Thursday, September 22, 2016

RT: Forensics used to convict 1,000s of people may not be scientifically valid – report

https://www.rt.com/usa/360305-forensics-used-convict-thousands-invalid/

Forensics used to convict 1,000s of people may not be scientifically valid – report


A fingerprint led to the arrest of New York and New Jersey bomber Ahmad Rahami, but a new report from a White House scientific advisory committee says much of what bitemark, hair, firearm and toolmark analyses provide does not meet scientific standards.
The White House’s Council of Advisors o ......

https://www.rt.com/usa/360305-forensics-used-convict-thousands-invalid/

NewsTalk: White House questions forensic techniques that may have resulted in false imprisonments

http://www.newstalk.com/White-House-questions-forensic-techniques-that-may-have-resulted-in-false-imprisonments

White House questions forensic techniques that may have resulted in false imprisonments

They request an entire review of some specific tests that are still widely used in criminal cases
The White House's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology published a report this week that many forensic techniques used by police and the Justice Department may not be accurate enough to be used in court cases and any subsequent convictions based on their results.
Techniques such as "bite-mark" tests and "shoe-print" analysis were found to have widely varying results depending ......

http://www.newstalk.com/White-House-questions-forensic-techniques-that-may-have-resulted-in-false-imprisonments

UPPROX: Some Criminal Forensics Techniques May Be Completely Useless, According To The White House

https://www.yahoo.com/news/criminal-forensics-techniques-may-completely-154500027.html

Some Criminal Forensics Techniques May Be Completely Useless, According To The White House

Criminal forensics has revolutionized enforcing the law, both in finding criminals and saving the innocent. But in light of some of the more bizarre techniques, scientists have been asking questions about the accuracy of some forensic techniques, and increasingly, some look like they may have no scientific evidence behind them at all.
The White House’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology chose to follow up ona 2009 report from the Department of Justice that found worrying inconsistencies in some forensic techniques. In particular, there’s .....

https://www.yahoo.com/news/criminal-forensics-techniques-may-completely-154500027.html

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

News & Observer: Politics, new study prompt call for crime lab review

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article103292067.html

Politics, new study prompt call for crime lab review


http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article103292067.html

ABA Journal: 'Voodoo science' is sending people to prison, Kozinski says

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/voodoo_science_is_sending_people_to_prison_federal_appeals_judge_says

'Voodoo science' is sending people to prison, Kozinski says


Many people languish in prison based on “voodoo science” that is presented as unassailable by forensic examiners, according to a federal appeals judge.
Writing for the Wall Street Journal, Judge Alex Kozinski calls for amending federal law to allow federal courts to grant relief to prisoners who can show they were convicted based on false or overstated expert testimony. Currently 

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/voodoo_science_is_sending_people_to_prison_federal_appeals_judge_says

DigitalTrends: New report suggests that forensic evidence is flawed and far from bulletproof

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/think-forensic-evidence-bulletproof-study-205821158.html

New report suggests that forensic evidence is flawed and far from bulletproof

Lulu Chang
It may make for good television, but according to new research, that may be all forensics should be used for. As per a new report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), “much of the most common analysis used in criminal trials doesn’t meet scientific standards,” the Wall Street Journal reports. The data,  .... 

https://ca.news.yahoo.com/think-forensic-evidence-bulletproof-study-205821158.html

Thursday, September 8, 2016

WRAL: Fact Check: Was Cooper 'stripped of his responsibility' over crime lab?

http://www.wral.com/fact-check-was-cooper-stripped-of-his-responsibility-over-crime-lab-/15991501/

Fact Check: Was Cooper 'stripped of his responsibility' over crime lab?


 — There may be no bigger liability on Attorney General Roy Cooper's political ledger than his office's management of the North Carolina State Crime Lab, so it's no surprise the Republican Governors Association seeks to exploit that history in a campaign ad that started running in August. 
The RGA is a national group that pipes money into state gubernatorial campaigns. .... 

http://www.wral.com/fact-check-was-cooper-stripped-of-his-responsibility-over-crime-lab-/15991501/

WRAL: Fact Check: Is it true Cooper 'fixed the problems' at the crime lab?

http://www.wral.com/fact-check-is-it-true-cooper-fixed-the-problems-at-the-crime-lab-/15991330/

Fact Check: Is it true Cooper 'fixed the problems' at the crime lab?

 — Attorney General Roy Cooper wasted little time last month in responding to an attack on his record managing the North Carolina State Crime Lab, which was plagued by scandal during the first half of his tenure and still experiences long processing times for certain cases. 
Cooper, a Democrat, is running  ..... 

http://www.wral.com/fact-check-is-it-true-cooper-fixed-the-problems-at-the-crime-lab-/15991330/

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Daily Advance: High court should let Tillett case play out

http://www.dailyadvance.com/Our-Views/2016/09/04/High-court-should-let-Tillett-case-play-out.html

High court should let Tillett case play out


Sunday, September 4, 2016
The N.C. Supreme Court heard arguments last week on whether it should intervene and put a stop to an N.C. State Bar disciplinary hearing against Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett of the 1st Judicial District. This was a big deal because the outcome could affect the chief...

http://www.dailyadvance.com/Our-Views/2016/09/04/High-court-should-let-Tillett-case-play-out.html