Month January 2016

The National Institute of Justice wrote in its most recent journal about research and developmental projects used to improve forensic science disciplines. These efforts include: studying drugs at electronic music festivals and using this information to understand how people are modifying… Continue Reading →

Todd M. Richardson of Lebanon, Indiana was arrested in October in connection a suspicion of stalking. His DNA was collected upon arrest and the Indiana State Police Laboratory matched it to a 1990 rape case. He was arrested yesterday in connection… Continue Reading →

State Sen. Bob Hilkemann introduced Legislative Bill 1054 that would allow for collection of a suspect’s DNA upon arrest for specific felonies. The bill lists out 17 violent felonies, as well as burglary and robbery. State Sen. Ernie Chambers expressed… Continue Reading →

Here is a pdf of the recent decision granting a new trial based on hair microscopy testimony that “exceeded scientific standards” – MTN Decision

Defendant George D. Perrot has been in jail for the past 30 years, serving two concurrent life sentences for a rape. Both Perrot and the victim of the crime have repeatedly asserted that Perrot was not the man who committed… Continue Reading →

The concurring opinion in Williams v. U.S., 2016— A.3d —-2016 WL 275301 (D.C. Ct. App. Jan. 21, 2016) is now available.  Below are excerpts: EASTERLY, Associate Judge, concurring: In our adversarial system, we do not expect trial courts to “recognize on… Continue Reading →

Despite a 2009 policy barring such “absolute” conclusions about ballistics, in the Marlon Williams trial in 2010, a D.C. police analyst testified: “Those markings are unique to that gun and that gun only,” and that gun “fired these three bullets.”  Spenser… Continue Reading →

The Washington Post reported on the recent opinion issued by the D.C. Court of Appeals, in which in the concurring opinion Judge Catharine Easterly wrote about the dangers of overstating claims that “forensic experts can match a bullet or shell… Continue Reading →

While scientific evidence is often very compelling and can be a prosecutor’s “ace-in-the-hole,” the justice system needs to be on guard for experts who fabricate results, use shoddy testing techniques, or testify outside their areas of expertise. Recent problems with… Continue Reading →

In Miami,  nine of the past twelve exonerations of a convicted person relied heavily on witness identification. This has led legislators and defense attorneys to agree that most DNA exonerations involve faulty suspect identifications. As a result, Miami legislators have introduced the Eyewitness… Continue Reading →