NIST has created a primer on interpretation of DNA mixtures that explains what are DNA mixtures and why are they sometimes so difficult to interpret.
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Can law enforcement compel a subject to unlock a device?
The NACDL Fourth Amendment Center has authored a Compelled Decryption Primer to help attorneys litigate the issue of whether law enforcement can compel a suspect to unlock or decrypt a device. The Fourth Amendment requires law enforcement to get a warrant to search a cell phone, even incident to arrest. Riley v. California, 573 U.S. …
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DNA Webinar Series: Probabilistic Genotyping of Evidentiary DNA Typing Results
The FBI Laboratory and the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence are offering a series of free online workshops to increase knowledge, understanding, and the reliable application of probabilistic genotyping to DNA evidence. As crime labs begin adopting methods that incorporate probabilistic genotyping results, attorneys need to understand the methods, capabilities, and …
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Forensic Toxicology Online Symposium
RTI International is offering their 2nd Annual Online Symposium: Current Trends in Forensics & Forensic Toxicology program May 13-17, 2019. The program is free of charge. The program will feature speakers on various topics of toxicology and seized drug analysis. The program is intended for laboratory scientists who work in these fields so that they can receive …
Forensic Science and Statistics – Special Issue of Significance Magazine
The American Statistical Association and Royal Statistical Society of the UK has published a special issue devoted for forensic evidence. The April 2019 issue, Forensic Science and Statistics, is a collaboration of the Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE) and the Innocence Project. The April 2019 issue contains six articles focused on …
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6th Annual NACDL-Cardozo Law National Forensic College
June 2 – 7, 2019: New York City, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law The National Forensic College is an advanced, week-long forensic science CLE designed for experienced trial and post-conviction defense litigators. It features the foremost national experts in a wide range of forensic disciplines and presents a truly one-of-a kind opportunity. The Forensic …
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Litigating Post-Conviction Innocence Claims CLE
10th Annual Post-Conviction ConferenceLitigating Post-Conviction Innocence Claims The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), in collaboration with the Innocence Network, and supported by a grant awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, presents this essential training specifically for lawyers who handle post-conviction innocence claims. National experts will provide cutting edge instruction on topics essential for re-investigating and …
Independent testing of blood for drugs or alcohol when a client is in custody
In some cases, an attorney needs a defendant’s blood to be collected for independent toxicology testing immediately after arrest and no specimen has been collected by the state. The presence of a controlled/impairing substance and its metabolites will dissipate within hours or days, so time is of the essence if an attorney wishes to have …
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Upcoming forensic evidence programs at Duke Law School
Duke Law School will host two forensic evidence programs in March 2019. Getting Forensics Right: Strengthening the Connection Between Forensics, Statistics, and Law Ten Years After “A Path Forward” https://law.duke.edu/events/scientific-evidence/ Wednesday, March 6, 2019 • 12:30 PM • Law School 3037 What are the stakes when forensics go wrong? Keith Harward will tell his story: …
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New lab procedure to facilitate communication between attorneys and lab analysts
The NC State Crime Laboratory has put into place a change to its Document Management Policy that should help criminal defense attorneys of record who wish to speak to the persons at the Crime Lab who have worked on their client’s case(s). The new procedure states: 4.6.1.1 Once a Case Record has been finalized, the …
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ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 037, Guidelines for Opinions and Testimony in Forensic Toxicology
The American Academy of Forensic Science Standards Board (ASB) has published ANSI/ASB Best Practice Recommendation 037, Guidelines for Opinions and Testimony in Forensic Toxicology, First Edition. This document delineates guidelines for best practices in forensic toxicology opinions and testimony, including human performance toxicology (e.g., driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs), postmortem forensic toxicology, …
Police Manuals
Attorneys may find it useful to review police procedure manuals to understand the applicable rules of conduct for the relevant law enforcement entity in their case. These rules are referred to as “policies and procedures,” “general orders,” “general directives,” “codes of conduct,” or “manuals.” Many police departments across the state have their manuals available for …
Sexual Assault Kit Tracking Now Available
In 2018, the NC General Assembly passed legislation (S.L. 2018-70) requiring the creation of the a statewide tracking system to track the testing of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits (SAECKs) from collection to completion of forensic testing. The tracking system is now available for all stakeholders in the criminal justice system.
How do I find NC State Crime Laboratory procedures?
Do you know how to access the lab procedures for the NC State Crime Laboratory? It is important for attorneys to review these procedures so that they understand how the laboratory evidence in their case was analyzed. The method for accessing lab procedures changed in 2018. Previously, there were links to the current lab procedures …
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OCME Toxicology Lab Procedures available
The IDS Forensic website has posted the toxicology lab procedures from the NC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner here. Attorneys who would like to learn more about the procedures that the OCME toxicology lab uses to test evidence can read through the procedures. For casework, attorneys should obtain the lab procedures that were in …