Latest News on Forensic Science and Criminal Law
-
Join 223 other subscribers
Category Archives: US Crime labs
Forensics: Thousands of Baltimore crime scene fingerprints are never processed, as police supervisor says lab is always in ‘triage mode’
More police-controlled crime lab problems. Experts say backlogs are not uncommon in big cities, with police departments forced to prioritize due to a lack of funds. But a Baltimore Police Department crime lab supervisor says city police don’t acknowledge the … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, Crime, criminal justice, Forensic Science, US Crime labs
1 Comment
Forensics: Despite USDOJ claim of ballistics “quasi-science,”Auditor to review DC ballistic crime lab’s compliance with 2011 law creating independent forensic agency
The troubled D.C. crime lab is getting another probing: This time by the Office of the D.C. Auditor. — Read on wtop.com/dc/2021/08/auditor-to-review-dc-crime-labs-compliance-with-2011-law-creating-independent-forensic-agency/
Forensics: A bad day: Medical Examiner’s Office chief toxicologist faces criminal probe with potential legal ramifications in years of cases
Gary Kunsman, the chief toxicologist for the Broward Medical Examiner’s Office, is under investigation for the alleged theft of a controlled substance and evidence tampering. — Read on http://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/07/29/chief-toxicologist-at-broward-medical-examiners-office-under-criminal-investigation/
Forensics: Washington State Patrol’s toxicology lab ran tests in office contaminated by meth, possibly jeopardizing thousand of cases
SEATTLE – Behind the locked doors of a third-floor office in South Seattle, countertop instruments filled with dozens of tiny vials feed data to nearby monitors while performing scores of tests each day in pursuit of justice. — Read on … Continue reading
Forensics: DC crime lab might not fully regain accreditation until early 2022
It could be early 2022 before the embattled D.C. crime lab regains its full accreditation to perform forensic testing, the lab’s interim director told a panel of science advisers last week. — Read on wtop.com/dc/2021/07/dc-crime-lab-might-not-fully-regain-accreditation-until-early-2022/
Forensics: Who is running this forensics lab? More departures from troubled DC crime lab | WTOP
More managers appear to have departed from the embattled D.C. crime lab, which saw its accreditation to perform forensic testing withdrawn in the spring. — Read on wtop.com/dc/2021/06/more-departures-from-troubled-dc-crime-lab/
Forensics: Bayesian theory has limitations in forensic disciplines. NIST’s Hyer and Lund
phys.org/news/2017-10-nist-urges-caution-courtroom-evidence.html
Forensics: Opinion | Ignoring deep-seated problems at D.C.’s crime lab will cost lives and taxpayers – The Washington Post
DC Politicos are whitewashing these issues. The Department of Forensic Sciences needs oversight and new leadership committed to scientific integrity. — Read on http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/11/dc-crime-lab-disaster-council-bowser/
Forensics: “Not enough data.” NIST Publishes Review of DNA Mixture Interpretation Methods | NIST
Of course, US courts mostly allow the probabilistic interpretation of DNA mixtures such as STRmix. Typical when commercially developed methods go straight into crime labs then into the justice system which are generally unprepared to eval their foundation versus user … Continue reading
FORENSICS and LAW in FOCUS @ CSIDDS | News and Trends 