North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services
The Maryland Supreme Court granted a new trial after deciding that a firearms examiner should not have been permitted to offer an unqualified opinion that the crime scene bullets were fired from the defendant’s gun. Specifically, the reports, studies, and testimony relied on by the examiner did not demonstrate that the firearms identification methodology employed …
Limits Imposed on Ballistics Evidence by MD Supreme CourtRead More
Live webinar presented by Dr. Shawn AchesonAugust 3, 2023, 12:30pm90 min of CLE credit anticipated This workshop will provide an overview of the kind of work that neuropsychologists do, how they do it, and how it may be helpful to criminal defense attorneys. The bulk of this presentation will focus on brain injury and how …
Neuropsychology of Brain Injury in Criminal Contexts – What Attorneys Need to KnowRead More
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 …
Virtual Workshop Series: Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal ProfessionalsRead More
Case Background Last September, the NACDL joined forces with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) to file an amicus brief in support of the defense in New Jersey v. Arteaga. The question before the Appellate Division was whether the defense is entitled to information about how a face recognition search …
NJ Appellate Decision: Defense Entitled to Face Recognition InformationRead More
Carla Huff, IDS Recruitment and Training Coordinator, is offering several opportunities for important training that may benefit those who do indigent defense work. The webinars are open to public defenders, private attorneys (and staff) who do indigent criminal defense work. Don’t miss your chance to attend one of her “Adverse Childhood Experiences 101” webinars! These …
IDS to offer free CLEs on Adverse Childhood ExperiencesRead More
Researchers aiming to understand how long touch DNA remains detectable on different surfaces under various environmental conditions conducted a study funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The research highlights the challenges associated with low and variable quantities of touch DNA collected, making it difficult to accurately assess DNA degradation. However, the findings provide …
Challenges with Touch DNA: Implications for Interpreting and Evaluating Touch DNA EvidenceRead More
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 and investigators. The tour will take place on June 30, 2023 at 11:00 …
Live webinar presented by Carla Huff and Attorney Sarah OlsonJune 29, 2023, 12:30 pm 60 minutes of CLE credit offered Description:Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Secondary Traumatic Stress: Childhood experiences impact overall development and functioning, resulting in risk and protective factors. This presentation will focus on the impact of adverse childhood experiences and their impact …
Webinar: Intro to Adverse Childhood Experiences/Secondary Trauma & Forensics 101Read More
The Autism Society partnered with Legal Reform for the Intellectually & Developmentally Disabled to produce an FAQ for Public Defenders on how to work with a client with Autism. An FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin found that Americans with Autism are seven times more likely to be victims of crime due to vulnerability, twelve times more likely to become …
FAQs to assist with representing clients with AutismRead More
Live webinar presented by Mireille Kelley, Ph.D. June 1, 2023, 12:30 pm 90 min of CLE credit anticipated This course is designed to help the attendee to understand the general concepts of injury biomechanics, especially as it relates to head injury. It will inform the attendee on different types of head injuries and their associated …
<strong>Biomechanics of Head Injuries and Applications to Criminal Cases</strong>Read More
Live webinar presented by Julia Leighton, JD May. 4, 2023, 12:30 pm 90 min of CLE credit anticipated This program is the fourth in a series of 4 webinars focused on issues related to firearms evidence. This program will offer guidance to attorneys seeking to challenge the admissibility of firearm and toolmark evidence under a …
Are you looking for an investigator who can find and interview witnesses, review evidence, gather and document additional evidence, examine the crime scene and its investigation, and conduct background checks on witnesses? IDS has created a directory of licensed private investigators who are available to assist on your criminal cases. Compiling information on investigators who …
Private Investigator Directory added to IDS websiteRead More
In a 6-part podcast, host and filmmaker Molly Hermann traces the roots of various forensic techniques and the questions surrounding their accuracy. Each episode will focus on one technique, and is informed by criminal defense attorneys who have challenged the reliability of this evidence in court. The second episode looks at bitemark evidence and the …
The Center for Integrity in Forensic Science (CIFS) has released their first animated video. The video explores the problematic use of bite mark comparison evidence in the justice system. CIFS’s primary goal in creating the video is to raise public awareness about the flaws in bite mark evidence and educate potential jurors on its unreliability. …
Live full-day webinarApril 22, 2023Offered by Northwest Area Health Education Center (AHEC), a program of Wake Forest University School of Medicine Attorneys handling homicide cases who are looking to update their knowledge of forensic pathology should consider attending this excellent program that is offered annually. The training is geared toward medical examiners and forensic practitioners, …
Western North Carolina Death Investigation ConferenceRead More
