The Association for Psychological Science published a review by Tess Neal, Christopher Slobogin, Michael Saks, David Faigman, and Kurt Geisinger on the psychological assessment tools used by forensic psychologists. The study found 67% are generally accepted in the field and only about 40% have generally favorable reviews of their psychometric and technical properties. The study …
Resources
Cognitive Biases in the Peer Review of Bullet and Cartridge Case Comparison Casework: A Field Study
Jan. 28, 2020 article in Science & Justice finding that bias occurs in non-blind peer reviewed bullet and cartridge case comparisons. Higher status examiners have a large influence on the outcome of a discussion. Blind peer review may reduce the probability of bias during peer review.
7th Annual NACDL-Cardozo Law National Forensic College
June 7-12, 2020 / New York CityBenjamin N. Cardozo School of Law One core objective of the Forensic College is to train trainers and supervisors in the defense community, and the participants include training directors from federal defender offices, public defense organizations, and assigned counsel programs. The Forensic College has reserved a limited number of slots …
7th Annual NACDL-Cardozo Law National Forensic CollegeRead More
2020 NACDL’s 11th Annual Post-Conviction Training
NACDL, in collaboration with the Innocence Network, presents an exciting new training specifically for lawyers who handle post-conviction innocence claims. National experts will provide cutting edge instruction on topics essential for investigating and litigating post-conviction innocence claims. Innovative new strategies and the latest subject matter developments in post-conviction practice will be featured! Sessions will cover both forensic …
Forensic Epidemiology: Monitoring Fatal Drug Overdose Trends
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence is offering this free webinar program. Given the vital role of medical examiners and coroners (ME/C) in recognizing emerging trends in drug overdose deaths, partnering epidemiologists with ME/C offices can greatly enhance the utility of the significant volume of data generated by medicolegal death investigation. Epidemiologists from three unique …
Forensic Epidemiology: Monitoring Fatal Drug Overdose TrendsRead More
NIST Tests Forensic Methods for Getting Data From Damaged Mobile Phones
This study looks at two methods for accessing data on damaged mobile phones.
NIST Tests Forensic Methods for Getting Data From Damaged Mobile PhonesRead More
Obtaining Medical Records in DWI Cases
Jan. 27, 2020 North Carolina Criminal Law blog post by Shea Denning
Defending Death by Distribution Cases
Jan. 21, 2020 NC Criminal Law blog post by Phil Dixon with links to resources for defenders litigating the new crimes of death by distribution and aggravated death by distribution in G.S. 14-18.4 cases.
Crime Lab Proficiency Testing and Quality Management Webinar
The Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE) is offering a webinar, Crime Lab Proficiency Testing and Quality Management. This event will be held Tuesday, January 21st from 11am-12pm, CST. In the wake of recent reports documenting the vulnerability of forensic science methodologies to human error (e.g., NAS, 2009; PCAST, 2016), the field has sometimes pointed to proficiency …
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Breaking Through: Challenging Police Credibility, Misconduct, and Overreach CLE
NACDL is offering a 2-day CLE in Palm Beach, FL that will explore building and using a police database, working with law enforcement experts, what Brady means in modern 2020, and the intersection between technology and misconduct including the ways law enforcement employs body cameras and facial recognition technology. The program includes specific skills-based lectures …
Breaking Through: Challenging Police Credibility, Misconduct, and Overreach CLERead More
Drug-Induced Homicide Defense Toolkit
The Health In Justice Action Lab of the Northeastern University School of Law has created a toolkit for attorneys defending death by distribution of drugs. This toolkit will be useful to defenders in handling charges of this sort in NC, both for the old murder by distribution and the new death by distribution.
OSAC’s Friction Ridge Subcommittee Develops Friction Ridge Process Map
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science’s Friction Ridge Subcommittee has developed a friction ridge examination process map that describes the conventional process for latent print examination. The process map identifies key decision points in the fingerprint examination process, enables laboratory managers to better understand how their protocols compare with those of other laboratories, …
OSAC’s Friction Ridge Subcommittee Develops Friction Ridge Process MapRead More
Taking Aim at Faulty Forensics: An NCDC Cross-Examination Workshop
The importance of taking on prosecution forensic experts on behalf of clients cannot be overstated. It is no mystery how powerful forensic evidence is to jurors. Yet countless wrongful convictions are, in fact, the result of inaccurate, faulty, or unchallenged forensics. This practical workshop will prepare defense counsel to challenge unreliable expert testimony using a mock …
Taking Aim at Faulty Forensics: An NCDC Cross-Examination WorkshopRead More
Marijuana or Hemp: From Farm Bill to Forensic Analysis
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence will offer a webinar on marijuana and hemp analysis. Attendees will hear from experts in agricultural policy, hemp industry analytical testing, and the DEA Special Testing and Research laboratory to obtain a better understanding of the issues that have developed within the field of forensic drug testing since the …
Marijuana or Hemp: From Farm Bill to Forensic AnalysisRead More
State v. Phillips, __ N.C. App. __, __ S.E.2d __ (Dec. 3, 2019)
New trial ordered where State Crime Lab forensic scientist was required to testify about DNA sample despite her insistence that the testimony was not scientifically valid. Court of Appeals found that the testimony was expert opinion testimony and did not satisfy prongs 1 or 2 of Rule 702 where the expert was asked to testify …
State v. Phillips, __ N.C. App. __, __ S.E.2d __ (Dec. 3, 2019)Read More