Tag Archives: PCAST

Forensics: Fingerprint Source Identity Lacks Scientific Basis for Legal Certainty | American Association for the Advancement of Science

A sweeping denial of fingerprint reliability. More Research into Validity of Fingerprint Comparisons Needed, Forensic Report Says Courtroom testimony and reports stating that fingerprints collected from a crime scene belong to a single person lack scientific foundation. — Read on … Continue reading

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Forensics: On the eve of the #AAFS2021 meeting, the last 4 years of stagnation of forensic reform is reviewed.

Very comprehensive look at the obstinance of hard-core deniers of scientific progress in police crime labs. Written by Liliana Segura and Jordan Smith. theintercept.com/2019/05/05/forensic-evidence-aafs-junk-science/

Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bad Forensic Science, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform, forensic science reform, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

News from in and around the world of Forensics

Mortuary training for those so inclined. Drop by on Sat in the UK.  “Looking forward to seeing you.” (the picture shows a mannequin on the table). Turkish cargo plane flying from Hong Kong crash kills 37. There is a forensic side … Continue reading

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Utter silence from over 400 individual US crimes labs after @PCAST forensic report

The US crime lab communities that receive public funding were said to number over 400 (see below) in the 2009 Bureau of Justice Statistics report.  Its striking to me that NOTHING has been in the news about what they think … Continue reading

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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