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 2024, we will offer monthly 90-minute webinars on various forensic disciplines and preparations for Daubert/702 challenges. These webinars will take place typically …
Blog
Registration is now open for the “Whiskey in the Courtroom” 10th Annual CLE
Indigent Defense Services, the Duke Law Center for Criminal Justice and Professional Responsibility, and the Wilson Center for Science and Justice are pleased to announce the 10th annual CLE, “Whiskey in the Courtroom: Evolving Trends in Forensic Science.” “Whiskey 10” will take place March 8 at Duke Law School. Forensic science experts and attorneys who have …
Registration is now open for the “Whiskey in the Courtroom” 10th Annual CLERead More
This year, 773,000 people across the country will be arrested based on field drug tests with known accuracy problems
The Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at University of Pennsylvania has conducted a national survey regarding presumptive field drug tests and their role in wrongful convictions across the United States. Many people suspected that the field tests used by law enforcement had problems, but until now no one knew how often, how …
2024 Forensic Trial Litigation CLE at Duke Law
Pre-recorded lectures: 2 hrs February 2: 2 pm to 5 pm (2.5 hrs.) February 3: 9 am to 12 pm, 2 pm to 5 pm (5 hrs.) Total CLE Hours: 2 hrs prerecorded + 7.5 hrs in person = 9.5 hrs(Each three hour in-person session will include two 15 min. breaks) Forensic evidence, from DNA to fingerprints …
What Attorneys Need to Know about ShotSpotter
Live webinar presented by Mitha Nandagopalan, JDDecember 7, 2023, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated Police in dozens of cities are increasingly relying on acoustic gunshot detection technology such as ShotSpotter, which purports to use microphones in multiple locations along with artificial intelligence to identify and locate gunfire. The technology, however, presents serious evidentiary and constitutional …
Introducing the new State Crime Lab Ombudsperson
The State Crime Lab recently got a new Ombudsperson who may be familiar to many of you: former IDS Defender Administrator Susan Brooks. As Ombudsperson, Susan will be responsible for addressing concerns about the Crime Lab’s policies, procedures, and actions. She will also assist in mediating conflicts and resolving complaints, and she will apprise the …
Substitute Analyst Testimony and Smith v. Arizona
Originally posted on North Carolina Criminal Law, A UNC School of Government blog I mentioned in a recent News Roundup that the U.S. Supreme Court granted review in Smith v. Arizona. The case tees up a question that has been lingering since at least 2012: Does the Confrontation Clause permit the admission of substitute forensic analyst testimony? This …
Law Enforcement Use of Digital Evidence
Live webinar presented by Spencer McInvailleNovember 2, 2023, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit (technology hour) anticipated Do you know what FLOCK, ALPRs, open source investigations, infotainment systems, reverse Google searches, Fusion Centers and real time crime centers are? You need to because law enforcement may be using them to investigate your cases. The presentation will …
NYSDA’s Free Forensic Webinar Series
The New York State Defender’s Association Discovery and Forensic Support Unit is hosting a 10-part forensic webinar series covering current issues in forensic litigation. The series is offered for free to all defense practitioners and defense team members. The sessions begin this month and conclude in March 2024. Click here to register for the entire series …
Cell Phone Location Evidence
Live webinar presented by Larry DanielOctober 5, 2023, 12:30pmApproved for 90 min of CLE credit (technology credit) Cell phone location evidence is used frequently by law enforcement to show a suspect’s location at the time of a crime. This training will provide attorneys and investigators with background information on cellular technology, carrier stored data, how …
Information for Attorneys Representing Pregnant Clients
IDS is sharing this information from Megan Williams, MSPH, MSW, Research Associate at the UNC Collaborative for Maternal and Infant Health to assist counsel representing clients who may be pregnant. The number of incarcerated women has risen dramatically across North Carolina in the past few decades, and about 5-7% of incarcerated women are pregnant. Incarcerated …
Information for Attorneys Representing Pregnant ClientsRead More
Psychosexual Evaluation and Sexual Risk Assessments
Live webinar presented by Jan Tate, MSW, LCSW, MEd, CSOTPSeptember 7, 2023, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated Psychosexual evaluations include sexual abuser–specific assessments and promote informed decision making among those who share responsibility for treatment, risk management, and other domains of intervention. Empirically–informed and reliable sexual abuser–specific assessments can be used, for example, to …
Psychosexual Evaluation and Sexual Risk AssessmentsRead More
Traumatic Brain Injury Resources
Desiree Gorbea-Finalet, Project Manager for the Traumatic Brain Injury Project at Disability Rights North Carolina has shared the following resources that may be helpful for attorneys working with clients who may have a Traumatic Brain Injury. Traumatic Brain Injury: A Guide for Criminal Justice Professionals (CDC) Accessible Court Participation with a Brain Injury – The …
Forensic Podcasts Episodes For Attorneys
Attorney Darcia Forester, Deputy Public Defender, State of Hawaii has compiled this list of podcasts episodes relating to Forensic Sciences – including DNA, fingerprints, ballistics, government surveillance, facial recognition, cell phones, data collection and algorithms. Attorneys are encouraged to utilize this comprehensive list as a resource.
Virtual Workshop Series: Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals
North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) will host a two-part virtual workshop series on the Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals. This workshop series will discuss topics surrounding qualifications of expert witnesses in forensic disciplines under both the Daubert and the Frye standards. Part I of this …
Virtual Workshop Series: Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal ProfessionalsRead More