Flickering Examples of Science getting into Forensics | From Science and the DNA Newsletter

Posted on August 5, 2015 by csidds

Forensic labs and experts considering blind testing to remove potential context bias 

At the NIST “Error Management” Conference earlier this month, experts agreed that “a key problem…is that people who evaluate evidence from crime scenes have access to information about a case that could bias their analysis.” Unlike scientific rules and procedures on handling evidence, there are few safeguards to combat subconscious bias examiners may have. For educational purposes: Science-2015- Kelly Servick

“Replication provides the best protection against scientific fraud” (The Patriot Post)

After an uptick in fraudulent scientific publications, Gary Welton of the Patriot Post writes: “Scientific findings that are reported by only one researcher or one laboratory should be considered to be only working hypotheses. Our confidence level should increase only when findings are replicated by others.”

See the entire DNA Newsletter: 

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Unvalidated excuses used against unarmed police shooting victims.

Posted on August 4, 2015 by csidds

Never let it be said that there isn’t an expert available to help out your case. Just a phone call away and all for $1000 an hour.

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/08/junk-science-and-police-shootings.html?om_rid=AAWnTC&om_mid=_BVv7o2B9EMd6D1

Posted in Brown shooting evidence, CSI, expert testimony, Forensic Science Bias | Leave a comment

Forensics: 1996 op-ed warning about DNA’s effect on bitemark opinions

Posted on August 3, 2015 by csidds

A warning to bitemark experts that has been ignored by the AAFS and its
flesh bite experts. This was published in the forensic dental newsletter of the ABFO.

http://www.expertlaw.com/library/identification/bite_marks.html

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, CSI, Forensic Science, forensic science reform | 4 Comments

Forensics : 1960 When bitemarks were considered equal to fingerprints……..

Posted on August 2, 2015 by csidds

………a British dentist said “bruises in human flesh” bitemarks were”unreliable evidence” and expressed reasons that were, 49 years later, used by the National Academy of Sciences in 2009 . He also said “usually a self-styled expert” and “so-called expert (s)” were involved in court deliberations touting their accuracy.  Using those terms today, other than in your sleep, will get you sued or worse.

In 2015, the co-director for research at  the White House Office of Science and Technology Planning says their use for “matching” should be eradicated.  This speaker, Dr. Jo Handlesman, is immune from charges of defamation and infliction of emotional distress. I hope.

Full article on this “blast from the past” is at Professor Iain Pretty’s blog ‘Forensic Dentistry Online’ News. Below is an excerpt from the 1960 journal.

Fearnhead

Read the full 1960 journal paper from RW Fearnhead MDS.

 

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bite Marks, Bitemarks, CSI, expert testimony, forensic science reform | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bad actors and negligent experts in Crim Justice still immune.

Posted on July 31, 2015 by csidds

More of the same from Detroit. “A Raw Deal.”

http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/article-11636-raw-deal.html

csidds's avatarFORENSICS and LAW in FOCUS @ CSIDDS | News and Trends

This follows up previous blogs about how citizens, damaged by CJ incompetence (including some lawyers) and bad acts, run afoul of legal interpretations of immunity for state employees and their minions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/07/30/people-wronged-by-the-criminal-justice-system-face-a-long-road-to-compensation

(copyright 2015 Dental and Forensic Services LLC )

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Bad actors and negligent experts in Crim Justice still immune.

Posted on July 31, 2015 by csidds

This follows up previous blogs about how citizens, damaged by CJ incompetence (including some lawyers) and bad acts, run afoul of legal interpretations of immunity for state employees and their minions.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/07/30/people-wronged-by-the-criminal-justice-system-face-a-long-road-to-compensation

(copyright 2015 Dental and Forensic Services LLC )

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Civil rights, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, Exoneration costs, expert testimony, forensic science misconduct | 1 Comment

Take a look at a properly arranged MS in Forensic Science in Kansas City, MO

Posted on July 31, 2015 by csidds

This program emphasizes the high technique aspects of investigation with emphasis on multi-disciplinary science. I’m suggesting that the U Tenneseee rethink their MS in Odontology. (dentistry).

Excerpt:

“We spend a lot of time on the methodology. There’s a lot of verification and certification that we’re doing the science right,” Howell said. “DNA has changed how we do forensic science.”

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First US DNA exoneree from 1993 gets political

Posted on July 31, 2015 by csidds

http://www.innocenceproject.org/news-events-exonerations/kirk-bloodsworth-urges-congress-to-fund-dna-testing-and-innocence-efforts

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Our Badly Broken Justice System – Cases in Point – Part 1

Posted on July 30, 2015 by csidds

And you think YOU had a bad day. Read this series by Phil Locke.

Phil Locke's avatarWrongful Convictions Blog

From time to time, I become aware of cases that are particularly good examples of the flaws, problems, shortcomings, and injustices in our so-called justice system that I have been writing about here for the last 3 1/2 years. I thought I would highlight some of them for the blog.

As a backdrop to this series, I’d like to refer you to The Blaze article The American Nightmare: The Tyranny of the Criminal JusticeSystem by John Whitehead. Please also see our previous post Why I Think the US Justice System is Broken – and Why It’s Not Getting Fixed.

“Part 1” is the case of Ryan Madden in California.  This is what I think this case exemplifies:

1) Bad defense lawyering leading to a wrongful conviction and exclusion from the appeals process.

2) The fact that you can pay huge sums of money to a lawyer who…

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Medical Examiner muckup deepens in Montana regarding infant deaths and SBS opinions

Posted on July 30, 2015 by csidds

Good example of the SLOW and weak attempts to manage research unsupported physician opinions of infant deaths. Full article.  This is analogous to a previous post asking questions about ER docs and questionable and potentially unethical child abuse investigations.

A very lawyerly opinion from the Maine Supremes about how DNA under a victim’s fingernails could be “contamination from a ‘primitive’ autopsy’ suite. Obviously they studied hard as biology students in college. Fingernail DNA is only good for the prosecution. Full article.

Details for those of you who might want to be a US coroner. This guy has some great quals compared to the norm which has a threshold prerequisite of a high school diploma and ability to speak English.

Police agencies flood state crime lab with ‘rape kits’ in GA.

“Waiting for answers.” Questions about ‘regional’ or “mini” crime labs being able to handle high volume of rape kits in NC.

US Armed Forces assault and rape victim training gives good advice about court room testimony for investigators. 

 

 

 

 

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