release to Third Party

This is just about a tanning salon franchise. The settlement class action amount is chump change compared to what will happen if/when biological info in commercial use gets lost or stolen or surreptitiously resold. As usual, the lawyer gets alot … Continue reading

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Chummy crime labber gets close scrutiny.

Not exactly PC in today’s hyper sensitive awareness of cognitive bias in police crime lab environments   http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/11/19/do-thank-you-notes-hint-at-impropriety.html

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Good grief – Belgium forensic evidence lab blown up – Cops say “criminals not terrorists”

Arson in Brussels Belgium’s national forensics lab was set on fire early Monday, causing an explosion in the wing of the building where the evidence labs are located. Read full story from the Belgian news media.  Read full story from The … Continue reading

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The bloom is off forensic DNA’s infallibility – Scientific American

Eric Frimpong and Santa Barbara defense attorney Robert Sanger in 2008. With the FBI making a step to reel in its history of wayward forensic conclusions, Scientific American wades into the “restructuring” of DNA opinions in much the same way. … Continue reading

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Taking a look at forensic science fakery – The Country Dentist

Lets get real, the connection between rigorous multiple studies in forensic science and what is done “in the field” can be described as inconsistently applied. Ive been exposed to a single Journal of Forensic Science article from 1984 that was … Continue reading

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Forensics: The role of social media as a watchdog on abuse of power and and imperfect science

I have significant experience listening (especially at the last AAFS meeting) and reading snide comments from mostly volunteering participants (commonly defensive) in the “forensic science reform” debate demeaning the “blog” aspect of journalistic reporting. My vocal response at the AAFS … Continue reading

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Ukrainian chief forensic expert shot in retaliation for MH 17 recovery efforts

Chilling news. A suspect has been arrested. http://www.inquisitr.com/2987484/suspect-arrested-over-attempted-assassination-of-chief-forensic-expert-in-mh17-crash-investigation/

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