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Tag Archives: wrongful convictions
NYC Medical Examiner strikes back to critics of her DNA lab
It is a very measured and short strike-back and is interspersed with personal and organizational pride. The ME says that the DNA methods recently criticized by the NY Times here, have also been used to exonerate the innocent. I’m beginning … Continue reading
Despite false convictions – Alford appeals used to preserve DA conviction stats
Would you choose: 1) immediate freedom as a murderer, or 2) call the DA’s bluff, refuse the deal, and pray for DNA? In this one, the DNA was already on the table when the DA threatened a retrial. San Bernardino, … Continue reading
Speaking of Error in Forensic Science – adversarial system quashes honesty
Very short but profound talk about the differences between real science and ‘police-forensic science.” From a NIST meeting on Forensic Error. Lynn Garcia from the Texas Forensic Commission sums up the organic differences: “That culture of fighting and not giving … Continue reading
Forensics at it’s worst – Is DNA change an “upgrade” or a “coverup” for past junk?
The New York Times and ProPublica presents: Thousands of Criminal Cases in New York Relied on Disputed DNA Testing Techniques Once again we look at the tenuous reliability of forensic expertise in US criminal courts. This time it is New … Continue reading
More on faked police lab testing: This time in Ireland
The veracity of police doing their own forensic testing takes another hit. We should note the current overwhelmingly optimistic popularity of cops using “magic boxes” to do their own DNA testing. Sounds like more of these dangers will continue into … Continue reading
Chump change: Michigan Legislation allows $50K compensation bill for exonerees
Lets see what the District Attorney’s Association (@NDAAJustice) lobby in Michigan does to obstruct this process. It’s leadership is patently deaf to wrongful convictions by touting their accuracy rate primarily based on pleas deal before trial. Read about some of … Continue reading
Fingerprints convict and then unconvict Michigan man after 20 years in prison
Another case refuting idiots saying exoneration litigation is an “industry.” Criminal defense funding in the US is merely a fraction of what prosecutors and police get from asset forfeiture, local budgets, and federal grants. Take a look at who represented … Continue reading
#IAFS NH judge goes postal on law enforcement dragging on review of 18,000 tainted cases
Judge, lawyers: State dragging feet on Amherst drug lab scandal This is not the first massive review of forensic that has fallen into prosecutorial limbo. The FBI crime labs self-discredited Bullet Lead and Hair Matching debacle are still “hanging fire” … Continue reading
Actions of bitemark experts before testimony brings consequences after exoneration
From a recent Tech Dirt op-ed. “We’ve discussed the junk science masquerading as forensic science in criminal cases. Coming in slightly ahead of chatting with psychics is “bite mark analysis.” According to these so-called experts, each bite mark is just as unique as … Continue reading
Want to see a ‘positive ID” bitemark pattern?
Here is what was used to convict one defendant as the “only person” who could have made this mark. The defendant has been in prison for decades. then look at this “adjusted” image of the same image right after this … Continue reading
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