FORENSICS and LAW in FOCUS @ CSIDDS | News and Trends | by Mike Bowers – CSI science, law and experts

Texas loves its executions but………………………………………………

Posted on August 17, 2019 by csidds

…………..the sometimes nefarious and commonly exaggerated forensic opinions prosecutors continue use to convict has little effect on the lofty judges who never took a science class after 12th grade. Their denials of legitimate claims of unfair criminal convictions is the theme of a man’s upcoming execution date in Texas.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/crime-law/2019/08/17/did-faulty-science-bad-testimony-bring-larry-swearingen-brink-execution/?noredirect=on

Here is another example of how CA prosecutors pursue a retrial against Kim Long based on nothing but forensic flim-flam.

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/category/flawed-justice-podcast/

Posted in AAFS, Bitemarks, CSI, death penalty, forensic science reform protecting the innocent | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Bad forensic science, forensic examiner error, Forensic science, junk forensic science | Leave a comment

A New Solution to Countering Bad Science in Forensics | Lab Manager

Posted on August 13, 2019 by csidds

Aussie study follows up on the unacceptable “ad hoc” nature of 30 different crime lab methods. They also demand for forensic science to become more open. Even DNA has befuddled courts into accepting “proprietary secrets” regarding crime lab software.
— Read on www.labmanager.com/news/2019/08/a-new-solution-to-countering-bad-science-in-forensics

https://csidds.com/2019/07/30/forensics-corp-trade-secrets-dominates-rules-of-evidence-in-criminal-courts/

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling, forensic testimony, police crime labs, US Crime labs | Leave a comment

Blood spatter analysis (i.e. BPA) theories contradict physics and scientific research. Study reveals serious lack of university-level involvement in this police-adopted method.

Posted on August 13, 2019 by csidds

Is anyone suprised? The spatterists still are throwing pig blood against walls and clothing. This study debunks their “velocity” of impact/force blood spatter paradigms.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/forensics-bloodstain-pattern-analysis/

Kudos to The Innocence Project’s Sarah Chu for her comments in this NOVA article.

Read some BPA vocabulary which generally allows only one explanation of causation.

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, criminal justice reform, CSI, Forensic Science Bias, junk forensic science, US Crime labs | Comments Off

Forensic Imaging and Comparison Debate Centers on Expertise of Objects in the Image

Posted on August 11, 2019 by csidds

A lawyer in the UK takes on an important aspect of forensics. The discussion is a bit nebulous, and focuses on the topic of people identifying objects and people captured on digital media. I suppose old fashioned crime scene photography is a precursor to some of this, although the author doesn’t bring it into the discussion. He does mention “artefacts” once. He also takes the Forensic Regulator to task for “overreaching.” I’d prefer a POV that emphasizes more collaboration since he does admit that some experts’ opinions “have been in error.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X19301329?utm_campaign=STMJ_1564068058_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_medium=SPPC&utm_source=TW&dgcid=STMJ_1564068058_TOPA_TOPOTR&utm_campaign=MCRED_HMS_TW_Forensics&sf216408449=1

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, criminal justice, CSI, Forensic science | Leave a comment

Forensic bias dangers from police interactions

Posted on August 10, 2019 by csidds

Notables discuss the interface between police and anyone examining crime scene evidence. Especially those folks working police crime labs. Recent cases of experts being influenced by police theories certainly highlights this as creating cognitive bias. It is very hard to unring ideas and conclusions brought into an ongoing forensic exam.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/08/09/how-much-interaction-should-we-allow-between-forensics-analysts-law-enforcement/

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice, CSI, Dr. Michael West, Forensic crime lab security issues, Forensic Science Bias | Leave a comment

Forensics: Gun Stores in Allen Texas

Posted on August 3, 2019 by csidds

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged el paso mass shooting | Leave a comment

Forensics: Many in denial. Error perceptions amongst forensic practitioners

Posted on August 3, 2019 by csidds

This is just the abstract. Im getting really raw having to pay big bucks to get journal articles.

Reading any bitemarker’s trial testimony easily confirms this research of 183 “practicing forensic analysts.” The quest for perfection seems to drive many to just assume they are always perfect.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073819303007#!