Forensics: Police confiscation theft. Its called “civil forfeiture.” Alabama police talk about safety but patrol for cash

Posted on December 22, 2020 by csidds

Cops getting $ without cause. It began at the outset of the “war on drugs” in the 1980s. Has been found to be ineffective in preventing drug trafficking. It still remains in certain states and has become entwined with police taking seized properties before any legal proceedings.

Alabama police and prosecutors stick to the talking points when defending civil forfeiture, a law enforcement maneuver that allows the government to seize and keep property without worrying about the rights of citizens.
— Read on www.montgomeryindependent.com/content/tncms/live/

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Forensics: Really? Early humans may have survived the harsh winters by hibernating | Science

Posted on December 21, 2020 by csidds

Anthros and bio-arch folks in my timeline think “not yet,” “premature” and “unconfirmed.”

Seasonal damage in bone fossils in Spain suggest Neanderthals and their predecessors followed the same strategy as cave bears
— Read on www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/20/early-humans-may-have-survived-the-harsh-winters-by-hibernating

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Forensics: Scientific repression: Slimming to the Death: Herbalife®-Associated Fatality paper retracted.

Posted on December 21, 2020 by csidds

This PSA contains a link to the single case report originally published by ELSEVIER. Then retracted by the journal’s editor after some legal pushback by HL. The bitemarkers have used similar threats.

PubPeer report: “REMOVED: Slimming to the Death: Herbalife®-Associated Fatal Acute Liver Failure—Heavy Metals, Toxic Compounds, Bacterial Contaminants and Psychotropic Agents in Products Sold in India (2019)”
— Read on pubpeer.com/publications/FC6AE826335FAD79D7CF89B4522229

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Forensics: Trump criminality. ‘We want them infected’: Top HHS adviser schemed to spread COVID-19 across America

Posted on December 17, 2020 by csidds

Read the entire article. Explanations on herd immunity imbeciles in the US.

At times throughout the spring, summer, and fall, Republicans pushed the idea that the only way to fight COVID-19 was to surrender. That is, to just let it infect Americans until the nation achieved “herd immunity.” The problems with this approach…
— Read on m.dailykos.com/stories/2020/12/16/2002382/–We-want-them-infected-Top-HHS-adviser-schemed-to-spread-COVID-19-across-America

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Forensics: Forensic science inaccuracy: Firearm and fingerprint comparisons are less reliable than they seem.

Posted on December 17, 2020 by csidds

A story told from a juror’s perspective. How police experts doctor their error rates in “proficiency” tests. Ballistics and fingerprints linked to misleading testimony as revealed by Itiel Dror at UCL. Bitemarkers did similar.

Don’t believe forensic examiners’ claims about their accuracy.
— Read on slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/12/forensic-science-accuracy-firearm-fingerprint-comparisons.html

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform, CSI, forensic evidence exaggeration, forensic fraud, Forensic Science, forensic science misconduct, forensic science reform, junk forensic science | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics: Corrupt cops. Termaine Joseph Hicks exonerated after 19 years in prison

Posted on December 16, 2020 by csidds

Joseph Tremaine Hicks, his lawyer said, “is going to be returned to something that he should have had on Nov. 27, 2001, when police encountered him, but he didn’t: the presumption of innocence.”
— Read on www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia-wrongful-conviction-exoneration-police-misconduct-tremaine-hicks-20201216.html

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Forensics: Academic and CJ repression in the Deep South. UM Fires History Professor Who Criticizes ‘Powerful, Racist Donors’ and ‘Carceral State’

Posted on December 16, 2020 by csidds

Clearly, “Ole Miss” managers consider outing the political history of the Crim Justice system by its own faculty is anathema. Their excuses are shallow and dissembling and have a racist “ivory Tower” smell. Its a miracle that the Ole Miss Innocence Project even exists at the UM law school.

During a period of what University of Mississippi faculty are calling a time of increasing paranoia, a celebrated professor of history faces termination.
— Read on www.mississippifreepress.org/7518/um-fires-history-professor-who-criticizes-powerful-racist-donors-and-carceral-state/

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Forensics non-science: The danger of relying on a single piece of evidence – great overview on expert exaggeration in police crime labs.

Posted on December 15, 2020 by csidds

From Africa. An excellent look. The author mentions bitemarks and a list of other misleading forensic opinions. Courts have problems with weak standards and poor understanding of robust scientific methods. Mentions the 2009 NAS Report which some crime labbers and bitemark dentists ridiculed. The NAS did quote some of my work with Profs Michael Saks and David Faigman in their popular Modern Scientific Evidence series.

Is the evidence used to convict criminals always based on sufficient facts or data? Leletu Tonisi from the Wits Justice Project examines some of the flaws in the system
— Read on mg.co.za/news/2020-12-14-forensic-science-the-danger-of-relying-on-a-single-piece-of-evidence/

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA profiling, forensic evidence exaggeration, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct, Medical errors, wrongful convictions | Tagged | Leave a comment

Forensics: Interviewing a Senior Advisor on Forensic Science Policy ( Sarah Chu ) – Major Investigators

Posted on December 14, 2020 by csidds

This podcast is hosted by a very bright 9yo! She puts Sarah C through her paces. SC has a very important job at the NYIP.

Listen to this episode from Major Investigators on Spotify. In this episode, we have a special guest, Sarah Chu!!  She is a Senior Advisor on Forensic Science Policy and has a lot to say about it! I hope you enjoy it!
— Read on open.spotify.com/episode/7EncxaYhfO0riiVb6RCNGw

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, expert testimony, Forensic Science, Forensic Science Bias, forensic science misconduct, junk forensic science, US Crime labs | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Forensics: Another botched bitemark case. FL State Attorney’s Office identifies man wrongfully convicted of murder after 37 years. Office seeks prompt release of Robert DuBoise after newly discovered DNA proves his innocence

Posted on December 12, 2020 by csidds

From Aug 2020.

State Attorney’s Office identifies man wrongfully convicted of murder after 37 years. Office seeks prompt release of Robert DuBoise after newly discovered DNA proves his innocence – Office Of The State Attorney 13th Judicial Circuit Of Florida
— Read on www.sao13th.com/2020/08/state-attorney-office-identifies-man-wrongfully-convicted/

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