In May 2004, the FBI arrested Oregon lawyer Brandon Mayfield based on an erroneous fingerprint identification. FBI analysts incorrectly identified a fingerprint left inside a plastic bag related to the Madrid train bombing as matching Mr. Mayfield.
Resources
Crime Scene Investigation: A Reference for Law Enforcement Training (2004)
U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. A guide designed to accompany the general crime scene guide. Provides step-by-step procedures for each phase of crime scene investigation. Provides more specific procedures than the general guide does for some topics.
Crime Scene Investigation: A Reference for Law Enforcement Training (2004)Read More
A biomechanical analysis of the causes of traumatic brain injury in infants and children
by W. Goldsmith and J. Plunkett, Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2004 Jun; 25(2):89-100.
A biomechanical analysis of the causes of traumatic brain injury in infants and childrenRead More
The cutaneous manifestations and common mimickers of physical child abuse
by Shawna S. Mudd and Jeanne S. Findlay, J Pediatr Health Care. (2004). 18,123-129. Contact Sarah Rackley Olson about how to view the full text of this article.
The cutaneous manifestations and common mimickers of physical child abuseRead More
NHTSA Drug and Human Performance Fact Sheets
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers information about the effects of impairing substances. 2004 Fact Sheet 2024 Fact Sheet
Jan Semenoff, Intoxilyzer Breath Alcohol Testing: Professional Edition
Priorities and Strategies for Improving the Investigation, Use of Toxicology Results, and Prosecution of Drug-Impaired Driving Cases
2004 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publication targeted to prosecutors. The first section details some of the major problems with prosecuting drug impaired driving cases, such as the lack of any clear correlation between blood drug concentrations and impairment for many drugs (p. 8).
Forensic Crime Labs: Scrutinizing Results, Audits and Accreditation
by Frederic Whitehurst, 2004. This 2-part article provides a checklist of items to request in discovery from a forensic lab and explains the significance of each item. NACDL membership is required to access these articles.
Forensic Crime Labs: Scrutinizing Results, Audits and AccreditationRead More
Medical Examiners’ and Coroners’ Handbook on Death Registration and Fetal Death Reporting
Accidental Scald Burns in Sinks
by M. Olivia Titus, Amy L. Baxter, and Suzanne P. Starling in Pediatrics 111(2):e191. (2003). This article evaluates accidental burn injuries similar to those found in inflicted injury and discusses information needed to distinguish the causes.
Barry A.J. Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation (6th ed.)
Donnell R. Christian, Forensic Investigation of Clandestine Laboratories
Communicating Statistical DNA Evidence
by Samuel Lindsey etal. Jurimetrics 43 (2003). This article presents what DNA analyses can and cannot reveal and a way to improve judges’ and jurors’ understanding of evidence involving probabilities and statistics.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Child Sexual Abuse
US DOJ guide on investigative techniques, using the presence of sexually transmitted disease, and identifying and eliminating suspects in sexual abuse cases.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Child Sexual AbuseRead More
A Guide for Manner of Death Classification (2002)
National Association of Medical Examiners. Drafted to improve uniformity in manner of death determinations for death certificates. View additional position papers and accreditation information on the NAME website.