Why Confrontation of the Particular Witness must be mandatory: Annie Dookhan

Why Confrontation of the Particular Witness must be mandatory: Annie Dookhan

The Fukushima of Foren­sics: Annie Dookhan. Has been covered here before: Yet another crime lab scan­dal — the real ques­tion is how many fail­ures until they get caught and when is enough enough? The poster child for every­thing that is wrong in foren­sic sci­ence: Annie Dookhan The Fukushima of Foren­sics: Annie Dookhan What to do […]

More on Annie Dookhan: Three cheers to the Boston Globe

More on Annie Dookhan: Three cheers to the Boston Globe

At this blog we have been following the great reporting of The Boston Globe over the Annie Dookhan matter. This is a very important case study of what can go wrong and what does go wrong in forensic science. I have called it before the Fukushima of Forensics. This is not hyperbole. As you read more […]

What to do with 60,000 cases involving Annie Dookhan?

What to do with 60,000 cases involving Annie Dookhan?

According to The Boston Globe, Scott Burns, the executive director of the National District Attorneys Association, said Dookhan’s alleged actions are not without precedent but far from typical. I agree with him. The scope of this disaster is what makes it so remarkable. However, there is a long, long list of similar shame: Fred Zain, Joyce […]

The Fukushima of Forensics: Annie Dookhan

The Fukushima of Forensics: Annie Dookhan

We have blogged before on the Annie Dookhan scandal: The poster child for everything that is wrong in forensic science: Annie Dookhan It is amazing the state of forensic science in the courtroom. Judges still routinely deny discovery motions for scientific data, validation studies and even basic scientific data. They justify this stating that a […]

Steven Barnes talks about the nightmare of innocence at the 2012 ACS Fall meeting (Forensic Science, Chemistry and the Law)

Steven Barnes talks about the nightmare of innocence at the 2012 ACS Fall meeting (Forensic Science, Chemistry and the Law)

Here is the full video of the Steven Barnes account of actual innocence. On August 20, 2012, the Amer­i­can Chem­i­cal Soci­ety at its bian­nual meeting held a spe­cial Pres­i­den­tial Sem­i­nar called “Inno­cence! The  Work of the Inno­cence Project.” It was funded by The McShane Firm, LLC and pre­sented through the Chem­istry and the Law Divi­sion and the Foren­sic […]

This only makes sense in the bizzarro world of Texas DPS: No proof, but we prosecute!

This only makes sense in the bizzarro world of Texas DPS: No proof, but we prosecute!

One of the tenants of the criminal justice system is that everyone accused is presumed innocent. That means that everyone starts out in the courtroom with a not guilty. It remains a not guilty throughout the trial no matter how many witnesses come forward or what they say. It remains so even in the jury […]

Steven Barnes talks about the nightmare of innocence at the 2012 ACS Fall meeting (Forensic Science, Chemistry and the Law)

Steven Barnes talks about the nightmare of innocence at the 2012 ACS Fall meeting (Forensic Science, Chemistry and the Law)

On August 20, 2012, the American Chemical Society at its biannual meeting held a special Presidential Seminar called “Innocence! The  Work of the Innocence Project.” It was funded by The McShane Firm, LLC and presented through the Chemistry and the Law Division and the Forensic Science, Chemistry and the Law subdivision. At the presentation, were three exonerees. […]

Fingerprints and the idea of uniqueness

Fingerprints and the idea of uniqueness

Recently published was a thought provoking article about the idea of uniqueness of fingerprints. I thought it was so thought provoking that I have reproduced it here in its entirety. What do you think? Why Fingerprints Aren’t Proof Fingerprint matching is a vital investigative tool. But despite its legendary aura of infallibility, courtroom claims of […]

American Chemical Society Science & the Congress Project

American Chemical Society Science & the Congress Project

The American Chemical Society in conjunction with The Innocence Project held a symposium that was funded by The McShane Firm, LLC entitled “Forensic Science Chemistry and the Law: Innocence! The Work of the Innocence Project” on August 20, 2012 at the ACS National Meeting in Philadelphia. The ACS is continuing to push for legitimate science […]