More from this issue:

1. The Real Minority Report Predictive Policing Algorithms Reflect Racial Bias Present in Corrupted Historic Databases, by Matthew Clarke
2. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Announces Premature Sex Offender Classification of Incarcerated Offender Who Accepted Classification Violates Procedural Due Process, by Douglas Ankney
3. Tenth Circuit Rejects Qualified Immunity for Prosecutor Alleged to Have Fabricated Evidence, Despite no Previous Case with Materially Similar Facts, by Douglas Ankney
4. California Supreme Court: Furnishing Drugs Resulting in Overdose Death Does Not Automatically Trigger Great Bodily Injury Enhancement, by Dale Chappell
5. Hawaii Supreme Court Announces Five-Factor Test in Determining Whether There’s ‘Fair and Just Reason’ to Withdraw Plea, by David Reutter
6. Seventh Circuit: District Court Erred in Denying Compassionate Release Motion by Limiting ‘Extraordinary and Compelling’ Analysis to USSG § 1B1.13, by Dale Chappell
7. Anger: A Natural Reaction That Makes the Innocent Appear Guilty, by Jayson Hawkins
8. An Inside Look at Operation Trojan Shield How the FBI Crafted an International Encrypted Messaging Sting, by Jayson Hawkins
9. Tenth Circuit Announces Adoption of ‘Offense of Conviction Approach’ for Determining Sentence Reduction Under First Step Act § 404(b), by Dale Chappell
10. Kansas Supreme Court Affirms Reversal and Dismissal of Murder Charges Based on Speedy Trial Violation, by Douglas Ankney
11. Arizona Supreme Court Announces Trial Courts Have Discretion to Deny State’s Request for SVP Screening and Provides Guidance to Courts Exercising That Discretion, by Douglas Ankney
12. Arizona Supreme Court Clarifies Proper Fundamental Error Review Applicable to Allegation of a Single, Unobjected-to Instance of Prosecutorial Misconduct, by Douglas Ankney
13. Study: Bloodstain Pattern Analyses Display Alarming Lack of Accuracy, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
14. SCOTUS Holds Ramos’ Unanimous Jury Requirement Is New Procedural Rule and Announces No New Procedural Rule Applies Retroactively on Federal Collateral Review, by Dale Chappell
15. Second Circuit: Autopsy Report Is ‘Testimonial’ for Confrontation Clause Purposes, Habeas Relief Granted, by Dale Chappell
16. Ohio, Now 24th State to End LWOP for Juveniles, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
17. Current Forensic Sciences Not as Objective as Most Believe, by Edward Lyon
18. "Eighth Circuit: Government Breached Plea Agreement by Endorsing PSR’s Calculation of Higher Base Offense Level Than Plea Agreement, Curing Breach Not Recognized in Circuit", by David Reutter
19. Justice Department Orders All Federal Agents to Wear Body Cameras, by Chuck Sharman
20. DNA Standards Often Make the Difference Between Life and Death, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
21. Georgia Supreme Court Announces Merger Error Claims During Sentencing May Be Raised for First Time in Habeas Petition, by Anthony Accurso
22. Justice Department Bans Chokeholds and Restricts No-Knock Entries for Federal Agents, by Chuck Sharman
23. Ninth Circuit Announces All 3 Subsections Must Be Satisfied to Deny Safety-Valve Relief Under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)(1), by Dale Chappell
24. Experts Agree: Police Public Relations Consistently Mislead the Public, by Jayson Hawkins
25. Study Shows Public Defenders Outperform Court Appointed Private Attorneys, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
26. Investigative Report Highlights Difficulties in Disciplining Cops, by Michael Fortino, Ph.D
27. Florida’s Worst Cop Fired for 7th Time, by Jayson Hawkins
28. Police Do Not Want to Pay for Damage They Inflicted to Texas Home, by Kevin Bliss
29. California Supreme Court Announces Predicate Offenses for Gang Enhancement or Gang Participation Not Provable Using Expert Witness Testimony Without Personal Knowledge of Facts, by Matthew Clarke
30. SCOTUS Reinstates Death Sentence Reversed by Eleventh Circuit, by Matthew Clarke
31. NYC’s Stop-and-Frisk Still Targets Based on Race, by Jayson Hawkins
32. News in Brief

More from Michael Fortino, Ph.D:

• Microbiome: The Latest in Cutting Edge Forensics, Dec. 15, 2021
• Excited Delirium Syndrome: Pseudo-Scientific Shield for Law Enforcement’s Violent Behavior, Nov. 15, 2021
• New Mexico Abolishes Qualified Immunity, Nov. 15, 2021
• Study: Bloodstain Pattern Analyses Display Alarming Lack of Accuracy, Oct. 15, 2021
• Ohio, Now 24th State to End LWOP for Juveniles, Oct. 15, 2021
• DNA Standards Often Make the Difference Between Life and Death, Oct. 15, 2021
• Study Shows Public Defenders Outperform Court Appointed Private Attorneys, Oct. 15, 2021
• Investigative Report Highlights Difficulties in Disciplining Cops, Oct. 15, 2021
• Digital Dogs, New Technology Designed to Sniff-Out Crime, Aug. 15, 2021
• The People Have Spoken: Clemency Appointments Should Follow the Will of the People, Aug. 15, 2021

More from these topics:

• Retroactive Guideline Amendments: The Narrow Path to a Federal Sentence Reduction, July 1, 2026. Appointment of Counsel, Career Offenders, Mandatory Minimum Sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2), Guideline Amendment/Variances and Retroactivity.
• Oregon Supreme Court Announces Bright-Line Rule Requiring Dismissal Without Prejudice When State Fails to Appoint Counsel for Eligible Criminal Defendant Within 60 Days in Misdemeanor Cases or 90 Days in Felony Cases Post-Arraignment, March 1, 2026. Appointment of Counsel, Public Defenders, Indigent Defense, Constitution, state, Counsel - Right to.
• Delaware Supreme Court Announces Trial Courts Must First Resolve Defense Counsel’s Motion to Withdraw Before Addressing Defendant’s Plea-­Withdrawal Request, Holding Failure to Do So Violates Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel, Jan. 1, 2026. Appointment of Counsel, Sixth Amendment, Counsel - Constructive denial of, Self-representation, Withdrawal.
• Maryland Supreme Court Announces Public Defender Act Requires Effective Assistance of Counsel in Certiorari Petition Where Public Defender Appointed Panel Attorney for Direct Appeal and Certiorari Petition, Dec. 15, 2025. Public Defenders, Indigent Defense, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Strickland Standard.
• Oklahoma Prisoner Found Unconscious in Cell Hours After Avoiding Execution, Dec. 1, 2025. Public Defenders, Pardons/Clemency, Life without Parole (LWOP), Death Penalty, Effective Assistance of Counsel.
• Rhode Island Supreme Court Announces Indigent First-Time Applicant for Postconviction Relief Entitled to Counsel Even 
When Not Requested; Superior Court Must Determine 
Whether Applicant Intended to Waive Right to Counsel and 
Whether Done Knowingly, Vol, May 15, 2025. Appointment of Counsel, Counsel - Right to, Counsel - Constructive denial of.
• Colorado Supreme Court Announces When Deciding Defendant’s Pro Se Motion Requesting Counsel on Postconviction Review, Trial Court Must Either Deny Entire Motion or Permit All Claims If Any Have Arguable Merit, Dec. 15, 2024. Appointment of Counsel, After Request for Counsel, Pro Se Issues.
• $25 Million Contempt Fine Prompts Release of Pretrial Detainees from Philadelphia Lockups, Dec. 15, 2024. Appointment of Counsel, Contempt (Civil Procedure), Bail/Pretrial Release, Fines.
• Indigent Defense: Appointed Counsel Does Not Mean Free Counsel, Dec. 1, 2024. Appointment of Counsel, Indigent Defense, Indigent Defendants - Fees and Expenses.
• In Oregon Case, Ninth Circuit Limits Pretrial Detention Without Counsel to Seven Days, Nov. 15, 2024. Appointment of Counsel, Pretrial Detention and Detainees, Speedy Trial Clock - Tolling of.