See pp. 133-136 for the National Research Counsel’s assessment of the analysis of controlled substances.
Resources
National Academy of Sciences Report
See pp. 150-155 for the National Research Counsel’s assessment of the discipline of Toolmark and Firearms Identification.
The Controversy Concerning Gunshot Residues Examinations
by Dennis L. McGuire, M.S., Forensic Magazine – discusses the lack of a uniform standard for GSR analyses based upon validated studies. States that until those studies are completed, “positive determinations of GSR should be seriously scrutinized.”
The Controversy Concerning Gunshot Residues ExaminationsRead More
A Presentation on Capacity to Proceed: How to Get Your Client Evaluated
A PowerPoint presentation created in 2008 by Wake County’s Office of Public Defender provides helpful tips for North Carolina attorneys when they suspect that their client may be incapable of proceeding to trial.
A Presentation on Capacity to Proceed: How to Get Your Client EvaluatedRead More
The Defenses of Voluntary Intoxication, Diminished Capacity, and Unconsciousness
For the 2008 Public Defender Spring Conference, Lisa Miles surveys 186 cases in which the court found evidence sufficient or not sufficient to warrant an instruction on voluntary intoxication, diminished capacity, or unconsciousness.
The Defenses of Voluntary Intoxication, Diminished Capacity, and UnconsciousnessRead More
False Positives Equal False Justice
A California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ) report by John Kelly. The report is largely based on the research of Dr. Frederic Whitehurst who tested field drug test kits and exposed and documented that they render false positives with legal substances. The report focuses on the Duquenois-Levine and KN Reagent tests used to test for …
Eyewitness Identification Reform Act (EIRA)
For crimes committed on or after March 1, 2008, the Eyewitness Identification Reform Act (EIRA) creates procedural guidelines for eyewitness identifications during photo lineups and live lineups. This legislation is codified at N.C. Gen. Stat. 15A-284.50 through 15A-284.53 (2007).
National Fire Protection Association 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations
David L. Faigman et al., Modern Scientific Evidence: Forensics (Student ed.)
Tom Bevel & Ross M. Gardner, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis With an Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction (3d ed.)
Brian J. Heard, Firearms and Ballistics: Examining and Interpreting Forensic Evidence (2d ed)
Ballistic Imaging
The National Academies Press, 2008. Provides information about the range of acceptable conclusions in this field, as well as the lack of error rate and subjectivity of the comparison techniques.
Computer Forensics for Dummies
by Linda Volonino and Reynaldo Anzaldua – this book provides an excellent introduction to the topic. An overview of the materials is available in an online “cheat sheet.”
Daubert Challenges to Firearms (“Ballistics”) Identifications
Article by Paul Gianelli
Daubert Challenges to Firearms (“Ballistics”) IdentificationsRead More
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Video Collection
Over 500 video clips were made of blood spatter experiments that are typically performed by individuals attending a basic bloodstain pattern analysis course. The videos were made possible through a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant and are available to be viewed or downloaded. The principal investigators were Terry Laber, Bart Epstein, and Dr. Michael Taylor.