North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services

You are here: Home / Archives for Resources

Resources

Supreme Court: Alert by a Trained or Certified Drug Dog Normally Provides Probable Cause

//  by 

UNC School of Government blog post by Jeff Welty that explains the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2013 holding in Florida v. Harris. Harris holds that when a trained and certified drug dog alerts on a vehicle, that normally provides probable cause to search the car, even if there are no records regarding the dog’s performance in the field. …

Supreme Court: Alert by a Trained or Certified Drug Dog Normally Provides Probable CauseRead More

Hypothesis Testing of the Critical Underlying Premise of Discernible Uniqueness in Firearms-Toolmarks Forensic Practice

//  by 

Article by William A. Tobin and Peter J. Blau that argues that existing studies that are typically presented in court as support for firearm/projectile comparisons are fatally flawed and thus are of no value for validation of the techniques used. The authors offer a solution that would allow a scientifically defensible opinion to be proffered …

Hypothesis Testing of the Critical Underlying Premise of Discernible Uniqueness in Firearms-Toolmarks Forensic PracticeRead More

State v. Lawson, 352 Ore. 724 (2012)

//  by 

On Nov. 29, 2012, the Oregon Supreme Court issued an important decision, which places the burden on the state to establish the reliability of the eyewitness identification and recognizes and requires courts to act in a manner consistent with the latest scientific research on eyewitness identification and memory. This opinion may be useful in NC …

State v. Lawson, 352 Ore. 724 (2012)Read More

Examining Shaken Baby Syndrome Convictions in Light of New Medical Scientific Research

//  by 

Examines the controversy concerning Shaken Baby Syndrome and how emerging medical research is prompting the legal system to re-examine SBS convictions. Click on the link and then click Download This Paper at the top of the page to read the full article.

Examining Shaken Baby Syndrome Convictions in Light of New Medical Scientific ResearchRead More

A placebo-controlled study to assess Standardized Field Sobriety Tests performance during alcohol and cannabis intoxication in heavy cannabis users and accuracy of point of collection testing devices for detecting THC in oral fluid

//  by 

Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2012 October; 223(4): 439-446. This study finds that Standardized Field Sobriety Tests are only mildly sensitive to impairment from cannabis in heavy users. THC produced impairment on SFST performance in 30-50% of participants.

A placebo-controlled study to assess Standardized Field Sobriety Tests performance during alcohol and cannabis intoxication in heavy cannabis users and accuracy of point of collection testing devices for detecting THC in oral fluidRead More

Analysis of experiments in forensic firearms/toolmarks practice offered as support for low rates of practice error and claims of inferential certainty

//  by 

Article by Clifford Spiegelman and William A. Tobin that evaluates experiments used to justify conclusions of “individualization” or specific source attribution to “100% certainty” and “near-zero” rates of error claimed by firearm toolmark examiners in court testimonies and suggests approaches for establishing statistical foundations for this firearm and toolmark comparisons.

Analysis of experiments in forensic firearms/toolmarks practice offered as support for low rates of practice error and claims of inferential certaintyRead More

Shaken Baby Syndrome, Abusive Head Trauma, and Actual Innocence: Getting It Right

//  by 

Explains the history of the Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma diagnosis, discusses the ongoing debates around this diagnosis, reviews and critiques the scientific literature supporting the diagnosis, and discusses the appropriateness of testimony related to SBS/AHT under the Daubert standard. The full text article is available for free download by clicking the “download this paper” …

Shaken Baby Syndrome, Abusive Head Trauma, and Actual Innocence: Getting It RightRead More

Failed Evidence: Why Law Enforcement Resists Science

//  by 

This book by Professor David. A. Harris looks at why wrongful convictions occur and seeks to explain why law enforcement and prosecutors resist adopting improved forensic practices. The first chapter can be downloaded for free by clicking on the “Download This Paper” button. Available in the IDS Forensic Resource Library.

Failed Evidence: Why Law Enforcement Resists ScienceRead More

DNA for the Defense Bar

//  by 

This manual was written by a group of experienced defense attorneys and DNA experts. Its approach to basic and advanced topics is easy to understand. In addition to explaining the science and techniques of DNA analysis, the manual offers advice on topics such as opening and closing statements, jury selection, and cross examination.

DNA for the Defense BarRead More

Report from the Incapacity to Proceed Committee of the North Carolina General Assembly

//  by 

April 2012 report created by the Incapacity to Proceed Committee of the North Carolina General Assembly which includes the Committee’s findings and recommendations for future capacity to proceed legislation.

Report from the Incapacity to Proceed Committee of the North Carolina General AssemblyRead More