Author AThornton

This past Wednesday, Radley Balko questioned whether forensic science reform is heading in the right direction. Among his concerns lies the lingering problems of a judge in a criminal proceeding being the gatekeeper of expert testimony and cognitive bias that is a product… Continue Reading →

Prosecutors in Georgia are pushing lawmakers to pass an initiative that would allow for the collection of DNA at individuals’ arrests, as opposed to after convictions. The prosecutors believe that this practice would be in line with Supreme Court decisions… Continue Reading →

The Colorado Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in a case debating the role of forensic interviews in criminal cases with child victims or witnesses. Public defenders argued that the testimony of the forensic interviewer leads the jury to give… Continue Reading →

A judge ruled this week that an MRI brain scan conducted on a defendant in a high profile murder case would not be admissible. Defense attorneys hoped doctors could testify before a jury that the defendant’s brain is markedly different from his… Continue Reading →

In September, we wrote on “The Creeper” who was wrecking havoc by breaking into Miami homes and assaulting or standing over women as they slept. Police also released a sketch of the Creeper, which was commissioned by Parabon NanoLabs using Appearance Prediction technology…. Continue Reading →

Police testified at a trial this week in Mt. Oliver, Pennsylvania that DNA evidence found in vomit matched the accused, Deshown Pryor. Prosecutors assert that Pryor killed Jamekia Robinson and while fleeing, vomited, leaving behind his DNA evidence. The defense attorney… Continue Reading →

The test involves measuring the amount of amino acids found in the fingerprint. Levels of amino acids are twice as high in sweat of women compared to men.

On Monday, the Texas Forensic Science Commission met to discuss the future of bite mark evidence. The American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO), the organization that certifies dentists to analyze bite mark evidence, opposes any change that would completely exclude the… Continue Reading →

Nathan Robinson discusses the recent turn of events to cause courts to second guess forensics. DNA has always been considered reliable, but when the skill of technicians and forensic scientists is called into question, what good is the technology? Read… Continue Reading →

New Hampshire will likely pass a law in the next year that increases sentencing for fentanyl to that of heroin. Fentanyl accounts for over half the state’s overdose deaths this year. The law will not increase the number of cases that… Continue Reading →