North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services

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Sarah Olson

Webinar: Neurodivergence in Criminal Justice, Forensic Mental Health, and Legal Settings

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Live webinar presented by Dr. Jerrod BrownFeb. 5, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit Neurodivergence describes a group of individuals with atypical patterns of brain functioning, including differences in cognition, sensory, and motor abilities. Conditions such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, learning difficulties (e.g., dyslexia), and traumatic brain injuries often fall …

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Forensic Book Club

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The Forensic Book Club has selected its next read and we hope you’ll join us in reading and discussing it! Our next book will be The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story. We’ll meet virtually to discuss on Mar. 30 at 6 pm. This book came out in 2025 and generated a …

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Whiskey in the Courtroom: Evolving Trends in Forensic Science – REGISTRATION OPEN

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Indigent Defense Services and the Duke Law Center for Criminal Justice and Professional Responsibility are pleased to announce the twelfth annual CLE, “Whiskey in the Courtroom: Evolving Trends in Forensic Science.” Whiskey 12 will take place on March 6, 2026 at Duke Law School. Forensic science experts and attorneys who have litigated cases involving complex scientific …

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Expert Witnesses in NC Criminal Cases

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IDS has prepared Expert Witnesses in NC Criminal Cases to provide information for  any professional considering serving as an expert witness in indigent criminal defense cases, as well as best practices for NC criminal defense attorneys working with expert witnesses. The guide contains information for experts about billing in IDS cases, deciding whether to accept a case, …

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2026 IDS Forensic Science Education Series

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IDS and the Mecklenburg Public Defender’s Office provide regular continuing education to dozens of NC criminal defense and parent attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists who attend the IDS Forensic Science Education Series. In 2026, we will offer monthly 90-minute webinars on various aspects of forensic evidence. These webinars will take place typically at 12:30 pm on …

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Testimony about shaken baby syndrome excluded by NJ Supreme Court

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On Nov. 20, 2025, the New Jersey Supreme Court barred testimony concerning shaken baby syndrome, finding that the State failed to meet its burden of showing reliability under the Frye standard. The opinion discusses the history of this diagnosis and lack of consensus around the so-called “triad” of symptoms in shaken baby cases. The opinion demonstrates …

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Decoding Toxicology Lab Reports from the Union County Sheriff’s Office and Other Crime Labs

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Live webinar presented by Rohan Parekh, MS, PhDNov. 6, 2025, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated With the recent opening of the Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory, attorneys need additional information about the lab reports produced by this lab. The Union County Public Defender’s Office, the Union County Bar, and NC Indigent Defense Services …

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Inside the State Crime Lab: Forensic Biology Testing Explained

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Live webinar presented by Wendell IvoryOct. 2, 2025, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated In this virtual webinar, attendees will learn about the services provided by the Forensic Biology Section at the NC State Crime Lab. The presentation will cover evidence submission criteria and reporting results. A brief overview of CODIS and STIMS will also …

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Forensic Book Club

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The Forensic Book Club is starting its next reading. It is a short story that is just 26 pages! To get into the fall/Halloween spirit, we’ll be reading Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” We’ll meet virtually to discuss on Oct. 13 at 6 pm. If you have been thinking about joining us, …

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Inside the State Crime Lab: Digital Evidence Testing Explained

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Live webinar presented by Sterling HuntSept. 18, 2025, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated In this webinar, attendees will review submission requirements for mobile devices, identify types of devices and removable media, discuss the two states of mobile devices and encryption, review the examination process, and discuss the results of examination. Attendees will be provided …

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Inside the State Crime Lab: Forensic Testing Explained Webinars

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For the second half of the year, the IDS Forensic Science Education Series will take a deeper look into the testing performed at the State Crime Lab. In each session, an analyst from the State Crime Lab will present about the testing performed in their section of the lab. We hope that the sessions will …

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Expert assistance in toxicology and pharmacology available starting July 1, 2025 through Expert Services Project

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Access to qualified expert services is essential to public defense. To better equip defenders with the resources they need to achieve fair and just outcomes for clients, Indigent Defense Services launched the pilot Expert Services Project in 2021 and is expanding it to include toxicology and pharmacology experts on July 1, 2025. This Project provides …

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Managing Digital Discovery Webinar

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Live webinar presented by Devshi Mehrotra and Derek HarrisJune 5, 2025, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated In today’s criminal cases, defenders are increasingly confronted with massive volumes of data, including cell phone dumps, surveillance footage, social media records, and forensic reports. This program is designed to equip criminal defense attorneys and team members with …

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AI, Due Process, and Scientific Evidence

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NACDL invites you to join us for a discussion exploring Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the criminal legal system featuring Duke Law Professor Brandon Garrett, author of Defending Due Process: Why Fairness Matters in a Polarized World. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session led by NACDL President-Elect, Andrew Birrell. AI is increasingly used to make important decisions …

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