FSN: Forensic Science News » Opinion http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes and Opinion by a Real Forensic Scientist Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:00:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 California Crime Laboratory Task Force Disbands http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/california-crime-laboratory-task-force-disbands/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/california-crime-laboratory-task-force-disbands/#comments Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:00:51 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=1199 A recent editorial in the SacBee criticizes the Cal. Crime Lab Task Force for disbanding.

The surprising decision of the California Crime Lab Task Force to vote itself out of existence earlier this month is a mistake that puts justice itself at risk. It’s a decision that should be quickly revisited and

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/california-crime-laboratory-task-force-disbands/feed/ 0 Blogger Attacks Moderness of Equipment Used in Crime Labs http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/blogger-attacks-moderness-of-equipment-used-in-crime-labs/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/blogger-attacks-moderness-of-equipment-used-in-crime-labs/#comments Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:00:54 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=1196 A blogger by the name of Steve Weinberg authored a post discussing some shortcomings in today’s crime labs, using Houston PD as an example. While he made some good points, one of them is a bit misleading:

In the wrongful conviction realm, incompetence and dishonesty at police agency crime laboratories rank among the

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/blogger-attacks-moderness-of-equipment-used-in-crime-labs/feed/ 0 How to reduce your chances of a DUI arrest? http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/how-to-reduce-your-chances-of-a-dui-arrest/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/how-to-reduce-your-chances-of-a-dui-arrest/#comments Mon, 03 May 2010 15:00:43 +0000 Guest Author http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=1146 The following post is from a guest author, and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Forensics Guy, Inc.

How to reduce your chances of a DUI arrest?

Any person who has even been remotely involved in a DUI case as either a law enforcer, a DUI offender or a victim or even a

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/how-to-reduce-your-chances-of-a-dui-arrest/feed/ 0 Apple’s iPad : Falling Short For Forensic Scientists http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/apples-ipad-falling-short-for-forensic-scientists/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/apples-ipad-falling-short-for-forensic-scientists/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:00:10 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=1058 The Apple iPad falls short for forensic scientists, and other professionals. Let me start off by saying I’ve primarily been an Apple user since the Apple ][+. The first Microsoft device I ever used at my house was the original Xbox. The first Windows based PC was purchased about 3

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/apples-ipad-falling-short-for-forensic-scientists/feed/ 0 Retrograde Extrapolations http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/retrograde-extrapolations/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/retrograde-extrapolations/#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:41:36 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=1046 Retrograde extrapolations are a somewhat controversial calculation performed in forensic alcohol cases (DUI cases). The goal is to predict what someone’s alcohol concentration would be earlier in time, given a known concentration later in time.

The reason it is controversial is that is heavily relies on assumptions, many of which are not in evidence.

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/retrograde-extrapolations/feed/ 0 How To Find the Right Phoenix DUI Attorney http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/finding-the-right-phoenix-dui-attorney/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/finding-the-right-phoenix-dui-attorney/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:28:12 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=952

Part of my practice as a DUI expert witness involves working with Phoenix DUI attorneys.  Everything from case reviews, to helping write reports detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the prosecutor and defense attorney’s cases, to expert witness DUI testimony. Regardless of how skilled and knowledgeable your criminal defense attorney is in DUI

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/finding-the-right-phoenix-dui-attorney/feed/ 0 Houston Chronicle on the Houston PD Crime Lab http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/houston-chronicle-houston-pd-crime-lab-idependent-crime-lab/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/houston-chronicle-houston-pd-crime-lab-idependent-crime-lab/#comments Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:00:11 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=876 The Houston Chronicle published a op-ed over the weekend, calling for change in their police crime lab. Even going as far as suggesting it’s time to close it down, and open up a regional crime lab that works with, but is independent of law enforcement agencies.

According to the audit, HPD workers often

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/houston-chronicle-houston-pd-crime-lab-idependent-crime-lab/feed/ 0 Colorado Springs Metro Crime Lab Blood Alcohol Results WRONG. http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/colorado-springs-metro-crime-lab-blood-alcohol-results-wrong-independent-crime-lab/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/colorado-springs-metro-crime-lab-blood-alcohol-results-wrong-independent-crime-lab/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:00:31 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=883 Numerous news sources in Colorado are reporting about a series of erroneously high blood alcohol results in DUI cases that were reported by the crime lab. The Colorado Gazette published the following:

Prosecutors have begun contacting lawyers for 82 defendants whose drunken driving charges were based in part upon incorrect blood alcohol tests

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/colorado-springs-metro-crime-lab-blood-alcohol-results-wrong-independent-crime-lab/feed/ 4 Deputy Released from Jail http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/deputy-released-from-jail/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/deputy-released-from-jail/#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 06:02:54 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=872 Read the latest episode in the on-going Deputy Stoddard soap opera. Regardless of what each side says, it seems to me that Deputy Stoddard just might be a high profile pawn in an ongoing internal political war inside Maricopa County.

Originally posted on AZCentral.com.

Adam Stoddard is out of jail.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Detention

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/deputy-released-from-jail/feed/ 0 The Sheriff Strikes Back! http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/the-sheriff-strikes-back/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/the-sheriff-strikes-back/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:43:51 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=868 I really don’t know what to make of this. Apparently the Judge who recently found Maricopa Deputy Adam Stoddard in contempt of court, and ordered him to report to jail, has been charged with three felony counts by Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

But today’s announcement that Donahoe now faces felony charges —

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/the-sheriff-strikes-back/feed/ 0 Houston PD Fingerprint Unit http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/houston-pd-fingerprint-unit/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/houston-pd-fingerprint-unit/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:17:27 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=865 My last blog post seems to have a much “rosier” view on the current state of the Houston PD crime lab fingerprint unit, than the local newspaper did here.

A Houston Police Department official confirmed Wednesday that a criminal investigation is under way into alleged wrongdoing at HPD’s fingerprinting comparison unit, which is under

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/houston-pd-fingerprint-unit/feed/ 0 More Problems for Houston PD Crime Lab http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/more-problems-for-houston-pd-crime-lab/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/more-problems-for-houston-pd-crime-lab/#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:00:32 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=859 During a re-accreditation attempt by the Houston PD crime lab with ASCLD-LAB (Association of Crime Laboratory Directors — Laboratory Accreditation Board), the external auditors found problems:

The department said it identified several problems including insufficient staffing, lack of proper supervisory review, inadequate quality control/quality assurance protocols, technical competence inconsistent with industry standards, insufficient training

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/more-problems-for-houston-pd-crime-lab/feed/ 0 Nebraska on the CSI Effect http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/nebraska-on-the-csi-effect/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/nebraska-on-the-csi-effect/#comments Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:00:08 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=843 Glamorization has always been my biggest complaint about the popularization of forensics on TV. Not that people think evidence can be processed in a manner of minutes, with a big flashing “MATCH” sign on the computer with a picture of the suspect, their social security number, and their current location grabbed from

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/nebraska-on-the-csi-effect/feed/ 0 Georgia Bureau of Investigations to Close Labs http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/georgia-bureau-of-investigations-to-close-labs/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/georgia-bureau-of-investigations-to-close-labs/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:00:53 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=838 The major concern with local law enforcement seems to be the extra time and expense involved in transporting evidence all the way back to Atlanta. Why doesn’t the GBI lab system set up a central location (one of the larger law enforcement agencies) with one GBI evidence employee there to receive evidence

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/georgia-bureau-of-investigations-to-close-labs/feed/ 0 Michigan Plan to Divert Funds from State Crime Lab to Inspect Buses http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/michigan-plan-to-divert-funds-from-crime-lab-to-inspect-buses/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/michigan-plan-to-divert-funds-from-crime-lab-to-inspect-buses/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:00:43 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=830 Amazingly Michigan plans on diverting funds from the State Crime Lab to inspect buses. Didn’t they learn what happens to a poorly funded/run crime lab when the Detroit Police Department Crime Lab was shut down?

A plan to fund school bus inspections with $900,000 from the state police crime lab budget is “like

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/michigan-plan-to-divert-funds-from-crime-lab-to-inspect-buses/feed/ 1 Creative Solution For Melendez-Diaz Testimony Complaints http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/creative-solution-for-melendez-diaz-testimony-complaints/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/creative-solution-for-melendez-diaz-testimony-complaints/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:02 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=817 If Arkansas can come up with a simple way to allow analysts to testify without seriously effecting their ability to continue their laboratory duties, why all the hand-wringing and whining in other states?

The link allows examiners at the crime lab to testify without leaving their office.

“I’m very pleased with it and I’ve encouraged

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/creative-solution-for-melendez-diaz-testimony-complaints/feed/ 0 National Rape Kit News Stories http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/national-rape-kit-news-stories/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/national-rape-kit-news-stories/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:00:09 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=812 There has been a flurry of stories about the national backlog of rape kits around the country.

A government report released Tuesday found that essential DNA evidence in rape cases is often never sent to crime labs for testing. But what our investigation also found is that even when police departments do send

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/national-rape-kit-news-stories/feed/ 0 Maricopa County Sheriff Deputies Courtroom Shenanigans http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/maricopa-county-sheriff-deputies-courtroom-shenanigans/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/maricopa-county-sheriff-deputies-courtroom-shenanigans/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:25:26 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=804 For those of you who haven’t heard about this particular incident, recently in Arizona we had a courtroom bailiff steal client-attorney documents from a closed folder. The deputy had the gall to call another deputy over to make copies of the document, before returning it to the attorney. See video below: Knowing

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/maricopa-county-sheriff-deputies-courtroom-shenanigans/feed/ 2 Not Using Defense Expert Gounds for Ineffective Assistance of Council http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/not-using-defense-expert-gounds-for-ineffective-assistance-of-council/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/not-using-defense-expert-gounds-for-ineffective-assistance-of-council/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:37 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=801 A recent ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has opened the door for a flood of ineffective assistance of council claims.

DEFENSE COUNSEL’S FAILURE TO SUBMIT EXCULPATORY EVIDENCE TO HIS OWN EXPERT BECAUSE THE STATE’S INVESTIGATING OFFICER TOLD HIM THE EVIDENCE WOULD NOT BE HELPFUL WAS UNREASONABLE; THE PANEL’S CONTRARY RULING REQUIRES

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/not-using-defense-expert-gounds-for-ineffective-assistance-of-council/feed/ 0 Follow-up on Beaufort County DNA Lab http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/follow-up-on-beaufort-county-dna-lab/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/follow-up-on-beaufort-county-dna-lab/#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:30 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=798 Follow-up article on the local sheriff’s department dead-set on opening their own DNA lab, instead of using a private lab until SLED can expand to meet demands. It’s interesting to point out that even after the lab is opened, has been staffed, equipment is delivered, it could still be years before case

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/follow-up-on-beaufort-county-dna-lab/feed/ 0 Prosecutor’s Error Gets Man off of Manslaughter? http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/prosecutors-error-gets-man-off-of-manslaughter/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/prosecutors-error-gets-man-off-of-manslaughter/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:28 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=793 Poor communication to the crime lab is VERY common in my experience. In one of the labs that I used to work, it was not uncommon for lab staff to toil away on cases that had already pled out, or even been adjudicated, but the lab was never told by prosecutors or

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/prosecutors-error-gets-man-off-of-manslaughter/feed/ 0 Arizona DPS to Close Western Regional Crime Lab? http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/arizona-dps-to-close-western-regional-crime-lab/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/arizona-dps-to-close-western-regional-crime-lab/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:49 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=788 One way Arizona Department of Public Safety is considering cutting it’s budget is to eliminate the western regional crime lab.

Another possibility is the closure of the Western Regional Crime Lab in Lake Havasu City and eliminating four positions there. Law enforcement agencies would then have to transport crime evidence to the Flagstaff lab.

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/arizona-dps-to-close-western-regional-crime-lab/feed/ 0 10 Ways to Kill Your Own Expert Witness http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/10-way-to-kill-your-own-expert/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/10-way-to-kill-your-own-expert/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:57 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=778 The following article was originally posted in the American Bar Association October Newsletter. There is a LOT of truth to these points:

Ten ways lawyers kill their own experts

Businessman chopping down another businessman.  Expert witnesses can make or break a case, but many lawyers inadvertently destroy their experts’ credibility. In the teleconference “Ten

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/10-way-to-kill-your-own-expert/feed/ 0 Forensic Examiner Charged with Perjury http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/anchorage-alaska-forensic-examiner-charged-with-perjury/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/anchorage-alaska-forensic-examiner-charged-with-perjury/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:00:11 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=764 We’ll have to keep on eye on this case. The Alaska Daily News article indicates a latent print examiner from the Anchorage Police Department who has their own consulting business has perjured themselves regarding their background, training and experience.

On Aug. 24, Halterman gave sworn testimony by phone on a pending case

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/anchorage-alaska-forensic-examiner-charged-with-perjury/feed/ 1 Ammunition in Fire Hazard http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/ammunition-in-fire-hazard/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/ammunition-in-fire-hazard/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=760 You hear fire departments, and anti-gun organizations like newspapers, routinely state things like “cooked off” ammunition is dangerous. The likelihood of being hurt from a round of ammunition “cooked off” in a fire is magnitudes of danger less than your normal fire situation. Unless a cartridge (round of ammunition) is actually

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