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Tag Archives: Criminal Justice
Judge hyper-sensitive to a “spot of DNA” transfer by police deemed no foul after investigation
Its just a blip of biology, according to the Scottish authorities and their reviewers. Here’s the gist of what took place but doesn’t explain why it took years to review…….is it the prosecution looking bad? If you read the article, … Continue reading
Bronx court sets boundaries for crime lab techs’ testimony about methods and results
For decades, a defendant’s right to confront his accuser (6th Amendment) has been extended to certain types of “accusations” from forensic testers and their opinions supporting the Prosecution’s case. This is an update based on a defense demand that all … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Criminal Justice, DNA testing objections, Forensic science
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Oh dear, a defense attorney wants to use a bitemark to counter cold case DNA
A criminal defendant’s attorney says a bitemark on a victim in a 27 year old murder is not his client’s teeth mark but someone else’s. The DA wisely isn’t using any junk bitemark opinions as there is ample DNA to identify the … Continue reading
Forensics : A learning point on how the Avery case shows little presumption of innocence
If the Steven Avery case(s) shows anything positive, it is the revelation how jury decisions of guilt are predominatantly preconceived before testimony ever begins. This then is reinforced as the prosecution proceeds with their evidence. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-theory/wp/2016/01/19/the-presumption-of-innocence-exists-in-theory-not-reality/
Forensics : Details of trace evidence obtained in child murder/abuse case in Canada
The only thing the defense could get in rebuttal was that the CSI tech didn’t “test” every object available at the crime scene residence. Its a hint that the CSI could have missed some exculpable evidence usable for the defense’s … Continue reading
Posted in criminal justice, CSI, expert testimony
Tagged Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science, forensic testimony
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Forensic Bias? Did an autopsy doc get wind of a suspect’s confession now considered coerced?
The interplay of homicide death investigations conducted by medical personnel employed by the same agency investigating a suspect is fodder for doubts concerning undo influence. Its the subject of this The Intercept article just out from Jordan Smith. It is … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, criminal justice reform
Tagged crime labs, Criminal Justice, CSI, expert witnesses
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Forensics: Make sure you get all the case records and photographs before you testify
Sometimes, decisions must be made by an expert on the spur of the moment. One cannot prepare for all unexpected events. Here is an example. Nothing is more embarrassing or potentially catastrophic to any forensic expert than to find out … Continue reading
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Tagged Criminal Justice, Forensic science, forensic testimony
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How politics enters the crime lab from the front door: Cops influencing technician reporting
Forensic Fraud: Scientists Say State Police Gave In To Political Pressure With Crime Lab Policy As much as the major forensic organizations (AAFS and state run lab associations and their accreditors) don’t object to the association of crime labs and … Continue reading
Is Forensic Science Capable of Correcting Its Woes?
The seminal theme of the US forensic community professes that it can solve its own problems. I doubt it. The public sees in the media these negative forensic themes: undo police/DA/politico attitude influences, the imbalance of drug testing predominating over … Continue reading
Michigan crime lab gets slammed ( those damned defense attys) for faking it for $$
Here we go again. Seems that these Mich State crime lab guys, prosecutors and the cops might be incentivising each other to boost felony convictions and their own coffers. “What recently uncovered emails reveal is that the AG’s office, the … Continue reading
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