We have covered arson investigation before on this blog: Fire Whisperers-the Story of Bad Arson Investigation NFPA Releases NFPA 921:2011 and Rejects Negative Corpus Discover Magazine features the dangerous side of arson investigation Guest Blog Post From Dr. Frederic Whitehurst PhD JD: Forensic Science “Matches”-The Case of Black Powder Arson Investigation exonerations If you have […]
Amanda Knox Case: Judge Probably Understands Probability by Dr. Carrie Valentine, PhD
Judge Probably Understands Probability Carrie R. Valentine, Ph. D (biochemistry) A recent New York Times article reports that Italy’s Court of Cassation has overturned the acquittal of Amanda Knox for the murder of Meredith Kercher.[1] (Pictured Above: Amanda Knox post-release) Although Schneps and Comez acknowledge that the Court has not yet publicly explained the motivations […]
Federal Analog Prosecution and State Analog Prosecution and Defense: Ohio v. Silmi et al.
This is a multipart series that will examine the prosecution of controlled substance “analogs” by both the state and federal governments. Part one: The controlling law Part two: What is an analog? The scientific problem Part three: Efforts to define analog Part four: Ohio v. Silmi et al. Judge John J. Russo of the Cuyahoga County Common […]
Federal Analog Prosecution and State Analog Prosecution and Defense: Efforts to define analog
This is a multipart series that will examine the prosecution of controlled substance “analogs” by both the state and federal governments. Part one: The controlling law Part two: What is an analog? The scientific problem Part three: Efforts to define analog Part four: Ohio v. Silmi et al. There are two main efforts that are currently ongoing. […]
Federal Analog Prosecution and State Analog Prosecution and Defense: What is an analog? The scientific problem
This is a multipart series that will examine the prosecution of controlled substance “analogs” by both the state and federal governments. Part one: The controlling law Part two: What is an analog? The scientific problem Part three: Efforts to define analog Part four: Ohio v. Silmi et al. I suppose we could start with the concept that […]
A Pharmacologist and a DRE
[I am quite sure that this post will attract some response from the DRE community. If you comment, I will print it provided it does not have curse words or is an ad hominem attack with no substantive merit] When those who defend the motorist accused are confronted with a DUID case and where there […]
“Failed Evidence” – A must read for all interested in making our justice system better
One of the recurring themes of this blog is the consistent call for meaningful changes in the criminal justice system. TheTruthAboutForensicScience.com bloggers Justin McShane and Josh Lee having been highlighting areas of the criminal justice system that desperately need change for several years now. We are not the only ones. In the book “Failed Evidence: […]
Federal Analog Prosecution and State Analog Prosecution and Defense: The controlling law
This is a multipart series that will examine the prosecution of controlled substance “analogs” by both the state and federal governments. Part one: The controlling law Part two: What is an analog? The scientific problem Part three: Efforts to define analog Part four: Ohio v. Silmi et al. With the advent into the marketplace the […]
There are no shortcuts to justice: Justice and Forensics are not a throughput exercise
In science, we can have fast, or good, or cheap. We cannot have all three. When it comes to criminal justice, we as a society need to continue to require that only quality forensic science enter a courtroom. Fast is lazy. Fast is risky. Fast is not good. Fast is not justice. The latest example […]
The importance of calibration in forensic science
The act of calibration is the imperfect scientific action that underlies the validity of the subsequent testing of unknowns. A scientific and properly conducted valid calibration action can possibly yield a valid result. A poor and improperly conducted calibration action will always result in non-validated results and maybe even invalid results. Even within batch calibration […]
An Interview between Mike Nichols (MI) and Justin McShane on Evidentiary Breath Testing
The following is an interview that attorney and author Mike Nichols of Michigan had with Justin J. McShane. In this interview they discuss Evidentiary Breath Testing and the recent Pennsylvania litigation concerning the validity of these BrAC measurements. Justin Mcshane Interview from The McShane Firm on Vimeo.
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