|
|
 |
|
|
|
Note: Copies of articles with inactive links may be found by visiting the publishers' web sites or retrieving copies from print sources. For more information please read our FAQ. Visit the Public Defense, Chief Defender List, Defense Services (includes Public Defense Data and Defense Standards), and Gideon Day pages for related news and information
Visit our News Archives to find previously posted items.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Developments_________________________________
- Rule approved by NYS Commission on Forensic Science allows law enforcement to share information about partial DNA matches found at crime scenes. New Rule Allows Use Of Partial DNA Matches, NY Times (NY), January 24, 2010
- New rape kit unveiled by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. DNA Test Key In State Rape Kit Overhaul, Albany Times Union (NY), October 23, 2009
- New regulations allow state forensic laboratories to report on partial (familial) matches in criminal cases. State Panel Approves Reporting Of Partial Matches Between Crime Scene DNA And Databank Samples, New York Law Journal (NY), June 24, 2009
- Niagara County judge upheld use of Taser to acquire DNA sample from suspect in custody. Ruling Allowing Taser Use To Get DNA May Be Nation’s First, Buffalo News (Niagara County), June 4, 2009
- California DA Dismisses Misdemeanor And Drug Charges In Exchange For DNA, ABA Journal Law News Now (CA), April 15, 2009
- NYPD has begun implementing a policy to collect DNA samples from CSI detectives to address cross-contamination concerns. Cop DNA Roundup Begins, NY Daily News (NYC), November 11, 2008
- Federal judge finds a constitutional right to post-conviction DNA testing in Queens attempted murder case. Convicted Defendant Allowed Access To Test DNA, Court Says, New York Law Journal (EDNY), July 23, 2008
- John Doe DNA Warrant provided defendant with sufficiently reasonable notice of the charges according to the Appellate Division First Department. DNA Markers Found Ample For Indictment, New York Law Journal (1st Dept), April 18, 2008
- Discovery of crime scene DNA belonging to identical twin raises questions about pursuing the wrong suspect. Career Criminal's Twin Is Suspect In Nassau Burglary, Newsday (NassauCounty), April 12, 2008
- Governor has proposed expanding DNA database collection to include misdemeanor offenders among others while improving access for exoneration purposes. New York Plan for DNA Data in Most Crimes, New York Times (NY), May 14, 2007
- Prisoner had right to raise question of post-conviction access to evidence via 1983 action; and constitutional right to DNA testing to be decided by district court according to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Court Ordered to Settle Right to DNA Tests, New York Law Journal (2nd Cir), March 15, 2007
- Motion to obtain DNA sample from murder suspect in NassauCounty case denied due to absence of suspect DNA for comparison. Prosecutors Lose Bid to Take DNA From Murder Suspect , New York Law Journal (NassauCounty), September 12, 2006
- Exculpatory DNA testing, under CPL 440.30(1-a), not permitted after guilty plea according to the Appellate Division Second Department. Panel Says DNA Testing Not Required After Plea, New York Law Journal (2nd Dept), August 4, 2006
- Expansion of DNA databanking might overwhelm the system according to the Commission on Forensic Science. Caution Urged on DNA Project, Albany Times Union (NY), June 6, 2006
- New York City and a few upstate counties are retaining DNA samples in cases where the accused has not been convicted according to the Innocence Project. County DNA Lists Include Non-Convicts, New York Times (NY), May 16, 2006
- Bill to expand scope of DNA databanking to include misdemeanors and all felonies is under consideration by the Assembly. New York State Draws Nearer to Collecting DNA in All Crimes, New York Times (NY), May 4, 2006
- State Investigation Commission report recommends expanding DNA databank collection to include all persons convicted of felonies or misdemeanors. Report Supports All-Inclusive DNA Database, New York Law Journal (NY), March 21, 2006
- State Commission approved of Governor Pataki's plan to collect DNA samples as a condition of release from parole, probation, a plea bargain or a temporary release program. DNA Proposal Moves Forward, Albany Times Union (NY), December 14, 2005
- New York State DNA databanking law held to be constitutional by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Circuit Upholds State's DNA Database Statute , New York Law Journal (2nd Cir), November 30, 2005
- No due diligence requirement for post-conviction DNA motion according to the Court of Appeals. Panel Sees No Time Bar to DNA Motions , New York Law Journal (NY), Feb. 16, 2005. Read the court's decision in People v. Pitts, No. 9 (NY Feb. 15, 2005)
Current Developments Outside New York____________________
- DNA’s Dirty Little Secret, Washington Monthly (US), March/April 2010
- USSC Reverses Habeas Grant In Case Attacking State's DNA Evidence, CrimProf Blog (US), January 11, 2010
- DNA Profiling: You May Be Next, Mission Local (US), October 22, 2009
- Home Office Climbs Down Over Keeping DNA Records On Innocent, Guardian (UK), October 19, 2009
- Justice Dept. To Review Bush Policy On DNA Test Waivers, Washington Post (US), October 11, 2009
- Supreme Court's Faulty Due Process Analysis In 'Osborne' Case, New York Law Journal (US), October 9, 2009
- DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show, New York Times (US), August 17, 2009
- Forced Taking Of DNA From A Suspect Violated Clearly Established Fourth Amendment Rights, FourthAmendment.com (9th Cir), June 25, 2009
- Justices Find Defendants Lack Federal Right To Post-Conviction DNA Evidence, New York Law Journal (US), June 19, 2009
- Statement From The Attorney General On Today’s Decision By The Supreme Court In District Attorney’s Office For The Third Judicial District et al. v. Osborne, US Dept of Justice Press Release (US), June 18, 2009
- What Impact Will Supreme Court Decision On DNA Evidence Have?, Christian Science Monitor (US), June 18, 2009
- Prosecutors Block Access To DNA Testing For Inmates, New York Times (US), May 17, 2009
- FBI And States Vastly Expand DNA Databases, New York Times (US), April 18, 2009
- Guilt By The Numbers: How Fuzzy Is The Math That Makes DNA Evidence Look So Compelling To Jurors?, California Lawyer (US), April 1, 2009
- DNA Research Commons Scaled Back, American Scientist (US), March-April 2009
- Genetic Surveillance For All, Slate (US), March 17, 2009
- Innocence Project Disappointed By Refusal Of Solicitor General To Reverse DNA Opinion, New York Law Journal (US), February 24, 2009
- Convicts’ Right To DNA Tests Is Questioned, New York Times (US), February 10, 2009
- Judge Orders FBI To Search Database For DNA From Slain Girl, Chicago Tribune (IL), February 3, 2009
- Defense Lawyers Concerned Over Federal DNA Database, New York Law Journal (US), January 28, 2009
- Danger Of DNA: It Isn't Perfect, Los Angeles Times (US), December 26, 2008
- New DOJ Rule Expands FBI Database To Include Arrestee DNA, ABA Journal Law News Now (US), December 12, 2008
- Court Strikes Down UK Law Allowing DNA Database of Innocent, ABA Journal Law News Now (UK), December 5, 2008
- Tracing A Crime Suspect Through A Relative, Los Angeles Times (CA), November 25, 2008
- Justices Might Take DNA Evidence Case, Washington Post (US), November 2, 2008
- 'Touch' DNA Offers Hope In Cold Investigations, USA Today (US), September 22, 2008
- DNA Police, Portfolio.com (US), September 3, 2008
- DNA Taint Found On Gun In Officer Shooting Case, Baltimore Sun (MD), August 28, 2008
- IMPD Tries Out DNA Swabs On Guns, Indystar (IN), August 27, 2008
- Database Update Reveals Employees' DNA Tainted Evidence, Throwing Lab's Reliability Into Question, Baltimore Sun (MD), August 21, 2008
- IMPD Tries Out DNA Swabs On Guns, Indystar (IN), August 27, 2008
- Database Update Reveals Employees' DNA Tainted Evidence, Throwing Lab's Reliability Into Question, Baltimore Sun (MD), August 21, 2008
- Crime Labs Finding Questionable DNA Matches, San Francisco Chronicle (US), August 3, 2008
- How Reliable Is DNA In Identifying Suspects?, Los Angeles Times (US), July 20, 2008
- ACLU Sues Over Mass. DNA Sample, Worries About Secret Database, ABA Journal Law News Now (MA), June 20, 2008
- Lawyers To Aid DNA Project, Times-Dispatch (VA), June 17, 2008
- Debate On Analyzing 'Cold Hit' DNA Matches Swirls In Case Before California Supreme Court, Los Angeles Times (CA), May 9, 2008
- DNA Matches Aren't Always A Lock, Los Angeles Times (CA), May 4, 2008
- From DNA Of Family, A Tool To Make Arrests, Washington Post (US), April 21, 2008
- DNA Tests Offer Deeper Examination Of Accused, Washington Post (US), April 20, 2008
- Feds Want To Collect DNA From People They Arrest, Detain, USA Today, April 17, 2008
- States Expand Sampling of DNA, USA Today (US), April 13, 2008
- Kansas Strikes ‘John Doe’ Rape Warrants, ABA Law Journal News Now (KS), March 31, 2008
- Despite Objections, DNA Sampling Expands, Stateline.org (US), March 28, 2008
- New DNA Links Used To Deny Parole, USA Today (US), February 7, 2008
- Ethics of DNA Use, NPR (US), December 12, 2007
- Judge: Put Entire UK in DNA Database?, ABA Journal Law News (UK), September 5, 2007
- DNA Expert Says He Made Mistake in Murder Trial Testimony, SaltLake Tribune (UT), August 22, 2007
- DNA Retention Policies Unclear, Unwritten, Denver Post (US), July 24, 2007
- As Requests for DNA Tests Soar, So Do Lab Backlogs, Washington Post (US), July 15, 2007
- DNA Evidence Gathered From Sidewalk Spit Holds Up Under Appeal, National Law Journal (MA), May 17, 2007
- One Man's Trash Is Another's DNA Evidence, National Law Journal (US), May 14, 2007
- Circuit Approves Taking DNA Samples From Nonviolent Felons on Probation, New York Law Journal (2nd Cir), April 6, 2007
- Justices: Trial Courts Have Discretion on Inmate DNA Testing, Akron Beacon Journal (OH), April 4, 2007
- DNA Evidence Leads States to Extend Statutes of Limitations, National Law Journal (US), March 27, 2007
- Local DNA Labs Avoid State and US Laws to Nab Criminals ,USA Today (US), March 25, 2007
- Panel OKs Bill on 'Good Faith' DNA Evidence , Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), February 20, 2007
- Crime Lab Botched 27 DNA Results , Boston Globe (MA), February 14, 2007
- Virginia's DNA Database: 'Good-Faith' Fix Has Its Skeptics ,Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), February 11, 2007
- US Set to Begin a Vast Expansion of DNA Sampling, New York Times (US), February 5, 2007
- Detainee DNA May Be Put in Database, USA Today (US), January 19, 2007
- DNA Databases May Be Growing Too Quickly, National Law Journal (US), January 12, 2007
- Match Point: How a Denver Rape Probe Got the FBI to Change Policy and Release Kinship DNA , ABA Journal (CO), December 20, 2006
- Statute of Limitations Trumps DNA Evidence, ArizonaRepublic (AZ), December 4, 2006
- Many DNA Matches Aren't Acted On, USA Today (US), November 21, 2006
- Defenders Seek to Void Many DNA 'Cold Cases', Arizona Daily Star (AZ), October 22, 2006
- States Collecting DNA From Arrestees , Stateline.org (US), July 27, 2006
- New DNA Test Faces Legal Challenge, Argus Leader (SD), July 16, 2006
- Law Offers Choice on DNA Use, Oregonian (OR), July 12, 2006
- Plan to Build Children's DNA Database Raises Concerns, Wall Street Journal (US), June 7, 2006
- Vast DNA Bank Pits Policing vs. Privacy , Washington Post (US), June 3, 2006
- FBI Adds Uses for Its DNA Database, USA Today (US), May 30, 2006
- Should DNA Be Collected From All Criminals?, Christian Science Monitor (US), May 19, 2006
- Crimefighters Suggest Expanding DNA Searches , Associated Press (US), May 11, 2006
- More States May Hold DNA Profiles of Arrestees, USA Today (US), May 1, 2006
- Tennessee to Require DNA From Abortions , Associated Press (TN), March 23, 2006
- House OKs DNA Testing for People Arrested , Quad-City Times (IL), February 8, 2006
- Police Ruse Case Argued Before State's Highest Court, Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA), January 27, 2006
- Scientist Remains Unsatisfied With Re-Testing of Evidence , Charlotte Observer (VA), January 12, 2006
- DNA Reliability Under Fire, ArizonaRepublic (US), December 12, 2005
- Bone Marrow Donors Risk DNA Identity Mix-Up, New Scientist (US), October 27, 2005
- Bill Would Expand US DNA Database, USA Today (US), October 3, 2005
- Army Criminal DNA Results in Question, MSNBC (US), August 26, 2005
- Lab's Errors Force Review of 150 DNA Cases, New York Times (VA), May 6, 2005
- Government May Retain DNA After Sentence Over, Findlaw (DC), April 27, 2005
- DNA Puzzle Strengthens Case for Lab Oversight, Red Nova (VA), February 22, 2005
- To Try to Net Killer, Police Ask a Small Town's Men for DNA, New York Times (MA), January 10, 2005
Special Reports_______________________________________
ERRORS IN EVIDENCE
In this series of articles, reporters from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer investigated errors in the analysis and handling of DNA evidence by the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory. A related series, Shadow of Doubt, uncovered problems in the processing of drug samples in criminal prosecutions.
- DNA Testing Mistakes at the State Patrol Crime Labs , July 22, 2004
- Produce Crime Lab Error Rates, Some Urge, July 22, 2004
- Rare Look Inside State Crime Labs Reveals Recurring DNA Test Problems , July 22, 2004
- State Patrol Fires Crime Lab Scientist, March 24, 2004
- Counties to Be Told of Crime Lab Flaws, March 17, 2004
- They Sit in Prison -- But Crime Lab Tests Are Flawed, March 13, 2004
Reports_____________________________________________
National District Attorneys Association Policy Position on DNA Technology and the Criminal Justice System (2003). This is the current statement of NDAA's position on the use of DNA in criminal identification, investigation, prosecution, database collection and assessment guilt or innocence of suspects in the criminal justice system.
Report to the Attorney General on Delays in Forensic Analysis (NIJ 2003). This report describes an examination of the problem of backlogs in DNA testing of crime scene evidence. It was prepared by the National Institute of Justice . It includes recommendations for developing a comprehensive national effort to eliminate delays in DNA analysis.
Research Links_______________________________________
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
