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Tag Archives: Bad forensic science
A very glib media look at TV forensics
Another ho-hum look at media shows using forensic science as characters using their mythology of “how it’s done.” I’ve never seen an equal amount of attention paid to what it takes to exonerate people from flawed convictions by prosecutors, exaggerated … Continue reading
#IAFS NH judge goes postal on law enforcement dragging on review of 18,000 tainted cases
Judge, lawyers: State dragging feet on Amherst drug lab scandal This is not the first massive review of forensic that has fallen into prosecutorial limbo. The FBI crime labs self-discredited Bullet Lead and Hair Matching debacle are still “hanging fire” … Continue reading
Actions of bitemark experts before testimony brings consequences after exoneration
From a recent Tech Dirt op-ed. “We’ve discussed the junk science masquerading as forensic science in criminal cases. Coming in slightly ahead of chatting with psychics is “bite mark analysis.” According to these so-called experts, each bite mark is just as unique as … Continue reading
Want to see a ‘positive ID” bitemark pattern?
Here is what was used to convict one defendant as the “only person” who could have made this mark. The defendant has been in prison for decades. then look at this “adjusted” image of the same image right after this … Continue reading
Chris Fabricant of the IP talks about judges avoiding science in the courtroom
“At some point, we have to acknowledge that precedent has to be overruled by scientific reality.” Some of that science — analysis of bite marks, latent fingerprints, firearms identification, burn patterns in arson investigations, footwear patterns and tire treads — … Continue reading
Forensics and Law for the Week: From the News and Courts in the US
Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Michigan State University have published a new study on the development of an algorithm that can determine whether a fingerprint found at a crime scene contains enough information to be uploaded … Continue reading
DOJ certifies Junk ‘science’ as……….”standard, trusted, reliable”
Try this for Dep AG Rosenstein painting forensics with a very broad brush. This would never work in the health science community, but that’s obviously of no concern to the lawyers running forensics for the US Department of Justice. He … Continue reading
Holtzclaw case points to the misuse and mis information of DNA evidence
Add this case to the list of fundamental problems associated with crime lab related determinations of DNA profiling that, as in this case, are misinterpreted in favor of guilt. The alternatives were never brought forth by defense counsel. A … Continue reading
” Forensic foibles” examined in light of generally uncritical appellate judicial review
Stare Decisis Is Not Scientific A CAUTIONARY TALE FROM TWO CASES [ Higher courts’ lack of abilities to be scientifically rigorous]…” serves as a road sign as to both where danger lurks should an uncritical court wish to avoid difficult questions, … Continue reading
Imwinkelried on Science and Law : Paving the Way for Courts About Junk Forensics
I do not like to use “junk” regarding flawed forensics. Let’s say that “invalidated” forensics is more professional and is easier on the reader. Nevertheless, semantics will not cure State criminal courts from fumbling badly when inmates appeal the misleading … Continue reading
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