North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services
// by Sarah Olson
As of 2016, the ABFO Standards and Guidelines no longer permit conclusions of “exact match” or that a perpetrator made a mark without a doubt. This marks a significant change in the field. The strongest conclusion permissible now is that a person is “not excluded as having made the bitemark.” See p. 94 and 102. …
American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) Reference ManualRead More
// by Chris Liu-Beers
This National Institute of Health searchable database allows users to search for a compound and learn more about its chemical structure, uses, properties, toxicity, and other information.
// by Chris Liu-Beers
This website contains a library of GCMS data for compounds and is organized by molecular weight, base peak and second base peak. This library may be useful for limited purposes.
// by Chris Liu-Beers
This document provides the relevant statutes and summarizes the case law on the issue of how marijuana should be weighed. It addresses issues such as whether water weight and mature stalks should be included. Links to the State Crime Lab’s relevant procedures are provided, as well as contact information of experts who are available to …
// by Sarah Olson
This 2012 report by Paul Bieber of the Arson Research Project finds that cognitive bias is found in the field of fire investigation. Makes recommendations for how to minimize these biases.
Measuring the Impact of Cognitive Bias in Fire InvestigationRead More
// by Sarah Olson
by Marc Price Wolf, Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology (2009). Describes the shift in methodology and foundational principles that the field of fire investigation has undergone recently and discusses how habeas corpus relief can be utilized in arson cases.
// by Sarah Olson
This New Yorker article by David Grann provides and in depth investigation of the flaws in the Cameron Todd Willingham case.
// by Sarah Olson
This October 2011, Discover Magazine article by Douglas Starr explains how the science of fire investigation has evolved in recent years and discusses why certain findings that have traditionally been interpreted as evidence of arson have been debunked. This article is an excellent reference for attorneys who are seeking additional information about fire investigation or …
Spark of Truth: Can Science Bring Justice to Arson Trials?Read More
// by Sarah Olson
Has several online training modules which give introductory information, but should not replace in-depth research of the issues.
// by Sarah Olson
The federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing the criminal and regulatory provisions of Federal laws pertaining to explosives enforcement and arson.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and ExplosivesRead More
// by Sarah Olson
The NC chapter of the IAAI. Find information about relevant NC case law, local training, and membership.
NC International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc.Read More
// by Sarah Olson
An association of more than 5,000 fire investigation professionals. The website has some information about trainings and standards, but most of the material is available only to members.
International Association of Arson Investigators, Inc.Read More
// by Sarah Olson
The National Center for Forensic Science at the University of Central Florida has tested over 600 commercial products and compiled information about their molecular composition in an online database.
// by Sarah Olson
This article by Paul Bieber appeared in the 2013 CACJ publication. Bieber looks at the reliability of fire investigation and the validity of techniques including identification of the area or areas of origin.
Forensic Fire Scene Examination – What it Tells Us, and What it Doesn’tRead More
// by Sarah Olson
This 1997 study by FEMA and the US Fire Administration found that ventilation and flashover may change or move patterns making correct interpretation of the pattern more difficult. Flashover was found in a majority of test fires and did obscure patterns including patterns from ignitable liquids.