by Jo Ellen Nott
In a significant development for forensic science, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) approved updates to the Quality Assurance Standards (“QAS”) for Forensic Laboratories in January, paving the way for DNA profiles generated through Rapid DNA analysis to be searched in the national Combined DNA Index ...
by Jo Ellen Nott
Albuquerque is grappling with a sprawling police corruption scandal that spans decades, involving bribery, extortion, and racketeering within the city’s DWI enforcement unit. The scandal, which came to light after a federal investigation, has led to multiple guilty pleas, the dismissal of hundreds of cases, and ...
by Jo Ellen Nott
Across the United States, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) activity is intensifying, including highly visible raids. Amid this escalation, it is important to remember that the public has a First Amendment right to film ICE agents while they perform their official duties in public spaces.
This ...
by Jo Ellen Nott
Vermont’s increased reliance on remote court hearings, which began during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure safety, has created significant challenges for incarcerated individuals, their attorneys, and the broader justice system. While remote proceedings have become the norm nationwide, their expansion to substantive hearings in Vermont has ...
by Jo Ellen Not
A University of Oregon study, “Decreased accuracy of forensic DNA mixture analysis for groups with lower genetic diversity” published in Volume 27, Issue 11, 111067 of iScience in November 2024 by researchers at the University of Oregon, discusses the significant limitations in forensic DNA analysis when ...
by Jo Ellen Nott
A research team at Sweden’s Lund University unveiled an AI-driven system in a paper first released on October 7, 2024, titled “Microbiome Geographic Population Structure (mGPS) Detects Fine-Scale Geography.” mGPS uses microorganisms to trace the geographical origins of people or objects.
Acting as a global positioning ...
by Jo Ellen Nott
The First Step Act (“FSA”), enacted in 2018, aimed to reduce recidivism and reform federal sentencing practices.
A recent report by the Council on Criminal Justice (“CCJ”) showed modest reductions in time served by individuals released under the FSA compared to those released before its implementation. ...
by Jo Ellen Nott
The Chicago Police Department (“CPD”) has sidestepped both legal and constitutional mandates of the last 10 years by shifting its focus from pedestrian to traffic stops, a practice which allows the agency to continue racial profiling and commit civil rights violations. This maneuvering came on the ...
by Jo Ellen Nott
To no one’s surprise, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) documents about use of force incidents over the six years from 2015 to 2021 were not readily available to the public. ICE leans heavily on the nine exemptions provided by the Freedom of Information Act to keep ...
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 a lab ...
