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A New Approach to Drug Testing: Electrochemical Sensors and Raman Spectroscopy
by Jo Ellen Knott
Forensic laboratories screen for drugs using a combination of presumptive and confirmatory tests. The presumptive test indicates the presence or absence of a drug and is usually done in the field by law enforcement using colorimetric tests. The confirmatory testing is usually done in …
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More from this issue:
- SCOTUS Announces Confrontation Clause Prohibits Expert Witness From Testifying About Non-Testifying Expert’s Statements Regarding Forensic Testing Performed by Non-Testifying Expert in Support of Testifying Expert’s Opinion Testimony at Trial, by Sam Rutherford
- NIJ Partners With Doctor to Develop Better Screening Method to Detect and Identify Drugs Postmortem, by Douglas Ankney
- Broken Trust The Pervasive Role of Deceit in American Policing, by Andrew Eichen
- WhatsApp’s Security Team Identifies Vulnerabilities, by Michael Thompson
- University of Maryland Carey Law Pioneers Forensic Defense Clinic
- Seventh Circuit Announces Search of Cellphone at Border Constitutes Routine Inspection and Does Not Require Warrant, Probable Cause, or Even Individualized Suspicion, by Sam Rutherford
- Delaware Supreme Court: Counsel Ineffective for Failing to Challenge Search of Cellphone Where Consent Was Ambiguous and Warrant Constituted a General Warrant, by Sam Rutherford
- Barrier-Crime Laws Continue to Unjustly Prohibit Otherwise Qualified Persons With Prior Convictions From Employment, by Douglas Ankney
- Cops Hide Behind Encrypted Radio, by Michael Thompson
- Ninth Circuit Denies Habeas Relief to Prisoner Who Invoked Fifth Amendment Right to Counsel During Custodial Interrogation but Made Incriminating Statements to Undercover Informant Posing as Fellow Prisoner Because Right to Counsel Not Violated, by Sam Rutherford
- Overthrowing the Constitution: All Sides Are Waging War on Our Freedoms, by John W. Whitehead, Nisha Whitehead
- California Court of Appeal: Wearing Puffy Jacket on Hot and Humid Night Does Not Constitute Reasonable Suspicion of Criminal Activity, by Anthony Accurso
- Ninth Circuit Announces California Carjacking Conviction Not Categorically ‘Crime of Violence’ Under Immigration Law for Removal Purposes, by Sam Rutherford
- SCOTUS Clarifies Prejudice Standard Under Strickland for Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims at Capital Sentencing, by Sam Rutherford
- Oregon Supreme Court Further Clarifies ‘Guilty Except for Insanity’ Defense, by Sam Rutherford
- Wisconsin District Attorneys’ Police Brady Lists Often Secret, Incomplete, or Nonexistent, by Matthew Clarke
- Georgia Supreme Court: Discovery of Common Law Wife’s Infidelity Entitled Defendant to Voluntary Manslaughter Instruction in Malice Murder Prosecution, by Sam Rutherford
- Arizona Supreme Court Allows Third PCR Motion Based on IAC for Erroneous Advice About Parole Eligibility Due to ‘Pervasive Confusion’ Regarding Parole Within Legal Community, by Anthony Accurso
- Chicago PD Continues Racial Profiling While Underreporting Incidents of Traffic Stops, by Jo Ellen Nott
- Wisconsin Supreme Court: Officer Violated Fourth Amendment by Exceeding Scope of Community Caretaking Function During Traffic Stop, by Sam Rutherford
- Seventh Circuit Holds Sentencing Guidelines Commentary Still Entitled to Deference, by Sam Rutherford
- ICE’s Deadly Force Problem: A Culture of Impunity, by Jo Ellen Nott
- News In Brief
- A New Approach to Drug Testing: Electrochemical Sensors and Raman Spectroscopy, by Jo Ellen Nott
More from Jo Ellen Nott:
- San Francisco Jail Survey Exposes Abuse, Malnutrition and Constitutional Violations, Oct. 1, 2026
- GEO Group Funnels Millions to Trump PAC Following Windfall ICE Contracts, Oct. 1, 2026
- CoreCivic’s Non-Binding Promises Leave Minnesota City Exposed, Oct. 1, 2026
- Fatal LAPD Arrests Show Systemic Failure in Handling Mental Health Crises, Oct. 1, 2026
- Ohio Finds Guards and Medical Staff Failed to Render Life-Saving CPR to Detainee, Sept. 1, 2026
- Troubled Illinois Lockup Sees Guard Abuses, Prisoners on Hunger Strike, Sept. 1, 2026
- $75 Million CoreCivic Contract to Reopen Minnesota Private Prison Creates Resistance from Activists and Lawmakers, Sept. 1, 2026
- Wave of Staff Arrests Exposes Persistent Misconduct at South Carolina Jail, Sept. 1, 2026
- Michigan DOC Legal Payouts Top $7 Million in FY 2025, Less than One Percent of $2.15 Billion Operating Budget, Sept. 1, 2026
- Four Massachusetts Guards Face Charges for Assault on Prisoners During Brawl, Sept. 1, 2026
More from these topics:
- Iowa Department of Corrections Settles Lawsuit and Agrees to Implement More Reliable Drug Testing Procedures and Fair Disciplinary Proceeding Policies, Oct. 1, 2026. Liberty Interests, Evidence, Drug Testing, Settlements, Burden of Proof.
- Hawaii Supreme Court Announces False Evidence Standard Governs Post-Conviction Claims That Scientific Developments Invalidated Expert Testimony, Holding Prosecution Knowledge Not Required Under State Due Process Clause, Sept. 1, 2026. Forensic Sciences, Constitution, state, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Expert and Opinion Testimony, Scientific Testimony or Evidence.
- Louisiana Supreme Court Announces Framework Governing Factual Innocence Claims in First Application of La. C.Cr.P. Art. 926.2, Holding Second-Step Review Encompasses All Relevant Evidence, Aug. 1, 2026. Wrongful Conviction, Forensic Sciences, Actual Innocence/Claim of Innocence, Expert and Opinion Testimony, Scientific Testimony or Evidence.
- FBI Approves Rapid DNA Workflow for CODIS, Aug. 1, 2026. DNA Testing/Samples, Databases, Forensic Sciences, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Scientific Testimony or Evidence.
- New Jersey Supreme Court Orders Plenary Hearing Before Special Adjudicator on Reliability of Fingerprint Evidence, Holding Century of Judicial Acceptance Did Not Satisfy Trial Court’s Gatekeeping Obligation Under N.J.R.E. 702, Aug. 1, 2026. Forensic Sciences, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Daubert Standards, Fingerprint Evidence, Expert and Opinion Testimony.
- Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Announces Postconviction Forensic Testing Statute Permits Digital Forensic Analysis of Cellphones, Holding Chapter 278A Not Limited to Tangible Evidence Testable for Biological Material, Aug. 1, 2026. Forensic Sciences, Searches - Cellphones/Computers/Internet, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Failure to Consult/Investigate/Raise, Relevance.
- Conviction Tossed for Former Alabama Prisoner Paroled After 42 Years, July 1, 2026. Sex Offender Registration, Wrongful Conviction, Forensic Sciences, Eyewitness Identification, Brady Rule violations.
- Passive Data Transforms Smart Devices Into Covert Witnesses in a Silent Surveillance State, July 1, 2026. Forensic Sciences, Police State-Surveillance, Searches - Cellphones/Computers/Internet, Electronic Surveillance, Exclusionary Rule.
- Florida Supreme Court Announces “Results” of Postconviction DNA Testing Under § 925.11 Include Underlying Testing Data Necessary for Expert Analysis, Holding That No Additional Burden Applies Once a Motion for Testing Has Been Granted, June 1, 2026. DNA Testing/Samples, Disclosure of Records, Public Records, Forensic Sciences, Scientific Testimony or Evidence.
- Murder Convictions Tossed for Three Pennsylvania Prisoners After 28 Years, June 1, 2026. Wrongful Conviction, witness misidentification, Forensic Sciences, Evidence - Integrity/Reliability of, Expert and Opinion Testimony.
