Attorneys from several counties have received notice through discovery that their cases were potentially affected by a DNA testing issue at National Medical Services (NMS) Labs in Pennsylvania. DA’s offices in various jurisdictions have sent samples to NMS Labs for DNA testing in recent years.
Crime Labs
Some Texas District Attorneys require lab tests for marijuana charges
The Texas Legislature recently legalized the cultivation of hemp, complicating enforcement of existing marijuana laws in the state. Hemp and marijuana are the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa, and are distinguishable only through a chemical analysis which shows the THC concentration. The concentration of THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana, is the legal difference …
Some Texas District Attorneys require lab tests for marijuana chargesRead More
Online tracking system for Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits 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.
Online tracking system for Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits now availableRead More
State Crime Lab Tour – July 26, 2019
There will be a tour of the NC State Crime Laboratory in Raleigh for defense attorneys on Friday, July 26, 2019 at 11 am. State Crime Lab staff will take attorneys and defense investigators to several sections of the lab and provide information about the techniques used by lab analysts. This is an excellent opportunity …
Hemp or Marijuana
Originally posted on May 21, 2019 on the North Carolina Criminal Law blog. Back in November of last year, I wrote about hemp and CBD laws here. I have been teaching quite a bit on the subject lately and wanted to follow up that post with an examination of how legal use of hemp products …
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 …
New lab procedure to facilitate communication between attorneys and lab analystsRead More
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 …
How do I find NC State Crime Laboratory procedures?Read More
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 …
Open Forum with the NC State Crime Laboratory
The NC State Crime Laboratory and NC Office of Indigent Defense Services will offer a free to attend CLE on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, that is designed to enhance the knowledge of criminal defense attorneys and criminal defense investigators. The program will be held at the NC Judicial Center, 901 Corporate Center Drive, Raleigh, NC. Senior …
NC State Crime Laboratory Customer Satisfaction Survey
The NC State Crime Lab is conducting a customer satisfaction survey. The survey will be open until Aug. 31, 2018. Filling out the survey will allow the NC State Crime Lab to get feedback on your interactions with them over the past year. The survey is short and should not take much time to complete. …
NC State Crime Laboratory Customer Satisfaction SurveyRead More
Accessing NC State Crime Laboratory Procedures
The North Carolina State Crime Laboratory has shared its current and archived/historical procedures with IDS, which will facilitate attorney access to these procedures and improves transparency in how evidence is tested and processed in the Lab. Attorneys who need access to the lab procedures in their cases now have several options to locate these procedures. …
NC State Crime Laboratory welcomes new Ombudsman
Sarah Jessica Farber is the new Ombudsman to the NC State Crime Laboratory. As Ombudsman, her job responsibilities include addressing public concerns about the Crime Lab and making recommendations to the Attorney General about any changes needed at the Crime Lab. The Ombudsman serves as a liaison with all criminal justice system actors and is …
Houston in the Blind
Blind studies and procedures are the gold standard of evaluating the quality and reliability of scientific results. Unfortunately, this has long been lacking in forensic science. Fortunately, strides are being made to introduce blind testing to forensics, most notably in the Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC). Currently, forensic scientists are tested periodically on their knowledge …
Lab Tour on April 27
Would you like to learn more about how forensic toxicology testing is performed? Would you like to have a better understanding of how blood is tested for drugs or alcohol? Toxicologists Dr. Jay Gehlhausen and Dr. David Burrows will lead attorneys and investigators on a lab tour on April 27, 2018 in Wake Forest, NC …
Free Webinar on Lab Accreditation and Analyst Certification
Stetson Law’s National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law is offering a complementary webinar for defense attorneys and prosecutors on Dec. 14, 2017 from 12-2 pm. Registration and program information is available here. The program will explain the lab accreditation process and the certification of individual forensic science practitioners in specific disciplines. Panelists will …
Free Webinar on Lab Accreditation and Analyst CertificationRead More