North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services
// by Sarah Olson
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of mobile and hard-drive forensic results achieved on mock examinations based on the demographic characteristics of the participants. The demographic data related to an individual’s workplace environment, education, and work experience. This study was open to anyone in the public or private sectors who work …
Results from a Black-Box Study for Digital Forensic ExaminersRead More
// by Sarah Olson
Research study on bullet and cartridge case comparison finding the odds of disagreement between examiners about the evidential strength of a comparison were approximately five times larger in the blind than in the non-blind procedure, with disagreement about 42.3% and 12.5% of the proposed conclusions, respectively. Also, the odds that their proposed conclusion was reported …
// by Sarah Olson
John Lentini article containing important principles for investigating arson evidence.
// by Sarah Olson
Julie Valentine et al. in Journal of Forensic Nursing (2021)
Evidence Collection and Analysis for Touch DNA in Groping and Sexual Assault CasesRead More
// by Sarah Olson
Thomas R Arkell, Danielle McCartney, and Iain S McGregor article
// by Sarah Olson
// by Sarah Olson
June 2021 article by Marc Canellas. IEEE’s 1012 Standard for independent software and hardware verification and validation (IV&V) is under attack in U.S. federal criminal court. As software spreads through the criminal legal system, scientists, engineers, and IEEE have an essential role in ensuring courts understand and respect IEEE 1012 and IV&V. If not, courts …
Defending IEEE Software Standards in Federal Criminal CourtRead More
// by Sarah Olson
This document responds to the DNA Mixture Interpretation: A NIST Scientific Foundation Review (draft) document from June 2021. STRmix prepared this document as guidance for STRmix users who may encounter the NIST review in the court setting.
A preparatory guide for court prepared for DNA examiners by STRmixRead More
// by Kate Shurtleff
By: John S. Buckleton, D.Sc.; Jo-Anne Bright, Ph.D.; Simone Gittelson, Ph.D.; Tamyra R. Moretti, Ph.D.; Anthony J. Onorato, M.C.I.M., M.S.F.S.; Frederick R. Bieber, Ph.D.; Bruce Budowle, Ph.D.; and Duncan A. Taylor, Ph.D.
The Probabilistic Genotyping Software STRmix: Utility and Evidence for its ValidityRead More
// by Kate Shurtleff
This study investigates the effects of contextual information on forensic toxicology testing and analysis. By Hilary J. Hamlett & Itiel E. Dror
The effect of contextual information on decision-making in forensic toxicologyRead More
// by Sarah Olson
2021 PNAS article by Thomas D. Albright
The US Department of Justice stumbles on visual perceptionRead More
// by Sarah Olson
// by Sarah Olson
R. Austin Hicklin, Kevin R. Winer, Paul E. Kish, Connie L. Parks, William Chapman, Kensley Dunagan, Nicole Richetelli, Eric G. Epstein, Madeline A. Ausdemore, Thomas A. Busey,. Forensic Science International, 2021. Highlights: Conclusions by bloodstain pattern analysts were often erroneous and often contradicted other analysts On samples with known causes, 11.2% of responses were erroneous …
Accuracy and Reproducibility of Conclusions by Forensic Bloodstain Pattern AnalystsRead More
// by Sarah Olson
A report of the Law Commission of Ontario which considers the role and impact of AI-driven probabilistic genotyping technology to generate evidence used in the criminal justice system. The report makes a number of recommendations based on concerns that PG DNA evidence may lead to wrongful convictions if not properly regulated.
AI Case Study: Probabilistic Genotyping DNA Tools in Canadian Criminal CourtsRead More
// by Sarah Olson
Explains how the NIBIN database works to search for possible connections between bullets or casings fired a separate crime scenes. Explains that every NIBIN lead must be verified by a firearms examiner. The NIBIN technician report of a lead is not sufficient reliable and should not be the basis of testimony. Advises prosecutors not to …