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.
Resources
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.
State v. Hewitt, 836 S.E.2d 786 (2019)(unpub)
The court held that it was not plain error for the analyst to testify to the identity of a controlled substance without explaining what type of chemical analysis she performed. She testified she performed a color test and an instrumental analysis.
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 …
Crime Lab Proficiency Testing and Quality Management WebinarRead More
Mock Jurors’ Evaluation of Firearm Examiner Testimony
Garrett, B.L, Scurich, N, & Crozier, W.E. (2020)
Mock Jurors’ Evaluation of Firearm Examiner TestimonyRead 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. The toolkit includes recent favorable caselaw and links to the amicus curiae briefs filed by the Action Lab and its partners that were successful in those cases; an expanded section …
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
State v. Phillips, 268 N.C. App. 623 (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 …
Communicating Conclusions in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
The Forensic Center of Excellence will present a free webinar by Jeremy Morris on how bloodstain pattern analysis is communicated through written reports and courtroom testimony. Principles of communication science will be discussed and explained to develop the audience’s ability to transfer meaning through writing and verbal testimony. Communication is the act of sending and …
Communicating Conclusions in Bloodstain Pattern AnalysisRead More
Working with Experts in Trial Preparation CLE
Friday, January 10, 2020NC Judicial Center, 901 Corporate Center Drive, Raleigh, NCSponsored by NC Indigent Defense Services5.0 hours of General CLE Credit anticipated The NC Office of Indigent Defense Services will offer a continuing education program that is designed to enhance the knowledge of criminal defense attorneys regarding the use of expert testimony to communicate …
ANAB Directory of Accredited Organizations
This database can be used to identify which laboratories are accredited.
Eyewitness Evidence: Science, Law and Lessons
Stetson University College of Law National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the LawComplimentary Forensic Science Webinar Series Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Capital Case Litigation Initiative Webinar Presenter: Professor Jules Epstein, Director of Advocacy Programs, Temple University The 16th webinar in the Crime Scene to Courtroom webinar series will cover eyewitness identification evidence …
An Update on Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Decade of Development
Join the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Innocence Project and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), for a one-day conference commemorating the 10th anniversary of the pathbreaking NASEM report “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path …
An Update on Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Decade of DevelopmentRead More