POST: "Are we in the twilight zone? Bitemarks can now prove innocence," by Mike Bowers, published by "Forensics in Focus: CSIDDS) on December 9, 2016."
GIST: "No one escapes the Twilight Zone. The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including psychological horror………. The Politics of Forensics in the US is Alive and Well. Here are the players. The NDAA is the The AAFS has a significant percentage of law enforcement crime lab employees in its membership. The Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board FSAB makes forensic groups “official” and gatekeepers for their disciplines. The crime labbers and others need certifications to meet employment expectations. Each ‘specialty board’ is self governed. This org certifies the bitemarkers. Hundreds of US crime labs are certified by the ASCLD and a few other ISO 17025 compliance businesses. Most of the examiners have a background with law enforcement. Unfortunately, many US crime labs noted in the media for various scandals have been certified. What’s my point? Most of these overseer groups, (not the AAFS; here is its PCAST response statement) polarized into a backlash that shot into the forensic unisphere after the PCAST forensic science report drubbed some, but not all, of the LEO bread-and-butter police patterns-matchers. The leaders in this opposition has been the IAI, the DAs, the federal prosecutors, the toolmark and ballistics bunch, some fingerprinters, and a crime lab management and training group all called themselves out as gatekeepers for their status quo. They enjoy much pull being the front lines of CSI “crime fighters.” The news media and public are now quite aware that there is more to this story. Here’s another part. You now in the Twilight Zone. I’ve been thinking about the NDAA president’s recent illogical support saying bitemarks in criminal investigations and court are capable of determining whether a person is NOT guilty of violent crime as being shockingly stupid. According to him that means the bitemarkers can tell the police who is innocent of crime. Just like DNA. Incredible. For forty years they told police who wasguilty without scientific reasoning which resulted in at least 24 wrongful convictions. But now they have credibility to say who is innocent?
The entire post can be found at:
https://csidds.com/2016/12/09/are-we-in-the-twilight-zone-bitemarks-can-now-prove-innocence/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/
