Tag Archives: district attorney
The crumbling US criminal defense system – clients are 80% indigent – DAs get 4x more funding –
This data leads one to answer the question: “Why does the US leads in numbers and percentages of incarcerated populations?” Here’s another one: “Why are the numbers of exonerations increasing every year?” and so forth. By Tina Peng NEW ORLEANS The … Continue reading
Deep into false forensic science from the FBI
Hair analysis ‘should be abolished,’ says wrongly incarcerated man 1978 Double murder. 37 years in prison. “He said that the pubic hair was microscopically similar to mine—microscopically similar.” Joseph Sledge was no saint, and the police knew it. Then … Continue reading
FORENSICS: What is a “partial DNA match?” Or, what ARE we talking about here?
This blog follows the event of the Albuquerque police using a “partial DNA match” sufficient to hold a man in jail for 17 months. The news release from New Mexico is vague about what the police are changing in their … Continue reading
“No preset rules in DNA Forensics”: examples of errors and doubts in DNA casework that juries must tackle.
This does not read like CSI Miami. Wait, that one got cancelled. Thank you Jesus. “A 2013 survey by the National Institute of Standards and Technology asked analysts from 108 labs to look at a three-person mixture and determine if … Continue reading
SF Police Chief Loses a $2M grant for rape kits. His Crime lab is “maxed out.” Plus Murder around the world.
S.F. Police Chief Greg Suhr during a news conference speaks about an audit of the crime lab’s DNA unit, which has come under fire for faking results, as well as other police misconduct, at the Hall of Justice, Friday, April … Continue reading
Forensics: Prosecutor and crime lab workers not immune to civil rights suit: 7th Circuit Court of Appeals
Nothing much more to say, than, OMG. Everyone expects this to get moved upstream to the US Supremes. They have said “nay nay” to these lawsuits since the Connick v. Thompson SCOTUS decision. (originally from Louisiana). This plantiff is named Armstrong. … Continue reading
Testimony of an FBI hair analyst
Nothing cuts through the current hyperbole of forensic science reform debates and counter debates than reading what the “elite” of the FBI hair comparison people actually said in US courtrooms. The following is testimonial evidence from an actual case. Things … Continue reading
The Forensic Science Weekly: The strange, disturbing and “appalling.”
When the “elite” of the FBI fall from “grace.” Op-ed. I might also used the term “arrogant.” A recent news release states a new law enforcement think-tank-forensic-institute will “shore-up” hair comparisons and bitemarks.” This totally ignores the physical limitations of hair … Continue reading
BACK to Supreme Court to test new law on forensic ‘science’
A remarkably sad, infuriating and frustrating ordeal one man in California prison has experienced for 22 years is winding up in intensity. William Richards’ 1997 murder conviction in San Bernardino had been overturned by a habeas corpus hearing in 2010, … Continue reading
Taking a Look at what a DA’s ‘Conviction Integrity Unit’ can do right
“Late last month, the National Registry of Exonerations reported that the United States had 125 exonerations in 2014, a record high. One of the report’s findings was that 67 of those exonerations – or 54 percent – “were obtained at … Continue reading