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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Book Club in December
If you’re looking for your next read, the Forensic Book Club has selected 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Invented Modern Forensics for its next read. We’ll meet virtually to discuss it on Dec. 7 at 6 pm. The book is about a pioneer in the investigation of death scenes and focuses …
Webinar: Primer – Forensic Evidence in DWI Cases
Live webinar presented by Barbara Bathke, JD and Ivana Brown, JDOct. 1, 2026, 12:30pmApproved for 90 min of CLE credit Forensic evidence can be the centerpiece of a DWI prosecution—but understanding what the laboratory results actually mean is critical to effectively challenging that evidence. This practical primer will introduce defense attorneys to the forensic science …
The Diminished Capacity Defense in Capital Cases
PowerPoint and manuscript prepared by Vince Rabil, updated 2026.
Forensic Book Club in September
If you’re looking for an end-of-summer read, the Forensic Book Club has selected The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist: A True Story of Injustice in the American South for its next read. We’ll meet virtually to discuss it on Sept 21 at 6 pm. It’s a fascinating chronicle of how a medical examiner and a …
Webinar: Reading School Records
Live webinar presented by Heather CoxAug 6, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated School records often contain valuable information that can help explain a client’s behavior, development, educational needs, and life circumstances—but only if attorneys know where to look. As part of our neurodiversity webinar series, this program will provide criminal defense attorneys with …
State Crime Lab Tour offered
Would you like to see where evidence is tested at the State Crime Lab and learn more about the methods used at the Lab? The NC State Crime Laboratory is offering a tour of the Lab in Raleigh for criminal defense attorneys, investigators, interns and other defense team members. The tour will take place on July …
Webinar: Reading Medical Records
Live webinar presented by Raj V. Patel, MD, FACEP, FAAEMJuly 9, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated Medical records can contain critical information for understanding a client’s history, functioning, diagnoses, trauma exposure, and support needs—but many attorneys receive thousands of pages of records with little guidance on how to interpret them. In this webinar, …
Medical Evidence in Pregnancy-Related Cases
Yesterday I attended a webinar offered by NACDL on Chemical Endangerment that addressed allegations of drug use by pregnant people. Presenters Mishka Terplan, MD, MPH and Kima Joy Taylor, MD, MPH shared important information about defending clients in these cases, including the slide below. Attorneys often ask me about what substances could potentially cause false …
Working with Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender-diverse Clients
Live webinar presented by Brittany Bate, Ph.D. (she)June 4, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated Criminal defense attorneys represent clients whose experiences are shaped by both neurodiversity and gender identity. Research and clinical observations suggest a higher incidence of transgender and nonbinary identity among neurodivergent individuals, creating important considerations for communication, client relationships, mitigation, …
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Great trial result from working with Expert Services Project
Attorneys handling complex cases know that expert insight can be the difference between a strong defense and a missed opportunity. Yet securing qualified forensic expertise quickly and efficiently can be a challenge. For Assistant Public Defenders and IDS Managed Assigned Counsel attorneys, the Expert Services Project helps bridge that gap by providing streamlined access to …
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CSFRE Webinar Series on DNA Evidence
Free webinar series offered by CSFRE
Forensic Book Club in July
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 Forensics and Fiction: Clever, Intriguing, and Downright Odd Questions from Crime Writers. We’ll meet virtually to discuss on July 13 at 6 pm. Note that you may want to get the …
Understanding ADHD and Its Impact in Criminal Cases
Live webinar presented by Dr. Beata KrembuszewskiApr. 2, 2026, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated This session will present a clear, research-based understanding of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and its relevance across the lifespan of many clients in the criminal legal system. The session explores the core diagnostic features of ADHD—impulsivity, inattention, executive-function deficits, emotional regulation …
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Omnibus Tech Discovery List
From NACDL’s Fourth Amendment Center – One of the most challenging parts of litigating surveillance technology in criminal cases is identifying and getting access to appropriate discovery. Often, the types of technologies used in a case are opaque and cannot be identified, let alone challenged, until certain information is shared during discovery. Even if you …
CSFRE Webinar Series on Drug Related Deaths
The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Network of Public Health Institute (NNPHI), and the Public Health Institute (PHI), announced a new no-cost webinar series focusing attention on drug-caused and drug-related deaths. This 10-part webinar series brings together medicolegal death investigators, forensic …