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Arizona State University to Host Forensic Science Conference
Posted: January 7, 2009 4:00 pm
Some of the world's leading scholars and experts in evidence, forensic science and criminalistics will gather to discuss the future of forensic science in the criminal justice system in April. The Center for the Study of Law, Science, & Technology at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University announced this week that it is hosting "Forensic Science for the 21st Century: The National Academy of Sciences Report and Beyond" April 3 and 4.
Organizers said the conference is being held “in light of the highly anticipated report of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Sciences Community” that is expected to be released within the next couple of months. Harry T. Edwards, Chief Judge Emeritus of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and Co-chair of the NAS Forensic Science Committee, is scheduled to deliver the Center's annual Willard H. Pedrick Lecture, titled "Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward."
The event will also feature discussions about the NAS report, an unprecedented examination of forensic science nationwide that will outline findings and recommendations for how to ensure that the criminal justice system relies on sound science.
In addition to experts from major research institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard Law School, the University of Michigan Law School, the University of California, Irvine, the University of Virginia and ASU, among others, participants will include state and federal judges, the co-chairmen of the National Academy of Sciences Forensic Science Committee, the president of the American Association of Forensic Sciences. The directors of the FBI Crime Laboratory and the Innocence Project, and prosecutors, defense attorneys, forensic scientists, and criminalists also will be involved.Visit the conference's website for more information, including registration and scheduled events.
Tags: Arizona, Reforms, Forensic Oversight, Evidence Preservation, Access to DNA Testing
New Discovery Channel Series, 'Dallas DNA,' Premieres Tomorrow
Posted: April 27, 2009 1:00 pm
A new television series premiering tomorrow explores the importance of DNA testing and how a group of prosecutors in Texas are working to exonerate the wrongfully convicted.
Chronicling the efforts of local Dallas prosecutors to review possible wrongful convictions, “Dallas DNA” takes a look at the work of the county’s conviction integrity unit, which was created by Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins in January 2007 in response to the county's 19 DNA-based exonerations. The show premieres on Investigative Discovery on Tuesday, April 28 at 10 p.m. EST (check your local listings).
Tonight there will be a special screening of the new series at 6 p.m. at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where both Watkins and Innocence Project Executive Director Madeline deLone will speak and take questions about the importance of post-conviction DNA testing.
Special screening of “Dallas DNA”The event is free to the public. To attend, please RSVP by e-mailing DallasDNA_NewYork@discovery.com.
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University
Greenberg Center for Student Life, Third Floor
55 Fifth Avenue (map)
Learn more about “Dallas DNA” here.
Tags: Texas, Reforms, Access to DNA Testing
NY District Attorney on the Need to Prevent Wrongful Convictions
Posted: June 4, 2009 6:00 pm
A District attorney should have two goals, according to Janet DiFiore – keping the public safe and ensuring that fair and impartial justice is practiced in our courts. DiFiore, the District Attorney of New York’s Westchester County, will serve as a co-chair on the state’s new Justice Task Force, which is charged with examining the causes of wrongful conviction and recommending reforms to prevent injustice. She said yesterday in a statement that she looks forward to her role in working to prevent injustice.
As District Attorney of Westchester County, I have readily accepted my obligation to promote fairness and justice at every level of our system by ensuring that in every case we prosecute, we not only strive to convict the guilty, but also make certain that no one is wrongfully convicted for a crime that he or she did not commit.
In spite of all our efforts, our criminal justice system is not infallible.
Read yesterday’s statement from DiFiore here.In 2007, DiFiore ordered a thorough study of the wrongful conviction of Jeffrey Deskovic, who was exonerated in 2006 after serving more than 15 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. The report found that systemic flaws were behind Deskovic’s wrongful conviction, as they are in many cases. Read more and download the report here.
And New York lawmakers are considering a package of reforms right now to address help free the innocent statewide and improve laws that help prevent wrongful convictions. To learn more and email state leaders in support of these proposed measures, click here.
Tags: New York, Jeff Deskovic, Reforms
End wrongful convictions in New York
Posted: March 5, 2012 10:30 am
Tags: New York, Reforms, False Confessions, Eyewitness Identification, Eyewitness Misidentification, DNA Databases
Wrongful convictions affect all New Yorkers
Posted: March 5, 2012 2:00 pm
Tags: Reforms, False Confessions, Eyewitness Identification, False Confessions, Eyewitness Misidentification, DNA Databases
Baltimore Prepares to Video Record Interrogations
Posted: April 13, 2012 12:30 pm
Tags: Maryland, Reforms