Forensic science

2022 - 8 - 25

Post cover — Image courtesy of "FIU News"

FIU launches new veterinary forensics degree (FIU News)

Florida International University (FIU) is launching a Professional Science Master's (PSM) in Veterinary Forensic Science starting Fall 2023.

“Our partnership with FIU will allow us to reach current and future animal welfare professionals who can support the field of veterinary forensic sciences, ultimately saving more animal lives and bringing their abusers to justice.” [The Global Forensic and Justice Center](https://gfjc.fiu.edu/)(GFJC) will offer the 16-month online program, allowing professionals the flexibility to engage with subject matter experts from anywhere in the world. Forensic veterinarians are tasked with responding to animal cruelty cases, providing examinations, evidence, and analysis to assist law enforcement.

WC Forensic Science Laboratory backlog reduced by more than 50% (Eyewitness News)

Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen said in October last year more than 89000 test results were outstanding. It's now been reduced to ...

Under our watch, the lab would function optimally and matters dealt with speedily," Allen said. Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen said in October last year that more than 89,000 test results were outstanding. Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen said in October last year more than 89,000 test results were outstanding.

Budding forensic scientists investigate 'crime scene' at Blackpool ... (FE News)

The collision was actually a simulated crime scene, set up to give budding investigators an insight into the world of forensic science. Lecturer Lisa Miller and ...

Using professional methods such as fingerprinting, blood analysis, microscopic analysis and crime scene photography, the students tried to deduce what had occurred. But all was not as it seemed. The event began with an introduction to the scenario in front of them before the young forensic scientists followed the evidence-based clues to try and solve the mystery. Budding forensic scientists investigate ‘crime scene’ at Blackpool and The Fylde College The collision was actually a simulated crime scene, set up to give budding investigators an insight into the world of forensic science. Would-be investigators examined all the evidence as a devastating crime scene unfolded at Blackpool and The Fylde College.

DNA backlog sees relief (Independent Online)

Cape Town – The DNA backlog has seen a reduction from 89 158 to 25 290 between October 2021 and August. Last year the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) ...

Eric Ntabazalila of the NPA previously told Weekend Argus that the backlog was due to chemicals need to perform the tests and further administrative issues. “Previously there were deep concerns with the state of the lab, as there was a lack of consumables, while instruments were not serviced and maintained, due to contracts not being in place. Last year the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) reported that the DNA backlog was due to the shortage of the chemicals required to do DNA analysis.

A Brief History of Junk Science and Bad Forensics (The Texas Observer)

Texas has a long history with the use of unreliable evidence. [It also has made] unique efforts to address that searing history.”

One of the reasons that I focused on Steven Chaney’s case is it really demonstrates that even with some DNA evidence what a Herculean struggle it is to overturn a conviction—let alone demonstrate innocence without the power of forensic DNA analysis. We are often in a fight against time, and we are often also in this frustrating position of scientific reality having overruled legal precedents but that not being acknowledged in criminal courts … And that is as common as any other type of junk science. We see that in fingerprints, when we don’t have high quality latent fingerprints, it’s much more susceptible to cognitive bias, it’s much more likely to have random potential matches, and it’s much more likely to have a higher error rate. You begin with the harnessing of our criminal legal system to enforce Jim Crow laws and the transition away from Jim Crow to mass incarceration policies to control marginalized communities. [Michael Morton Act](https://www.texasobserver.org/perry-signs-michael-morton-act/), and some retrospective measures including the junk science writ. Indeed, everything that you really need to know about our justice system and the country as a whole. At the same time, Texas has some of the most progressive laws [regarding post-conviction innocence claims] and some of the most innovative District Attorneys Offices in the country as well. Texas is the most paradoxical state to litigate forensic science in in the country. [junk science writ](https://www.texastribune.org/2015/05/28/texas-tackles-old-convictions-new-science/) in the country, the first conviction integrity unit at the Dallas District Attorney’s Office … His conviction rested on what Fabricant saw as flawed evidence—bits of forensic gold in the 1980s that turned out to be worthless junk in the decades that followed. Two of those friends found their bodies there in 1987: The Sweeks had been stabbed to death.

Electronic nose may help forensic scientists and court cases (News9 Live)

The practice faces both legal and ethical challenges, because humans have to communicate and understand the indications of dogs, which may not be accurate and ...

Puglisi says "Currently, there are no portable detection systems capable to outperform the speed, versatility, ruggedness, and discriminating power of dogs. They are considered the most rapid and efficient tool for odour detection among the police community. The dogs are also used by police forces who train the dogs to use their sensitive sense of smell to identify traces in a crime scene, and mark places or things that have been in contact with a missing person. It is also ethically questionable to send a dog into say a collapsed mine, or where there is a risk of hazardous gases. For example, if a dog marks a find by a suspected perpetrator, additional evidence is needed to link the suspect to the crime. However, there are some legal and ethical dilemmas regarding the use of the dog response as an evidence in court." [Donatella Puglisi ](https://liu.se/en/employee/donpu97) [says](https://liu.se/en/news-item/elektronisk-nos-kan-pa-sikt-sakra-rattsfallen), "Dogs have an extraordinary olfactory capability, which is reportedly 10,000 to 100,000 times better than that of people. In the past, people have been to prison just because a search dog barked at the wrong time. Researchers are now developing an electronic nose, a machine that can be used to supplement the efforts of cadaver detection dogs or search-and-rescue dogs. If trained properly, they can be exceptionally helpful, for instance in a search. After say a murder, war or a natural disaster, search dogs are used to find human cadavers. The practice faces both legal and ethical challenges, because humans have to communicate and understand the indications of dogs, which may not be accurate and exact.