tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post7443919819226668012..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Tuff-on-crime ideology should play no role in Williamson County forensic scienceGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-91166056878851849142016-03-08T22:50:18.992-06:002016-03-08T22:50:18.992-06:00Williamson County is a joke! They're trying t...Williamson County is a joke! They're trying to convict anyone they can, for statistical reasons (to appear tough), truth is they prey on those with little money to defend themselves, as you see here. They tried to screw with me over a joint in my ashtray, made up some stupid reason to pull me over. My attorney is a known bad ass, they wussed out so fast and bent over backwards trying to get out of his way. Anyways, I left that nonsense behind long ago and moved to Cali. Screw that shit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673360461247956968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-41531811135032878122013-09-09T15:27:30.236-05:002013-09-09T15:27:30.236-05:00If Williamson County were to have it's own cri...If Williamson County were to have it's own crime lab I would be absolutely terrified of living here. Especially with people like Judge Bill Gravell in positions of power & authority. I was in Judge Bill Gravell's courtroom this morning on 3 old warrants in regards my dog not having rabies tags and a leash violation in 2008. I am on unemployment and a single mother of two. I I had been applying for jobs and that's how I found out about these old tickets that had become warrants. I needed to take care of these in order to pass a background check for an employer who offered me a job. I filed for indecency because I am on unemployment through the state of California and they are not consistent with payments. Judge Bill Gravell spoke to me like I was a dog and a hard core criminal. He threatened to put me in jail and asked the bailiff why I was not arrested at the check in counter. He was unaware of the indecency process and he was unaware of a few other basic procedures and policies in regards to my case. He yelled at me in a very rude tone, I do not have a criminal record and could not believe he was treating me so badly. I am going to file as many grievances and bring as much attention to this issue as I can. I do not feel people like him should be in position of power when they talk down to and try to make certain people feel like dirt. There was another case before me about a young blond haired teenager and his "good ol boy" father who had violated his probation and got the same charge for drinking and possession of marijuana. The judge made several nice remarks to the man and his boy and pretty much gave him a slap in the wrist. I just do not understand why I had to get treated like a serial baby rapist for an unlicensed loving dog who got off his leash. I fear for the safety of my children and the future of Williamson County if people like Gravell are in "power" positions. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07189376045229905695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-23185139607166734292013-08-30T19:02:04.286-05:002013-08-30T19:02:04.286-05:00The Wilco DA is also the person who gave the Georg...The Wilco DA is also the person who gave the Georgetown Advocate the file on Jim Wolcott to do their hatchet job on, saying she'd love to prosecute him but the case is closed, but it IS a story - even though the State of TX released the man and dismissed remaining charges in 1974. And does not have a felony on his record. I hope he sues the DA and reporters for slander, ethics violations and invasion of privacy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-35193498517540317332013-08-28T14:01:07.061-05:002013-08-28T14:01:07.061-05:00Actually, Brunner, Phillip is basically right. You...Actually, Brunner, Phillip is basically right. You clearly need to read the 2009 National Academy of Sciences report on forensics. Forensic SCIENCE is in its infancy, only beginning to clean up their act in the wake of the DNA revolution. That <a href="http://gritsforbreakfast.blogspot.com/2009/07/fallible-fingerprints-dustup-over.html" rel="nofollow">includes fingerprints</a>. Many of the fields have little if any basis in science, claiming levels of accuracy that are simply false and indefensible.<br /><br />Seriously, if you are a "criminal law practitioner" (read: prosecutor) as you say, you should educate yourself. Until then, I don't need to wait til the future to judge - you and Judge Gravell are demonstrating in real time that Wilco isn't ready to handle the responsibility. That doesn't mean that you can't or won't do it, just that you're likely to screw it up and produce more cases like Michael Morton's.<br /><br />Hope you prove me wrong!Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-27469327488627665812013-08-28T13:52:21.755-05:002013-08-28T13:52:21.755-05:00@Phillip Baker, Forensic science in its infancy? ...@Phillip Baker, Forensic science in its infancy? What's that sound? Oh, its the 19th century calling, they want to talk to you about fingerprints. And speaking of calling, please leave a number where the folks of Williamson County can call you (from the future, perhaps?) to see if they have cleaned up their act enough in your opinion to have earned the right to be "allowed" to have their own forensic center.Brunnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-12417897349519560802013-08-28T13:08:53.555-05:002013-08-28T13:08:53.555-05:00Forensics science is in its infancy, really. Remem...Forensics science is in its infancy, really. Remember how eye witness testimony went from gold standard to very shaky? Or those dogs that could sniff out the guilty? Arson junk science? Then consider that there are "expert witness" mills around the country that "certify" people with no applicable knowledge as expert witnesses. And the many judges who will allow junk science and those same fake experts to tesitfy. Putting a crime lab in the hands of of a county with a proven record of misconduct just invites disaster. Wilco needs to clean up its act before being allowed to have a forensics lab, and then only if it is completely independent.Phillip Bakernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-48320685355334287252013-08-28T13:00:55.166-05:002013-08-28T13:00:55.166-05:00
Shows that there are lots of slow learners out th...<br />Shows that there are lots of slow learners out there, especially in County Government positions. John C. Key MDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03151753880353930772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-92229264576338905512013-08-27T17:42:37.981-05:002013-08-27T17:42:37.981-05:00How about in "ANY" County forensic scien...How about in "ANY" County forensic science!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-10530747300277953772013-08-27T17:35:35.213-05:002013-08-27T17:35:35.213-05:00Anything is possible. But the DPS lab Jonathan Sal...Anything is possible. But the DPS lab Jonathan Salvador worked in was accredited. I wonder, if their management viewed the world like Wilco, would it have been handled as forthrightly as it has been? Hope springs eternal.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-29020808333939330612013-08-27T17:10:38.057-05:002013-08-27T17:10:38.057-05:00Grits--Annie Dookhan is a mentally unstable person...Grits--Annie Dookhan is a mentally unstable person who not only committed unconscionable acts of fraud but blatantly lied about her academic credentials among other things. Those emails with prosecutors the Boston Globe printed (I think you posted an article about them on the blog at some point) reveal her behavior as clear as day. It looks like the lab she worked in was as much of a mess as she was. The lab was not accredited by any national body, a highly problematic fact that allowed her to continue on with her shenanigans for years. The Wilco lab will have to be accredited under Texas law according to ISO standards which are rigorous. Let's hope Wilco takes the path of hiring strong scientific leadership and good analysts. That is still a possible outcome, regardless of the views expressed in the op-ed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-80546894946546043842013-08-27T15:59:57.925-05:002013-08-27T15:59:57.925-05:00So which is it? Does Williamson need its own crime...So which is it? Does Williamson need its own crime lab because it's going to be bigger than Austin or to keep its "small town feel"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-68853764458292254292013-08-27T14:11:59.393-05:002013-08-27T14:11:59.393-05:00@Brunner, if the judge had only made that argument...@Brunner, if the judge had only made that argument, I'd have no beef. But that's not all he said, is it? Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-90365758042457467632013-08-27T14:05:26.720-05:002013-08-27T14:05:26.720-05:00In the discussions regarding the proposed Williams...In the discussions regarding the proposed Williamson County crime lab / medical examiner, matters such as cost to the taxpayers, quality of results, independence from influence, and staff professionalism have ALL been discussed and ALL have a seat at the table. Its not just about dollars and cents nor is it about creating another "arm of law enforcement". Rather its about a county which is slated for the kind of long-term population growth that will see more folks living in Wilco than in Travis County in the not-too-distant future. I know that projection might scare some Austinites, but its simple demographics and geography. Speaking as a Wilco taxpayer and a criminal law practitioner, I want good, independent forensic results from a trusted source that is locally accountable. Williamson County has been voting with its dollars recently: sending its forensic business to the labs who do the best job for the best price. But that pay-as-you-go system won't keep working forever as the county keeps growing. It's time to plant the seeds and cultivate some local talent. Brunnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-72855649281212369282013-08-27T12:51:45.561-05:002013-08-27T12:51:45.561-05:00I suppose, 12:40, or at least I hope so. But Annie...I suppose, 12:40, or at least I hope so. But <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/09/28/chemist-mass-state-drug-lab-scandal-facing-charges-she-falsified-reports-credentials/27kK2cb2foySyFjUy3XFeP/story.html" rel="nofollow">Annie Dookhan</a> was from the younger generation and she was in the bag for the prosecution. Leadership matters and it sounds like Williamson County officials are looking for a crime lab to act as an arm of law enforcement instead of as independent scientists.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-70047552931659715182013-08-27T12:40:50.343-05:002013-08-27T12:40:50.343-05:00The "tuff on crime" rationale is very pr...The "tuff on crime" rationale is very problematic and disturbing, no question about it. The saving grace here is the vast majority of forensic scientists understand and take very seriously their ethical and professional responsibilities. This is especially true of the new classes of forensic scientists graduating from university. So hopefully if Williamson County does its own thing, they will hire competent and ethical scientists who understand their role, regardless of what this op-ed says. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com