GERD and Evidentiary Breath Testing

GERD and Evidentiary Breath Testing

On October 30, 2012, in Breath Testing, Forensic Discipline, by Justin J. McShane

Characterized as the “most dangerous form of contamination [in evidentiary breath testing]” by the world’s foremost alcohol physiologist A.W. Jones, Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) and Evidentiary Breath Testing (EBT0 that produce readable breath alcohol content (BrAC) estimates do not mix. It can provide for disaster. The BrAC machines that the police use in the […]

Eyewitness identification: Why do people get it wrong

Eyewitness identification: Why do people get it wrong

On October 4, 2012, in Contextual Bias, Eyewitness Identification, In The Courtroom, by Justin J. McShane

I just watched a TED talk that I liked a lot. I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy, I did. Scott Fraser studies how humans remember crimes — and bear witness to them. In this powerful talk, which focuses on a deadly shooting at sunset, he suggests that even close-up eyewitnesses to a […]

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

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

On October 2, 2012, in DNA, Ethics, General Information, Lab Scandals & Failures, by Justin J. McShane

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 […]

More on Annie Dookhan: Three cheers to the Boston Globe

More on Annie Dookhan: Three cheers to the Boston Globe

On September 30, 2012, in Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, Lab Scandals & Failures, Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

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?

On September 29, 2012, in Ethics, Ethics: Scientist, Lab Scandals & Failures, Solid Drug Dose, by Justin J. McShane

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 […]

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 September 27, 2012, in DNA, Ethics, Lab Scandals & Failures, Lectures, by Justin J. McShane

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 […]

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 September 25, 2012, in DNA, Ethics, General Information, Lab Scandals & Failures, by Justin J. McShane

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

On September 23, 2012, in Fingerprint, by Justin J. McShane

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 […]

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

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

On September 20, 2012, in DNA, Ethics, General Information, Lab Scandals & Failures, by Justin J. McShane

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. […]