Evidence that cocaine was the identity of the substance was admissible not withstanding the substance being handled with bare hands and stored in a glove box where cocaine had previously been stored. The court found concerns over cross contamination went to the evidence’s weight, not matters of admissibility and authentication.
Resources
State v. Carver, _ N.C. App. _ (April 20, 2021)
Defendant successfully appealed a murder conviction on a motion for appropriate relief by showing, with expert testimony, that SBI policies for interpreting mixture DNA evidence at the time were outdated and inaccurate based on current accepted practices. A new trial was awarded.
Free NACDL Webinar – Search, Seize, and Extract: Challenging Law Enforcement Use of Mobile Device Forensic Tools and Technologies in Criminal Cases
Last October, a report from the technology and justice non-profit Upturn found that over 2,000 law enforcement agencies in all 50 states had purchased mobile device forensic tools (MDFTs) to search, access, and extract sensitive information from cell phones for use in criminal investigations, often without a warrant and with little to no oversight. The …
Autopsy of a Crime Lab: Exposing the Flaws in Forensics
Register here. The Quattrone Center invites you attend a talk with author Brandon Garrett on his new book “Autopsy of a Crime Lab: Exposing the Flaws in Forensics.” This book exposes the imperfect forensic evidence that we rely on for criminal convictions. He will be joined by Dr. Itiel Dror, University College London and Maneka …
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Field Sobriety Tests and THC Levels Unreliable Indicators of Marijuana Intoxication
Researchers investigated how marijuana affects skills required for safe driving and found that biofluid levels of THC did not correlate with field sobriety test performance or marijuana intoxication, regardless of how the cannabis was ingested.
Field Sobriety Tests and THC Levels Unreliable Indicators of Marijuana IntoxicationRead More
Drug Analysis Webinar: Methodology Used for Presumptive Tests and Common Errors Observed
Live webinar presented by Ed Brown, Ph.D.April 1, 2021, 1:00 pm60 min of CLE credit anticipated Materials: PowerPoint Slides This one-hour live webinar will provide attorneys having little science training with the basics about the various chemical analysis techniques employed by forensic laboratories and other contract labs around the US. Although a few technical details …
Drug Analysis Webinar: Methodology Used for Presumptive Tests and Common Errors ObservedRead More
Safe, Efficient, Reliable: New Science in the Fight Against Killer Drugs
NIST article about testing of drugs that may contain fentanyl or other dangerous synthetic opioids. The article contains video clips showing how powder substances can contaminate various surfaces in laboratories and addresses ways that labs work to eliminate contamination.
Safe, Efficient, Reliable: New Science in the Fight Against Killer DrugsRead More
Biological Evidence in the Courtroom: Mandatory Judicial Inquiry
Mar. 23, 2021 SOG blog post by Jacquelyn Greene about requirements for preservation and disposal of biological evidence
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The Science of Implicit Bias: Implications for Law and Policy
On March 22-23, 2021, the National Academies of Science will offer a free-to-attend virtual workshop that will explore the scientific basis of implicit bias, its prevalence and impact, and implications for policy and law. The workshop has been organized by an ad hoc planning committee co-chaired by Dr. Camara Jones (Morehouse School of Medicine) and …
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2021 Forensic Science Summit for the Criminal Defense Bar
March 23-25, 20219:00-1:30 pm via Zoom$50 for private attorneys; $25 for Public Defenders The NJ Public Defender, the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of NJ, and the NJ Institute of Technology are offering a 3-day seminar on forensic science evidence.
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Digital Evidence – Consumer Electronics and the IoT (Internet of Things)
Live webinar presented by Lars DanielApril 15, 2021, 1:00 pm60 min of CLE credit (technology hour) anticipated Our world is becoming increasingly hyper-connected. The objective of the Internet of things is for everything to communicate and interface with everything. From wearable technology and smart home assistants, to Internet connected medical ingestibles and social credit scores, more data …
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Guidelines for Digital Forensics First Responders
Interpol guidelines for best practices for search and seizure of electronic and digital evidence
Autopsy of a Crime Lab
Duke Law Professor and Wilson Center Director Brandon Garrett’s new book, Autopsy of a Crime Lab, Exposing the Flaws in Forensics, is the first to catalog the sources of error and the faulty science behind a range of well-known forensic evidence, from fingerprints and firearms to forensic algorithms. Join us for a roundtable discussion about …
Western NC Death Investigation Conference
The annual Western NC Death Investigation Conference will be presented via live webinar on April 10, 2021. The program is being offered by the Northwest AHEC. 6 hours of CLE credit is anticipated. Topics include expert witness testimony, investigation of death due to possible elder abuse or neglect, gunshot wound characteristics, identification and forensic aspects …
Stability and persistence of touch DNA for forensic analysis
Webinar reviewing existing scientific literature, describing lessons learned and best practices for conducting experiments with touch DNA, and describing the initial results of a study designed to evaluate the stability of touch DNA under different environmental conditions.
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