Category Archives: Uncategorized
Forensics: Jack the Ripper and “clothing matching” = Looking at professional advancement despite “ubiquitous” reliability
In the shadow of the recent Jack the Ripper mtDNA fiasco, here is another. Apparently all our Levis’ pants seams and buttons are unique or something close to it according to one guy at the FBI. He gets a pass … Continue reading
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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“Making Forensics Unsafe” – Again its the FBI pattern matchers.
(Image credit: ProPublica) This has a familiar ring to it. More or less it is the “I can see it, even if you can’t” brand of accepted “scientific” testimony. This is the path of other forensic innovators who single-handedly advance … Continue reading
Forensics: Journals in forensics need a dose of this….
Integrity analyis for publishers and authors. My biggest concerns: 1) doctored data and images. 2) over-reaching conclusions. 3) Influence of funding sources (i.e. commmercial and USDOJ). 4) Cronyism and bias camouflaged as “support for high ethical standards” to mask critics’ … Continue reading
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Forensics and Law: Lack of scientific concerns shows its ugly head in the US Supreme Court
Take a look at this short op-ed about how the highest US court handles junk police forensics. This time the subject is dog sniffing dogs as probable cause for the police to ransack your house. Lawyers need more Science 101 … Continue reading
Forensics: Police Discover Oregon Cold Case Killer Was Executed By Texas In 1999.
A striking example of how serial murderers cross the country killing their victims. It also clarifies how nationwide genealogy DNA databases connect police departments separated geographically and the inadequacies of the US federal CODIS system. https://www.forensicmag.com/news/2019/02/police-discover-oregon-cold-case-killer-was-executed-texas-1999?et_cid=6595071&et_rid=498417758&type=cta&et_cid=6595071&et_rid=498417758&linkid=https%3a%2f%2fwww.forensicmag.com%2fnews%2f2019%2f02%2fpolice-discover-oregon-cold-case-killer-was-executed-texas-1999%3fet_cid%3d6595071%26et_rid%3d%%subscriberid%%%26type%3dcta
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Tagged criminal justice, forensic genetic research, Forensic science
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How corruption in forensic science is harming the criminal justice system
Forensic science is only as good as the equipment and the people who calibrate it, some high-profile cases indicate. Thousands of innocent people have been harmed. Here’s how. — Read on theconversation.com/how-corruption-in-forensic-science-is-harming-the-criminal-justice-system-108975 Forensic misconduct is a real event. The police … Continue reading
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Forensics: Another court bypasses recanted expert testimony and agrees with a DA being “confused” about what junk forensics means.
Lets say again, that almost any excuse can be used by some courts to deny that junk forensic testimony should be a threshold for a successful request for a new trial. https://www.propublica.org/article/judge-in-joe-bryan-case-rejects-defense-pleas-for-new-trial
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Tagged forensic examiner error, Forensic science, junk forensic science
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Forensics: A good look at an expert’s advocacy. Admitted by some courts, but not all.
This story is about a MD who has a strange habit of giving opinion evidence in child abuse cases cloaked as sound science. Works for him. One court called him out on it. https://www.propublica.org/article/david-ayoub-an-anti-vaxxer-new-crusade
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Tagged expert opinion, forensic examiner error, Forensic science
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Forensics: A response to Trump’s DOJ unabated lies about science and criminal justice
This is written by Betty Lane DesPortes of past AAFS president fame. It is short and to the point. The USDOJ brought out DAG Rosenstein unleashed a load of clap-trap straight from the Inquisition’s Star Chamber. Thanks to Sci Direct … Continue reading
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