Tag Archives: Michael bowers

Election non-relief: Judges allowing risky “probably” forensic opinions

Bitemarks lead the list: NIST speaker reveals……. Conference: The 5 Problems That Stand Between Scientists and the Courtroom [excerpt:] Epstein showed the results of a recent survey of odonatologists that asked three questions about the reliability of bite marks. The … Continue reading

Posted in forensic science reform, junk forensic science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Comparing DNA mixtures with Trueallele and STRmix gets mixed results

Where Traditional DNA Testing Fails, Algorithms Take Over Powerful software is solving more crimes and raising new questions about due process. [excerpt] Studies have only established the validity of the available software in certain circumstances (such as a DNA mixture … Continue reading

Posted in CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Canadian wrongful conviction file totals 85 – funding diminishing

Innocence Canada struggling for funding for wrongfully convicted cases ‘I’m always frustrated with how long it takes us to do cases, in any event, but this is going to slow us down even more.’ A Newfoundland man who helps free … Continue reading

Posted in costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice, CSI, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ballistics on the hot seat as being “too subjective” in final opinions

The premise in ballistics is that all these casings might be considered “unique.” This  “new look” at ballistics from the Aaron Hernandez conviction is similar to the back and forth decades-long argument against the now debunked “hair matching” in four … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Controversial use of familial DNA searches helps lead to finds in cold cases

A broader look at familial DNA use within criminal investigations. Some good, some bad. What appears in all examples, is that ‘presumptions’ of guilt can be incorrect and send prosecutors off in the wrong direction. What’s also apparent is that … Continue reading

Posted in AAFS, criminal justice, criminal justice reform, CSI, DNA mixtures, DNA profiling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forensic Scientist Newsletter – NY Legal Aid Society

  Subscribe to the DNA Newsletter for the latest on forensic news Thousands of Texas DWI convictions could be tainted after it was discovered that one of the state’s top forensic analysts had mixed up blood samples and gave inaccurate testimony … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Big blowup in FLA about ‘secret’ STRmix DNA software program

Broward county is having some crime lab problems. Some damned whistleblower got to the damned journalists. A commercially (hence private) software program for mixed blood samples isn’t helping too much either. This Google search on ‘mixed DNA litigation’ brings up … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forensics: Accusing a crime lab of planting evidence, innocent man executed in CA, +++more

News Miner: Eberhart: Fairbanks Four deserve compensation… Arkansas Online: Faulty science gains 2 Arkansas convicts new trials… Los Angeles Times (editorial): California has executed 13 men since reviving the death penalty. Was one of them innocent?… Detroit Free Press: Lawyer … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Forensics and Criminal Law Potpourri – Some good stuff about innocence, arson, exon $$

From the Center for Wrongful Convictions’ Friday blog. Boston Herald: Arson evidence under fire… The St. Louis American: Exoneree George Allen Jr. passes away, mother is raising funds for funeral… The Daily Progress: State treasurer seeks guidance in paying Beatrice 6 … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Parsing the error rates a judge found acceptable for a “ballistic similarity” = “identification”

The war of words about what is ‘reliable’ about forensic opinions is getting stretched and compressed depending on the source of comment. The fingerprint corp called the IAI  had its’ president put a 3/4 page blast out about his ‘standing’ … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment