Series of articles about the intersections of forensic science, surveillance technology, AI, and the criminal legal system with the goal of developing clearer ways of seeing the systems underneath them: what gets collected, how evidence is transformed, what gets preserved, where scientific and technical limits lie, and what happens to constitutional rights when those systems …
Websites
National Litigation Support Blog for Federal/Community Defenders and CJA Practitioners
The NLS Blog has many posts that are useful to criminal practitioners covering various topics related to digital evidence. Recent posts include a post-Chatrie primer for suppression litigation and new information about cellular area searches. Defenders can subscribe to the blog to receive an email each time a new article is posted.
National Litigation Support Blog for Federal/Community Defenders and CJA PractitionersRead More
Envista Digital Forensics Resource Portal
Provides subpoena templates, discovery resources, and guides to assist attorneys in cases involving digital evidence including:
North Carolina Overdose Epidemic Data
NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health webpage compiling overdose data by county
Data for Defenders
The University of Michigan has created a new database, “Data for Defenders.” The database includes briefs, motions and transcripts related to forensic science and social science in court. It’s relatively small at the moment but will be added to over time. Additionally, the website contains information about incorporating social science into criminal defense practice.
Legal Consultation on Sex Offense Cases
Case consultations in sex offense cases are offered at no cost to attorneys in court-appointed or public defender cases. Attorneys can request a consult here and get more information about the consulting attorneys here.
Glass Analysis
The goal of this focus area is to improve the field of glass evidence analysis by developing new matrix-matched glass standards and by evaluating more objective approaches to evidence interpretation, such as the likelihood ratio. The latter will be accomplished through the development of glass databases that may be used to assign a significance to …
Forensic Database Trace Evidence Table
Databases which include reference collections of trace evidence for fibers, glass, automobile identification, paint, tape, plastic bags, powders and impressions.
Microtrace, LLC
Microtrace is a private microanalytical laboratory offering analytical services that are utilized by prosecutors, defense attorneys, police, forensic laboratories and, occasionally, the news media. Expert testimony and case reviews are provided. The website contains information about research and development in the field.
Making Use of What’s Not Visible in Trace Evidence Examinations
Nanoparticles and other subvisible particles potentially present in nearly all trace evidence are often overlooked in forensic investigations. NIJ-supported researchers have characterized several types of particles and developed detection methods.
Making Use of What’s Not Visible in Trace Evidence ExaminationsRead More
The OSAC Materials (Trace) Subcommittee
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees Materials (Trace) Subcommittee for Forensic Science focuses standards and guidelines related to the examination and interpretation of physical evidence that may result from the transfer of small or minute quantities of materials (e.g., hairs, fibers, paint, tape, glass).
Electronic Frontier Foundation Atlas of Surveillance
A searchable database, created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation in partnership with the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno, on the surveillance technologies in use in jurisdictions across the country. The site also contains a glossary with a brief descriptions of each surveillance method listed in the database.
Electronic Frontier Foundation Atlas of SurveillanceRead More
ANAB Directory of Accredited Organizations
This database can be used to identify which laboratories are accredited.
Human DNA Standard — A Q&A With NIST’s Becky Steffen
NIST scientist Becky Steffen answers questions regarding her preparation of a “Human DNA Standard” which helps forensic laboratories maintain accurate DNA test results.
Human DNA Standard — A Q&A With NIST’s Becky SteffenRead More
UNC School of Government Articles on Digital Evidence
Blog posts on various topics of digital evidence published at the UNC School of Government.
UNC School of Government Articles on Digital EvidenceRead More