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North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services

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You are here: Home / Archives for Featured Articles

Featured Articles

NIST urges caution in use of likelihood ratio

October 17, 2017 //  by Sarah Olson

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released an article last week calling into question the use of the likelihood ratio to present evidence in court. NIST states that there is uncertainty about the appropriate use of the likelihood ratio. An expert’s subjective opinion may affect the calculation of the likelihood ratio, potentially distorting …

NIST urges caution in use of likelihood ratioRead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: DNA

NACDL Releases Primers on Surveillance

December 13, 2016 //  by Sarah Olson

With a focus on Fourth Amendment concerns, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) recently began a series of surveillance primers. The first primers in the series provide information on Automated License Plate Readers, Cell Phone Location Tracking, and Cell Site Simulators. NACDL will periodically release more primers on surveillance technologies. These documents are …

NACDL Releases Primers on SurveillanceRead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: Digital Evidence

New Research on “Touch” DNA

January 6, 2016 //  by Sarah Olson

As the sensitivity of DNA analysis increases, scientists are able to develop profiles from ever-smaller samples of DNA. This has lead to testing of a wider array of samples collected from crime scenes, including window panes, bullets, hats and other clothing, cigarette butts, and many other items. Attorneys sometimes ask me about the likelihood of …

New Research on “Touch” DNARead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: Crime Scene Investigation, DNA

False Positives in Drug Field Testing Kits

May 20, 2015 //  by burkedj2

The director of a lab recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for forensic science excellence has called field drug testing kits “totally useless” due to the possibility of false positives. In laboratory experiments, at least two brands of field testing kits have been shown to produce false positives in tests of Mucinex, …

False Positives in Drug Field Testing KitsRead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: Drug Analysis

BBC Knowledge Explainer DNA

March 19, 2013 //  by Sarah Olson

Here is a 3-minute video that explains the basics of DNA’s form and function. It’s part of the BBC’s online Explainer documentary series. Though the focus of this short animated film is not forensic DNA analysis, it gives important information that attorneys or jurors need to understand before attempting to understand forensic DNA analysis. Attorneys …

BBC Knowledge Explainer DNARead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: DNA

Thousands of cases compromised due to faulty forensic analysis

March 4, 2013 //  by chrisherla

In recent months, faulty forensic analysis has been exposed in several labs across the country. The failure of a handful of lab analysts to correctly perform forensic analysis has compromised thousands of cases. In each situation the failures are different, but they expose a lack of oversight of analyst performance in the affected labs. The …

Thousands of cases compromised due to faulty forensic analysisRead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: DNA, Drug Analysis

Developing Analyses of Biological Evidence: Predicting Eye Color, Determining the Source of Bodily Fluids, and Locating Trace Evidence Within Guns

December 19, 2012 //  by todayadvocatingtomorrow

Several studies reported in the January 2013 Issue of Forensic Science International: Genetics are of interest for future developments in forensic evidence. Research is being done on predicting eye color, hair color, and skin color from DNA. Currently, 37 gene sequences (SNPs or single nucleotide polymorphisms) have been identified as playing a role in these …

Developing Analyses of Biological Evidence: Predicting Eye Color, Determining the Source of Bodily Fluids, and Locating Trace Evidence Within GunsRead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: DNA

Stateline and NPR report on the state of forensic science labs

December 7, 2012 //  by terrisims

In a two-part report, Stateline examines the problems facing crime labs across the country.  Part one of the series addresses recent problems plaguing crime labs and the need for judicial education regarding the reliability of forensic evidence.  Part two introduces a new forensic lab in Washington, D.C. which operates independently of state law enforcement agencies …

Stateline and NPR report on the state of forensic science labsRead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: Foundations of Forensics

“Forensics on Trial” program on NOVA

October 17, 2012 //  by terrisims

NOVA (PBS) aired a program called “Forensics on Trial” on October 17, 2012, examining the crisis facing crime labs in the U.S which lack central oversight, employ few scientific standards, and have poor regulation of examiners. The program investigates how the use of fingerprint, bite mark, ballistics, toolmark, and hair analysis evidence has led to …

“Forensics on Trial” program on NOVARead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: DNA

The (Sorry) State of Forensics in the US [and perhaps the world]

April 16, 2012 //  by plocke7

Reposted from The Wrongful Convictions Blog by Phil Locke, Science and Technology Advisor, Ohio Innocence Project In 2009, The National Academies of Science of the United States published its Congressionally commissioned report:  “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States – A Path Forward.”  Chapter 5 of the report presents a review of a number of …

The (Sorry) State of Forensics in the US [and perhaps the world]Read More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: Foundations of Forensics

Improving Arson Investigations

January 26, 2012 //  by Sarah Olson

Discover Magazine recently published two articles about how recent scientific investigation has challenged the traditional principles and methodology of fire investigation. Spark of Truth: Can Science Bring Justice to Arson Trials? explains how these developments have occurred and Seven Myths About Arson debunks seven fire scene findings that have been used in numerous cases as …

Improving Arson InvestigationsRead More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: Arson

DNA Mixture Analysis – Is It Subjective or Objective?

September 27, 2011 //  by Sarah Olson

DNA is often regarded as the gold standard of forensic science because of its purported objectivity, which makes it immune to subjectivity and bias. The National Academy of Sciences 2009 Report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward even concluded that “[w]ith the exception of nuclear DNA analysis, . . . no …

DNA Mixture Analysis – Is It Subjective or Objective?Read More

Category: Featured ArticlesForensic Discipline: DNA

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