This Scientific Area Committee (part of the OSAC) has taken over the work previously done by the Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology (SWGFAST). It is a collaboration of practitioners working to improve discipline practices and build consensus standards for the field of friction ridge analysis.
Resources
State v. Rogers, 355 N.C. 420, 432 (2002)
The test in North Carolina for identification procedures prior to the enactment of the EIRA was stated in State v. Rogers, 355 N.C. 420, 432 (2002) as follows: Whether an identification procedure is unduly suggestive depends on the totality of the circumstances. State v. Pigott, 320 N.C. 96, 99 (1987). A due process analysis requires a …
Brief Bank
For briefs on eyewitness identification issues, including showups, photo arrays, independent basis for in-court identification, expert witness on identification, and jury instruction on identification, visit the Identification of Accused section of the Indigent Defense Services Brief Bank.
Technical Working Group for Eyewitness Evidence
Innocence Project: Eyewitness Misidentification
A resource for eyewitness identification reform, including a link to the North Carolina Actual Innocence Commission Recommendations for Eyewitness Identification.
State v. Cotton
Ronald Cotton was wrongfully convicted of two rapes and burglaries in 1985 and 1987. Although innocent, Ronald Cotton served over 10 years in prison, primarily due to erroneous eyewitness identification. DNA testing in 1995 revealed that evidence from one victim did not match Cotton, but instead matched with another man who had confessed to the …
Procedures for Challenging Eyewitness Identification Evidence
Attorneys considering challenging eyewitness identification should consult Chapter 3 of Alyson A. Grine & Emily Coward, Raising Issues of Race in North Carolina Criminal Cases. The chapter provides detailed information on motions to suppress, voir dire of witnesses, jury voir dire, working with experts, cross-examination, and other topics.
Procedures for Challenging Eyewitness Identification EvidenceRead More
Reevaluating Lineups: Why Witnesses Make Mistakes
Innocence Project report showing that misidentification causes more wrongful convictions than any other factor. Misidentifications contributed to wrongful convictions of more than 75% of the over 230 people exonerated through post-conviction DNA testing.
An Overview of the DRE Program, Officer, and Procedures
An overview of the DRE Unit of the Los Angeles Police department, where the DRE program was developed. There is a section on Laboratory and Field Evaluation of the DRE program which summarizes various studies on the efficacy of DREs determinations
An Overview of the DRE Program, Officer, and ProceduresRead More
Washington State Patrol Forensic Laboratory Services
Copies of the DRE Student and Instructor Manuals are available for download on this website.
Washington State Patrol Forensic Laboratory ServicesRead More
Crime Lab and Forensic Scandals
NACDL’s list of crime lab and forensic scandals from 2007-2015.
Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences
Center dedicated to legislative, systemic, and direct service efforts to improve integrity in forensic science.
National Registry of Exonerations
This database contains information on all known exonerations in the U.S., dating back to 1989. This is a joint project of the University of the Michigan Law School and the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law.
NC General Statutes
Discovery Discovery Procedure NC Gen Stat 15A-902 Disclosure by the State – Information subject to disclosure NC Gen Stat 15A-903 Disclosure by the State – Information not subject to disclosure NC Gen Stat 15A-904 Disclosure by the Defendant – Information subject to disclosure NC Gen Stat 15A-905 Disclosure by the Defendant – Certain evidence not subject to disclosure NC Gen …
Forensic Services Unit
The Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services Forensic Resources Unit assists and supports criminal defense attorneys in the public counsel and private counsel divisions of CPCS in the litigation of forensics issues in their cases. Their websites contains educational information about various forensics disciplines.