In response to an overwhelming forensic testing backlog, Houston opened the Forensic Science Center. The center focuses on collecting digital evidence from mobile devices and is well equipped to do so. Read more below:   http://abc13.com/science/exclusive-behind-the-scenes-of-houstons-forensic-lab/1744970/

  The Austin Police Crime Lab closed in June of 2016 after the state government uncovered faulty and outdated testing procedure at the facility. Approximately 2,200 Texas inmates will receive notice that DNA tests used in convictions, ranging from 2004 to… Continue Reading →

The Austin American Statesmen describes how “Despite their high-stakes work for the criminal justice system — from convicting the guilty to exonerating the innocent — forensic labs are surprisingly underregulated.”  They note that a 2013 survey of Texas public labs found… Continue Reading →

There will be free live webcast of the Public Status Reports & Open Discussion meetings of the Organization of Scientific Area Committee for Forensic Science (OSAC). These meetings will take place in New Orleans, LA, beginning at 8am CST on February… Continue Reading →

In September, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology issued a report recommending that courts stop using pattern matching forensic science until there can be scientific verification of the techniques. Included in pattern matching techniques are ballistics comparison,… Continue Reading →

Today, Jan. 9 and tomorrow, the National Commission on Forensic Science is meeting.  The agenda is here.  The agenda includes reports on accreditation and proficiency testing, human factors, reporting and testimony, and federal research initiatives.  A live webcast is available… Continue Reading →

Karl Vinson was convicted in 1986 for breaking and entering as well as raping a nine-year-old child. The victim had positively identified Vinson as her attacker and knew Vinson prior to the attack. No evidence was presented that demonstrated any… Continue Reading →

Jules Epstein, a professor and the director of advocacy programs at the Temple University Beasley School of Law and a member of the National Commission on Forensic Science, was the keynote speaker for the conference and called on both scientists… Continue Reading →

Earlier this year, an audit was highly critical of the Austin Police Department DNA lab, alleging that researchers were not following the manufacturer’s instructions while using a certain lab chemical, were using outdated and unreliable techniques, and had contaminated a… Continue Reading →