Addiction. 2009 December: 104(12):2040-2048. This study finds that THC concentrations persist in whole blood multiple days after drug discontinuation in heavy chronic cannabis users.
Reports and Publications
Invalid Forensic Science Testimony and Wrongful Convictions
by Brandon Garrett and Peter Neufeld, Virginia Law Review, Vol. 95, No. 1 (2009) – a study of the forensic science testimony by prosecution experts in the trials persons later exonerated by post-conviction DNA testing.
Invalid Forensic Science Testimony and Wrongful ConvictionsRead More
National Academy of Sciences Report
See pp. 179-182 for the National Research Counsel’s evaluation of Digital and Multimedia Analysis.
National Academy of Sciences Report
See pp. 128-133 for the National Research Counsel’s description of the forensic use of Deoxyribonucleic acid
National Academy of Sciences Report
See pp. 241-268 for the National Research Council’s assessment of the disciplines of forensic pathology and death investigation.
National Academy of Sciences Report
See pp. 173-176 for the National Research Council’s evaluation of forensic odontology. The report finds “there is continuing dispute over the value and scientific validity of comparing and identifying bite marks.” p. 173. The report lists the following concerns: “Bite marks on the skin will change over time”; Bite marks “can be distorted by the elasticity …
Strenthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
2009 report by the National Academy of Sciences (known as the NAS Report) which found serious problems in forensic science research and practice and recommended an overhaul of the current structure that supports the forensic science community.
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National Academy of Sciences Report
See pp. 136-150 for the National Research Council’s assessment of the discipline of fingerprint analysis. The 2009 NAS Report cited “a thorough analysis of the ACE-V method” that concluded: “‘We have reviewed available scientific evidence of the validity of the ACE-V method and found none.’” pp. 142-143 (citation omitted).
National Academy of Sciences Report
See pp. 133-136 for the National Research Counsel’s assessment of the analysis of controlled substances.
National Academy of Sciences Report
See pp. 150-155 for the National Research Counsel’s assessment of the discipline of Toolmark and Firearms Identification.
Ballistic Imaging
The National Academies Press, 2008. Provides information about the range of acceptable conclusions in this field, as well as the lack of error rate and subjectivity of the comparison techniques.
Mental Illness and the Death Penalty in North Carolina
2007 report by the American Civil Liberties Union on mental illness defenses and how they can be used under North Carolina statutes and case law.
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Detector Dogs and Probable Cause
Richard E. Myers II, 14 Geo. Mason L. Rev. 1 (2006) – argues that an alert by even a well-trained dog with an exceptional track record cannot by itself constitute probable cause to search. Includes a statistical analysis of the value of dog alerts and suggestions for improved use of detector dogs.
Inspector General’s Report on the FBI Mayfield Error
A review of the FBI’s handling of the Brandon Mayfield case (March 2006). The Office of the Inspector General focuses on the causes of the fingerprint misidentification in the Mayfield case and proposes possible solutions to prevent future fingerprint analysis errors. The enormous size of the IAFIS database and the power of the IAFIS program …
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National Training Standards for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiners
2006 DOJ manual sets out standards for the specialized education of sexual assault forensic examiners.
National Training Standards for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic ExaminersRead More