Tag Archives: American Academy of Forensic Science

Valena Beety on the facts behind the new book “Cops in Lab Coats and Forensics”

A soon to be published law review.pdf article by Valena Beety (WVA School of Law and director of the WVA Innocence Project), describes in detail why “Cops in Lab Coats” correctly lobbies for independent crime labs to prevent wrongful convictions. The full book … Continue reading

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Forensics is not immune: The bullshit factor in academics and science

Title: “On the reception and detection of pseudo-profound bullshit” This is a decidedly serious discussion on the soft belly of science and other expertism that is largely uncontrolled by peer review. It may join the continuum Peter W. Huber’s book “Galileo’s … Continue reading

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Forensics: Can DNA predict a face? Courtroom application years away. Police buy it anyway.

Descriptive but not an over enthusiastic prediction of a novel attempt to revolutionize the future of “fighting crime.”  The writer properly spells out the commercially developed DNA method as “skimpy” on validity. “In truth, the science for conjuring a person’s … Continue reading

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Why the NC Carolina CSI lab got slammed in the media. The Public is scared about wrongful convictions.

The above photo is from a recent exoneration case from North Carolina. The joy on Dwayne Dail’s  face is palpable. You probably won’t often see this discussion on TV , but people are really upset about wrongful convictions occurring on a … Continue reading

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NC Forensic Crime Lab responds to “exaggerated” and “false” article citing “corruption.”

Crime labs’ reputations and credibility questions continue to be deliberated in the US and the international press. Writers seldom have substantial knowledge of forensic science, but they have little problem using data from FOIA demands and other public information to … Continue reading

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Forensics: Forensic Dentistry at #USC Ostrow School of Dentistry

Some dentist named Bowers. Also, kudos to USC Ostrow Professors Nan Mulligan and Glenn Clark for funding the USC Special Patients Clinic in perpetuity. Fight On. Beat Stanford.

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In the Forensic News: Paleoanthropologists and Archeobiologists run amuck

A brief look at what exaggerating science in the news media brings to mind. I have noticed some of this trend in commerical-connected forensic news releases and desperate believers in outdated or debunked forensic techniques. I clearly remember a nearly … Continue reading

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Neuberger: A Scientific rationale lends depth to legal reasoning but vice versa? #Forensics

This is a striking personal account recently given by an English legal gentleman before the Royal Society in London. His career spans formal scientific education, initial research experience, and a professional transition to the law. As of this writing he … Continue reading

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Australia gets rid of unreliable forensic expert’s convictions – So should Mississippi and other states

A long time Australian pathologist who retired in 1995, having recently been given an “unreliable” designation by the Aussie courts, is the subject of extensive re-litigation of many of his past trials. Coincidentally, the Mississippi Supreme Court has ordered another … Continue reading

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Forensic Science Reform Saves Lives

Changing forensic science practices and protocols to a basis of scientific proofs takes years. This one indelible fact reveals how slowly law enforcement, the courts, and “general  acceptance” of established forensic groups adapt to legitimate change. Read about how John … Continue reading

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