FSN: Forensic Science News » Innocence Project http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes and Opinion by a Real Forensic Scientist Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:20:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Congress Finally Has Hearings on the NAS Report http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/congress-finally-has-hearings-on-the-nas-report/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/congress-finally-has-hearings-on-the-nas-report/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=569 It would seem Congress has finally taken up hearings on the NAS report written months ago. Congress seemed to agree to allocate more funds for training, research in the field, and federal standards should be created for labs and analysts.

They didn’t agree on setting up a federal agency.

…the federal government shouldn’t “try

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/congress-finally-has-hearings-on-the-nas-report/feed/ 0 Eyewitness Testimony Greatest Factor in Wrongful Convictions http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/eyewitness-testimony-greatest-factor-in-wrongful-convictions/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/eyewitness-testimony-greatest-factor-in-wrongful-convictions/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:12:41 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=482 Apparently eyewitness testimony has been a factor in over 80% of the wrongful convictions later overturned by DNA evidence. Other forensic “errors” (unvalidated techniques, improper testing, or analyst misconduct/testimony) has been a factor in roughly 50%.

Hopefully juries will eventually learn that forensic science, like any other science and human activity, is conducted

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/eyewitness-testimony-greatest-factor-in-wrongful-convictions/feed/ 0 Fake DNA — Planted Evidence! http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/fake-dna-planted-evidence/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/fake-dna-planted-evidence/#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:47:51 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=471 So apparently with some minimal biology training, people can “fake” DNA evidence. One would think defense attorneys around the globe would already be hopping up and down, denouncing the reliability of this relatively “new” discipline in forensics.

Quite the contrary, when asked, the Innocence Project (a group who relies on DNA evidence to

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]]> http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/fake-dna-planted-evidence/feed/ 0 Innocence Project presses for improved evidence standards http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/innocence-project-presses-for-improved-evidence-standards/ http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/innocence-project-presses-for-improved-evidence-standards/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:41:52 +0000 Forensics Guy http://www.forensicsguy.com/benchnotes/?p=169 This article hits on a very important point. The popular TV show states “the evidence doesn’t lie.” That’s true, but evidence doesn’t speak either. It’s up to the forensic scientists at trial to give voice to the evidence. The problem lies in the interpretation the forensic scientists puts on

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