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 […]
Another week, another crime laboratory scandal: We continue to struggle with basic validity in forensic science
Another week, another crime laboratory scandal. Hardly a week goes by where this blog doesn’t feature yet another crime laboratory scandal. We continue to struggle with basic validity in forensic science. Today, it’s Broward County, tomorrow it may be your local laboratory! While it is truly horrible that this happened, at least in this case Medical […]
Inappropriate & Unethical Relationship Revealed between Drug Prosecutor & Chemist Annie Dookhan
The investigation into the Massachusetts Crime Lab scandal involving Annie Dookhan has revealed that there was an inappropriate and unethical relationship between her and a prosecutor in the district attorneys office. It appears that for the last two to three years, prosecutor George Papachristos had direct personal communication with Dookhan who was the chemist on […]
More on fingerprints: What is the permanence of fingerprints?
We have blogged here before on fingerprints as a forensic discipline. Here is an interesting article to think about on fingerprints. Just how durable are they? American Hans Galassi lost several fingers in a wakeboarding accident several months ago. Now one of them has been found in a trout – and identified as Galassi’s from […]
Eyewitness identification: Why do people get it wrong
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 […]
The Rogue Chemist Excuse: Just as real as the boogie man in the closet
We hear time and time again about how these crime laboratory disasters are the work of one lone, rogue chemist. This is the pattern that emerges time and again in the press. What is lost in the reporting is the true failure: the lack of oversight; the lack of quality assurance; the lack of transparency; […]
Ray Krone 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 […]
The Laboratory Bench Mates used brown construction paper to cover up wrongdoing and source materials on the Annie Dookhan matter
Annie Dookhan, the Fukushima of Forensics, 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 […]
Annie Dookhan and more revelations
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 […]
The catalyst for change: The Annie Dookhan episode
It is unprecedented in this blog to report so many times on one event. However, this type of event needs constant and repeated discussion. 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 […]
The McShane Firm | DUI Lawyers
Pennsylvania DUI Blog