This report reviews advances in research and in our criminal legal system since the release of the 2014 NAS report. We base our findings on a systematic scoping review of empirical research in eyewitness identification, a workshop with researchers and legal professionals (November 2020), and surveys of leading respondents, as described below. This report also offers promising …
Featured Articles
Results from a Black-Box Study for Digital Forensic Examiners
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 …
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Cognitive biases in the peer review of bullet and cartridge case comparison casework: A field study
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 …
A Model for Confronting Fire Investigation Errors
John Lentini article containing important principles for investigating arson evidence.
Evidence Collection and Analysis for Touch DNA in Groping and Sexual Assault Cases
Julie Valentine et al. in Journal of Forensic Nursing (2021)
Evidence Collection and Analysis for Touch DNA in Groping and Sexual Assault CasesRead More
Medical Cannabis and Driving
Thomas R Arkell, Danielle McCartney, and Iain S McGregor article
A hierarchy of expert performance (HEP) applied to digital forensics: Reliability and biasability in digital forensics decision making
Defending IEEE Software Standards in Federal Criminal Court
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 …
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A preparatory guide for court prepared for DNA examiners by STRmix
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.
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The Probabilistic Genotyping Software STRmix: Utility and Evidence for its Validity
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.
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The effect of contextual information on decision-making in forensic toxicology
This study investigates the effects of contextual information on forensic toxicology testing and analysis. By Hilary J. Hamlett & Itiel E. Dror
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The US Department of Justice stumbles on visual perception
2021 PNAS article by Thomas D. Albright
The US Department of Justice stumbles on visual perceptionRead More
The Forensic Microbiome: The Invisible Traces We Leave Behind
Accuracy and Reproducibility of Conclusions by Forensic Bloodstain Pattern Analysts
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 …
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AI Case Study: Probabilistic Genotyping DNA Tools in Canadian Criminal Courts
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.
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