Category Archives: police crime labs
Forensics: DNA contamination personified in this case from Australia.
In the US, prosecutors in San Diego investigated the lab worker whose DNA was mixed up in the crime scene samples. He later committed suicide. This case in AU has similar DNA problems. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-28/more-dna-contamination-claims-emerge-at-claremont-trial/12011756
Forensics: Despite failed field tests, UK police praise facial IDs from street cams.
Here’s a quick look at police “cart before the horse” attitudes on forensics. https://telecoms.com/502056/london-police-push-forward-with-controversial-facial-recognition-tech/
Posted in AAFS, Civil rights, CSI, junk forensic science, police crime labs
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Forensics: After $220M spent the DC crime lab has ongoing ills
The DC lab was founded in 2012 as independent from cops. That lasted abt a year when the cops took it back. See how that has turned out. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/fbi-federal-prosecutors-investigate-districts-forensic-firearms-lab/2020/01/23/c6518f36-3312-11ea-a053-dc6d944ba776_story.html
#Forensics: Faked cop ballistics may lead to review of 4K convictions.
Faked credentials and forgery in another State crime lab. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/-safety/firearms-expert-forged-signatures-on-lab-reports-maryland-state-police-say/2019/12/28/67b49116-1c34-11ea-87f7-f2e91143c60d_story.html
#Forensics Getting Better. Ultrasensitive protein method ( might) let scientists ID someone from a single strand of hair | Science | AAAS
Heavily shedding criminals, beware — Read on http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/11/scientists-can-now-identify-someone-single-strand-hair
Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, Forensic Science, police crime labs
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#Forensics: 16 minutes on DNA profiling, the good and the bad. From Dan Krane in Ohio
The opponents (i.e. prosecutors) to Dan’s methodology say that standards for minimum sample size and commercial profiling companies testing for inconsistencies and unreliabilities are not necessary. Of course they do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpPkmDeS3Dg
#Forensics #DNA U.S. Takes Step to Require Asylum-Seekers’ DNA
Similar to building walls in Colorado? The Trump administration ignores US untested rape specimens and will collect DNA samples from asylum-seekers and add the information to a massive FBI database. Trump and the GOP continue to protray undoc immigrants as … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, criminal justice reform, DNA profiling, forensic science misconduct, human rights violations, junk forensic science, police crime labs, US Crime labs, US homicide statistics analysis
Tagged Bad forensic science, Forensic science, Miscarriage of justice, prosecutorial misconduct
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Forensics Australia gets low marks from a senior judge
Unreliability of forensic experts gets serious attention from a high level jurist. Some of this started in California’s bitemark case of Bill Richards. @CA_Innocence. https://www.smh.com.au/national/top-judge-worried-forensic-evidence-putting-innocent-people-behind-bars-20190823-p52k3l.html
Forensics disaster in the UK. Looking at £s wasted and evidence lost
Take a close look at this one. Government “savings” turned into a mayhem of chaos since the 2012 closure of the FSS. Dont talk to police or politicians abt forensics. http://www.labnews.co.uk/article/2029976/forensics-in-crisis
Posted in AAFS, Bitemarks, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, CSI, Forensic crime lab security issues, forensic misconuct, Forensic science misconduct, police crime labs, US Crime labs, wrongful convictions
Tagged Bad forensic science, crime labs, Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science
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Forensics incorrect between 23% to 96% of court cases
A UK study group describes their study as demanding a “holistic overhaul” of these practices taken into criminal courts. It contains a good review of US exoneration efforts to effect forensics. Too bad the police controlled forensic managers seem deaf … Continue reading
