Latest News on Forensic Science and Criminal Law
-
Join 223 other subscribers
Tag Archives: wrongful convictions
Retribution in criminal justice reform
“In (the) battle over Nebraska’s death penalty, victims’ families refuse to be political pawns” by @lilianasegura at The Intercept. This parallels California’s upcoming vote to abolish the death penalty. There probably will also be a pro-death penalty measure on the … Continue reading
There is a problem with San Berdoo DA Mike Ramos’ Conviction Review Unit – William Richards
Post Conviction Integrity Units have been created within US prosecutors’ offices for a number of years. Google search shows 217,000 links to this subject. Criticism of the composition of a DA’s newly funded PSIU in Nevada reveals concerns about CRINO (conviction … Continue reading
Obstinate Prosecutor pursues new trial in Richards case despite forensics of innocence
Prosecutors have been well described in the media as “dogged’ and “relentless” by exerting punishment and retribution for crimes large and small against our citizenry. But there is a factual line drawn where cases of legitimate doubts are brought forward in post-conviction proceedings … Continue reading
Forensic Science Reform: Justice Department issues first standards for forensic expert testimony
Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington in Oct. 2015 (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press) The top US government agency involved in funding and management oversight of the FBI forensic science community just put out “guidance”on forensic … Continue reading
Illinois crime lab bill created to seal faulty testing from public view
Cases of government-run crime labs “hiding” forensic errors and gaffs from criminal defendants and the public got a boost in Illinois this week……We can use this to clearly understand who and how prosecutors and LE PACs control the legislators in … Continue reading
Posted in costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, criminal justice reform, Exoneration costs, forensic fraud, forensic science misconduct
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, Bad forensic science, forensic examiner error, Forensic science, junk science, wrongful convictions
Leave a comment
Forensic look at death penalty statistics: 25% of exonerated were on Death Row
A 2013 infographic study by the California Innocence Project puts the cost in California at a staggering $4 billion since 1978. Statistics contained in this report, when overlayed with the national increase of exonerations ( now at 1793) , in the … Continue reading
California Supreme Court determines advances of forensic science sufficient to vacate conviction
Its all about 2 bitemark opinions from a murder trial. In an unanimous 7-0 decision, the court’s holdings vacates Bill Richards murder conviction from 1997 and makes his imprisonment since 1993 subject to release from prison and opens up future exoneration … Continue reading
The Mississippi Sting operation that uncovered Michael West’s bitemark bunk
One of the extraordinary defense presentations at the recent EL Howard hearing in Columbus MS was given by the Honorable Chris Plourd (pictured above), the presiding Judge of Imperial County, CA Superior Court. Judge Plourd rose to the bench in … Continue reading
Posted in AAFS, ABFO, Bitemarks, costs of wrongful convictions, Crime lab scandal, Dr. Michael West, exoneration, Ray Krone bitemark case, wrongful convictions
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, AMERICAN BOARD OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY, Bad forensic science, forensic examiner error, Forensic science, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions
Leave a comment
Advances of science affects some convictions – so far bitemarks aren’t included
The resounding inconsistencies in how US courts “handle” forensic expertise is brain-numbing. The Mississippi Supreme Court and the state attorney General Jim Hood’s go to chief appellate guy, Jason Davis (pictured above), are still investing in the now bitemark rejecting … Continue reading
Forensics: Focus on bitemark beliefs and “The Syndrome”
While spending nearly a full May 5th springtime time day listening to the “Country Dentist” Dr Michael West lavish a Mississippi courtroom with his god-like powers of forensic observation aided by a blue light flashlight, I began to reflect on … Continue reading
Posted in Bite Marks, Bitemarks, criminal justice reform, CSI, death penalty, Dr. Michael West, exoneration, forensic testimony
Tagged American Academy of Forensic Science, AMERICAN BOARD OF FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY, Bad forensic science, criminal justice, CSI, district attorney, forensic examiner error, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions
Leave a comment
FORENSICS and LAW in FOCUS @ CSIDDS | News and Trends 