Latest News on Forensic Science and Criminal Law
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Tag Archives: Forensic science
Dialogue about Science Peer Review in the Courts : Scientific American : Faigman
This is a “how to do it” from Law Professor David L. Faigman at Hastings of UCBerkeley. He shows an extensive review on where the US courts are on this subject and why they are not always reliable. He has some interesting … Continue reading
Harvards’ epic article on Innocence Litigation and the woman who exec directs the IP
A true Xmas season story about Maddy deLone who is the heartbeat of the NY Innocence Project. The challenges of the innocent in prison are described in vivid detail. A worthy and valuable read for those unaware of what “incarceration” does … Continue reading
Forensics: DNA retest eliminates convicted man. DA says he’s guilty anyway.
This case is certainty bizarre for its facts. A now convicted man is arguing for a new trial. Post conviction DNA re-testing on a gun is the center point. But the guy who got shot was killed by a police officer named Kaufman. … Continue reading
The odd “reform” coexistence of law enforcement, criminal justice and private forensic orgs
Taking some joy out of Xmas, the Wash Post columnist Radley Balko draws out the pattern of current forensic events focusing on methods review into a broader question. How difficult is it to change multi-governmental institutional culture? He describes how the … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks
Tagged Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science, junk science, National Commission on Forensic Science, Radley Balko
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Forensics: Decomp rate of microbial system in dead bodies considered marker for TOD
Dead bodies are the topic today. Researchers from UC of San Diego are talking about Time of Death determinations using bacteria. Considering the encironmental and physical factors that influence decomposition rathers, this research still has a longgg way to go. … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, crime labs, Forensic science
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Forensics: Belfast Detective faked sexual assault tests to reduce caseload
“Working in the Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire sex crimes unit, he failed to send evidence including swabs and a condom for forensic and toxicological tests before recording “negative” results in the crime reporting information system (Cris).” http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/jail-for-detective-who-faked-results-of-forensic-tests-in-sex-crime-inquiries-34276502.html
Forensics: Freddie Gray death trial brings out all sorts of theories of what, where, and how
The opposing attorneys do battle with expert wits in a way that really highlights the entire legal adversary process in the US CJ system. The degree of physical impairment from the cervical injury is well described. The timeline of where … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science
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Forensics: Arrests, Confessions and Convictions before substantive drug tests are finished.
The scenario: A “rush to justice” with considerable “war on drugs” overcharging of simple possession penalties leads to coerced plea bargains occurring months before definitive forensic testing is completed. http://www.takepart.com/feature/2015/11/20/houston-drug-war-exonerations?utm_source=Legal+Aid+DNA+Newsletter&utm_campaign=c1945f2fd3-DNA_Newsletter_144_28_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_332a53a218-c1945f2fd3-80240109&ct=t(DNA_Newsletter_144_28_2015)
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
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
Posted in AAFS, Crime, CSI, DNA profiling
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Criminal Justice, CSI, Forensic science
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FORENSICS and LAW in FOCUS @ CSIDDS | News and Trends 