Category Archives: US Crime labs

Forensics: The influence of ‘infallible’ ballistic matching. Letting the jury decide. Maryland high court considers limiting ballistics evidence used to link guns to shootings

Posted on December 5, 2022 by csidds

BALTIMORE — A television in Baltimore Circuit Court showed a magnified picture of spent cartridge casings taken through the lens of a microscope. If a juror didn’t look closely, they — Read on http://www.union-bulletin.com/content/tncms/live/

Posted in AAFS, costs of wrongful convictions, expert testimony, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science reform, US Crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensics: Politicians to blame. Audit details failures of DC’s Department of Forensic Sciences

Posted on December 2, 2022 by csidds

An audit of D.C.’s Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) found that the department failed to “operate as an independent part of the justice system.” — Read on http://www.fox5dc.com/news/audit-details-failures-of-dcs-department-of-forensic-sciences

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, Crime, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic science misconduct, Medical errors, police crime labs, US Crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensic Genealogy Leads to Arrest in 1987 Sex Assault Case

Posted on November 18, 2022 by csidds

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — DNA evidence left behind 35 years ago and the use of forensic genealogy has led to the arrest of an Indiana man on charges that he sexually assaulted two Rhode Island girls in 1987, authorities announced … Continue reading →

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Forensics: The history of DAs supporting junk science. A look back in time.

Posted on November 3, 2022 by csidds

csidds.com/2016/12/09/are-we-in-the-twilight-zone-bitemarks-can-now-prove-innocence/

Posted in AAFS, Bad Forensic Science, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, exoneration, forensic evidence exaggeration, forensic fraud, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform protecting the innocent, junk forensic science, US Crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensics: Blood in soil. Kristin Smart Murder Trial: Forensic DNA consultant resumes testimony, calls prosecution’s witness into question

Posted on September 26, 2022 by csidds

Thursday’s proceedings resumed with testimony from the defense’s second witness: Elizabeth Johnson, a forensic DNA consultant working through a private practice. — Read on mustangnews.net/kristin-smart-murder-trial-forensic-dna-consultant-resumes-testimony-calls-prosecutions-witness-into-question/

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Forensics: Expanding doubt, Massachusetts crime lab scandal may involve even more wrongdoing

Posted on September 23, 2022 by csidds

A decade-old drug testing scandal at the William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute may involve wrongdoing by more chemists than just Annie Dookhan, according to a judge. — Read on http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/massachusetts-crime-lab-drug-testing-scandal-rcna48940

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Forensics: Brand new Crime lab mistakes man’s Tums for cocaine; Audit underway

Posted on September 21, 2022 by csidds

Crime lab mistakes man’s Tums for cocaine; Audit underway – KTVZ — Read on ktvz.com/cnn-regional/2022/09/20/crime-lab-mistakes-mans-tums-for-cocaine-audit-underway/

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Forensics: Diversity Issues: Forensic Scientists are Whiter Than Communities They Serve

Posted on September 9, 2022 by csidds

Unless there is greater diversity in the field, much of the technology being developed  will continue to ignore the impacts on people of color, according to a new report. — Read on thecrimereport.org/2022/09/08/study-forensic-scientists-are-whiter-than-communities-they-serve/

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Forensics: 1700 kits analyzed results in Charges filed in 6 California cold cases after sexual assault kit backlog cleared

Posted on June 30, 2022 by csidds

Orange County authorities have cleared a backlog of untested sexual assault kits going back decades and the results led to the filing of charges in six cold cases, the district attorney’s office announced Tuesday. — Read on http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/charges-filed-6-california-cold-cases-sexual-assault-kit-backlog-clear-rcna35893

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, DNA profiling, US Crime labs | Leave a comment

Forensics: Genetic Genealogy. Woman arrested in deaths of newborns found in 1999, 2003, police say

Posted on May 10, 2022 by csidds

A woman recently identified through DNA as the mother of both babies has been arrested in their deaths. — Read on http://www.13abc.com/2022/05/09/woman-arrested-deaths-newborns-found-1999-2003-police-say/

Posted in AAFS, DNA profiling, human identification, US Crime labs | Leave a comment