Tag Archives: American Academy of Forensic Science

Soon coming to the state you live in: Retesting of thousands of convictions helped by DNA

ADVANCES IN DNA TESTING COULD PUT THOUSANDS OF TEXAS CASES IN LEGAL LIMBO The above image is incredibly evocative. My blog on this came out September 21, 2015. thanks to the September 19, 2015 Grits for Breakfast blog from TX and … Continue reading

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More scapegoat activities in forensics: DAs who hate old DNA : a Medical Examiner with x-ray vision

NEWS BREAK: Another Forensic Scapegoat case. Last December, New York State Police forensic scientists were accused of cheating on a yet unused DNA software exam. The test maker had encouraged takers to confer during the test prep stage which included … Continue reading

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Concern grows over DNA evidence errors in Texas and likely throughout the US

Applications of DNA methods which are subjective is creating a scenario in TX which will probably be repeated across the entire US. Confidence in past convictions is rapidly deteriorating. One might say the enthusiasm for forensic DNA as a “magic … Continue reading

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Another bitemark-based conviction overturned. Dentist calls original testimony “junk.”

This is the 25th conviction or incarceration aided by dental bitemark experts that has been overturned or dismissed in the US. How many more are there? The bitemark organization, the ABFO, is deaf and dumb and lying to the State … Continue reading

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Vivid case of child-to-child bitemark activity according to police in San Antonio, TX

Being able to reliably determine a skin injury can be diagnosed as a human bitemark is often a point of confusion and disagreement for forensic bitemark people and ER nurses and docs. . This case goes beyond that as police … Continue reading

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Forensics: Police “Predictive Data” used to intimidate persons with criminal past or who hang out with “bad people”

Sounds like a crime preventive measure that so far hasn’t had a published cutoff threshold for separating innocent from the real perps. I bet once you are picke up in this archive of “suspicious types” it will probably be permanent. … Continue reading

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The Writ of Habeas of Corpus in tatters lays obstacles for appeals and exonerations.

The Demise of Habeas Corpus and the Rise of Qualified Immunity: The Court’s Ever Increasing Limitations on the Development and Enforcement of Constitutional Rights and Some Particularly Unfortunate Consequences Stephen R. Reinhardt* The collapse of habeas corpus as a remedy … Continue reading

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The US Congress/Executive Office needs to step in: Forensic Labs must correct wrong DNA mixture analyses

Here is direct commentary from Friday’s Texas Forensic Commission’s DNA focus group on what to do with adjusting ( i.e. dialing it back from over its optimistic past) DNA mixture analysis. Below, Grits describes the quandary of DNA being this forensic … Continue reading

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Fighting Forensic Junk Science taking place in Dallas Texas: Let’s talk science not quackery, promises and lies

In response to chilling mistakes and misdeeds involving the execution of Todd Willingham and the 25 year false incarceration of Michael Morton, things are changing regarding forensic experts in one US state. It is note worthy that nearly 50% (154 … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, exoneration, Forensic Science, forensic science reform | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Editorial: Taking another bite out of junk science in the Texas criminal justice system

“In numerous instances, experts diverge widely in their evaluations of the same bite mark evidence, which has led to questioning of the value and scientific objectivity of such evidence.” The Dallas Daily News  

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