Can you imagine collecting this info at a Chuck e Cheese crime scene? OMG.
As usual, “detection outstrips interpretation” according to @maxmhouck.
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Crime lab accreditors getting a black eye and lose credibility over Austin lab
John Lentini ( http://firescientist.com/) comments to this blog.
There is no valid legitimate accrediting of forensic science laboratories in the United States today.
Say what you do and do what you say and you can be accredited, even if you are practicing Voodoo. ASCLD-LAB only cares if the laboratory is following written procedures. They do not care whether those procedures are valid or generally accepted by the relevant scientific community. A case in point is the Florida Bureau of Forensic Fire and Explosives Analysis. Based on a complaint that I filed, ASCLD-LAB sent in two very talented and respected fire debris analysts who agreed that the laboratory finding of gasoline in two cases that I pointed out was not supported by the data. Further, they wrote that the laboratory was using an unwritten protocol that was not generally accepted in the relevant scientific community. The lab’s accreditation for fire debris analysis was suspended in March 2016.
The lab appealed the suspension and the appeal was denied. So what did the lab do? They wrote down their invalid procedure. That satisfied the people at ASCLD-LAB, even though the laboratory refused to institute corrective actions on the two cases where the reviewers found that the laboratory was wrong. Their position is that it is just a difference of opinion, and I and the reviewers were being “too conservative.” ASCLD-LAB let that position stand.
Nothing like using empirical data to establish CJ problems that are largely ignored by governmental practitioners. A few folks have been been saying this about ANSI/ASCLD for years. Here’s a scandal-in-point. Crime labs.
From the NYC Legal Aid DNA Newsletter @CeliaGivens
The Austin police crime lab ceased all efforts to reopen DNA and serology testing in December 2016 after an audit conducted by the Texas Forensic Science Commission in June revealed the lab’s use of, “unapproved DNA testing procedures, inaccurate quality assurance methods, unqualified lab technicians and management, and clear signs of contaminated evidence.”
In addition to passing the ASCLD inspection in 2015, the Major Cities Chiefs Association visited the lab and issued a report in February 2016 stating, “it was readily apparent that the [Austin police crime] laboratory and its staff upheld the high standards of accreditation.” Three months later the Texas Forensic Science Commission discovered the lab’s errors.
The…
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Crime lab mess redux: Now it’s Alaska’s $90M boondoggle
These stories just keep coming ……. It seems the public’s confidence in the “theory(ies) of crime detection” appears to be eroding from top ( governmental PCAST deniers) to the bottom. Take your pick on the bottom. Wanna try “Making a Murderer,” Shaken Baby Syndrome, messed up DNA mixtures, Annie Doohkin or bitemarks?
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The “state of the art” crime lab is doing less with more, said the report, based on an investigation by the Division of Legislative Audit conducted in 2016.
“There are fewer services provided after construction of the crime lab than were available prior to construction,” said the report, released Friday. Wait times for evidence test results are not much shorter than they used to be, auditors found.
Untested evidence is still piled up: When auditors visited the crime lab in July 2016, they found that some 74 percent of sexual assault evidence kits had been awaiting testing for more than 30 days. There were long delays in analyzing DNA evidence.
Crime lab accreditors getting a black eye and lose credibility over Austin lab
Nothing like using empirical data to establish CJ problems that are largely ignored by governmental practitioners. A few folks have been been saying this about ANSI/ASCLD for years. Here’s a scandal-in-point. Crime labs.
From the NYC Legal Aid DNA Newsletter @CeliaGivens
The Austin police crime lab ceased all efforts to reopen DNA and serology testing in December 2016 after an audit conducted by the Texas Forensic Science Commission in June revealed the lab’s use of, “unapproved DNA testing procedures, inaccurate quality assurance methods, unqualified lab technicians and management, and clear signs of contaminated evidence.”
In addition to passing the ASCLD inspection in 2015, the Major Cities Chiefs Association visited the lab and issued a report in February 2016 stating, “it was readily apparent that the [Austin police crime] laboratory and its staff upheld the high standards of accreditation.” Three months later the Texas Forensic Science Commission discovered the lab’s errors.
The fact that the lab was approved twice by at least two independent oversight agencies just months before the errors were found has led many to question the legitimacy of these accrediting agencies. While Texas law requires labs to be accredited by ASCLD if their findings will be used in court, experts note that lab accreditation tests are announced well in advance and “[do not] test the quality of a lab’s work –– only that it has protocols and that they are followed.” Former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo added that, “he had depended on the outside reviews to identify and correct concerns he’d received about the facility. That the reviews came back clean…leaves him skeptical of the oversight.”
Anthropology bone measurements studied for data accuracy
An impressive formulative study involving osteometric measurements from multiple examiners across international boundaries. Impressive work and forward thinking regarding ‘shape’ and dimensional accuracy of forensic examiners estimating the age of human remains and other skeletal features.
Anthros independently are leading the way much in the manner suggested by Obama’s Council on Science and Technology’s much maligned ( by law enforcement ) suggestions on scientific methods for forensics. Ironically, this study was funded by the US DOJ (one of the PCAST deniers).
Evaluation of Osteometric Measurements in Forensic Anthropology.
Posted in AAFS
Tagged age estimation, forensic anthropology, forensic science research
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News from in and around the world of Forensics
Mortuary training for those so inclined. Drop by on Sat in the UK. “Looking forward to seeing you.” (the picture shows a mannequin on the table).
Turkish cargo plane flying from Hong Kong crash kills 37.
There is a forensic side to US Senate investigating Donald Trump and Russia communications. The Guardian.
Those who are disappointed with Barack Obama’s personal think piece in Harvard Law Review talk about why forensic science reform got a real pass in regards to scandal safeguards and non-compliance to the PCAST recommendations. It’s about ‘rhetoric’ versus the ‘record.’ The Watch.
Early into its release, #Forensic Science Reform text goes to the classroom!
See our new book at the upcoming #AAFS2017 meeting exhibit hall at the Academic Press/Elsevier booth. Ask for Liz to get the meeting discount.
A respected under and graduate forensic science program in the UK has introduced copies of our Academic Press/Elsevier text into its reference library and student discussions. Greatly appreciated! Here’s the notice for their students’ new semester.
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Your article of the week
Only published recently is the text:
Forensic Science Reform (Protecting the Innocent)
The work is written by friends in the US and already I’ve arranged for us to have copies in our library, so please take a look if you get chance. This will add so much vital context and understanding of professional practice to your studies. I’m sure the authors will not mind me sharing with you a few pages from this book and hopefully this will whet your appetite to get the book from the library. We’ve been studying quite a lot on issues of bias, uniqueness, and pattern evidence. Likewise, I know that many of you are beginning…
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Early into its release, #Forensic Science Reform text goes to the classroom!
A respected under and graduate forensic science program in the UK has introduced copies of our Academic Press/Elsevier text into its reference library and student discussions. Greatly appreciated! Here’s the notice for their students’ new semester.
==================================================
Your article of the week
Only published recently is the text:
Forensic Science Reform (Protecting the Innocent)
The work is written by friends in the US and already I’ve arranged for us to have copies in our library, so please take a look if you get chance. This will add so much vital context and understanding of professional practice to your studies. I’m sure the authors will not mind me sharing with you a few pages from this book and hopefully this will whet your appetite to get the book from the library. We’ve been studying quite a lot on issues of bias, uniqueness, and pattern evidence. Likewise, I know that many of you are beginning your Fires and Explosions Modules with soon, so maybe this case is of particular relevance. It’s a summary of events surrounding the case of Cameron Todd Willingham who was executed in Texas in 2004 following having been convicted of arson which caused the death of his three daughters. Over the years there has been much focus on this cause célèbre and the science ’ used to convict Willingham. Each of the chapters in the book begins with a case study underpinning and reinforcing our need to get things right. No case is more poignant than this and l hope you ’ll take a moment to read and consider the very high expectations placed on you as forensic scientists.
For the discerning public: Read ALL the #forensic orgs that opposed PCAST standards
With two exceptions being the Innocence Project and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The AAFS was rather tentative.
PUBLISHED STATEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO THE PCAST REPORT ON FORENSIC SCIENCE IN CRIMINAL COURTS
After the release of PCAST’s report in September 2016, more than a dozen organizations issued statements in response. Links to some of these statements are listed below:
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: http://www.nacdl.org/PCAST_Report
Innocence Project: http://www.innocenceproject.org/president-obamas-report-forensicscience
American Academy of Forensic Sciences: http://news.aafs.org/policy-statements/presidentscouncil-of-advisors-on-science-and-technology-pcast-report
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American Congress of Forensic Science Laboratories: http://ffg.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents_OPC/2016_0921_PS_PCAST.pdf
American Society of Crime Lab Directors: http://pceinc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/10/20160930-Statement-on-PCAST-Report-ASCLD.pdf
Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners: http://afte.org/uploads/documents/AFTEPCAST-Response.pdf
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives: http://www.theiai.org/president/20160921_ATF_PCAST_Response.pdf
Department of Justice: http://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-advisory-council-releasesreport-critical-of-forensics-used-in-criminal-trials-1474394743
Federal Bureau of Investigation: http://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/fbi-pcast-response.pdf Forensic Institute: www.theforensicinstitute.com/news-articles/views-andopinions/commentary-of-pcast-2016
International Association for Identification: http://www.theiai.org/president/IAI_PCAST_Response.pdf
Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists: http://www.mafs.net/documents/PCAST%20- %20MAFS%20Response.pdf
National District Attorneys Association: http://www.ciclt.net/ul/ndaajustice/PCAST/NDAA%20PCAST%20Response%20FINAL.pdf
iCloud connected home devices free game for criminal investigators
also add water meters……………
Amazon Echo now an Expert Murder Witness ? (Forbes)
How much can police find out from a murderer’s Echo (Verge)
From the NYC Legal Aid Society.
Arkansas police asked Amazon to provide them with all audio files recorded by an Amazon Echo device owned by James Bates who has been charged with the 2015 murder of one of his friends inside Bates’ home. Amazon Echo devices record all spoken audio when users say a specific word or phrase—usually “Alexa”—and then transmit the sound recordings to a remote cloud-based server. A search warrant served on Amazon asked for all of Amazon’s data including Echo’s audio recordings. Amazon has agreed to provide the victim’s account holder information and purchase history but they have refused to share any information from its servers.
In addition to the Amazon Echo, Arkansas investigators are also using information from Bates’ smart home water meter, “alleging that an increase in water use in the middle of the night suggests a possible cleanup around the crime scene.” Privacy experts have raised concerns about the Arkansas investigation as well as other potential privacy violations associated with “smart” home devices. Lee Tien, a senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation noted, “Traditionally, the home has been the apex of 4th Amendment privacy protection in respect to law enforcement…The tricky thing about a device that’s recording data inside of your home is that you may be transmitting that recording in such a way that the government can directly collect it, or, as in the case we have in Arkansas, it may be that the data is sitting on Amazon’s servers.”
Posted in iCloud criminal investigations
Tagged 4th amendment, criminal justice, forensic iCloud
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