"Rapid DNA" machines are a new phenomenon in criminal justice. Able to process a DNA sample in just 90 minutes, they're often called "the magic box." The machines are small enough to be used by police departments. Until now, DNA testing has been performed exclusively...
Month: January 2019
Analysis reveals more flawed forensic evidence being presented
"How many cases of innocent people being wrongly convicted have to occur before people realize that there's a very broad spectrum of forensic science?" asks U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff, a former member of the National Commission on Forensic Science. For the...
Vermont high court case a landmark civil rights victory
In 2014, an African-American man named Gregory Zullo was pulled over in Vermont after an officer noticed his license tab was partly obscured by snow. At the traffic stop, the officer also noticed a bottle of Visine, an air freshener and a faint smell of marijuana,...
When prosecutors overcharge, it affects every aspect of the case
Recently on Above the Law, a veteran defense attorney from New York City discussed the problem of prosecutors over-charging defendants. As she explained, many prosecutors, notably including federal prosecutors, have a policy of charging the greatest provable crime...
Philadelphia’s reform prosecutor moves against over-charging
Despite the obvious momentum for criminal justice reform demonstrated in the recent election and the potential passage of the First Step Act, many prosecutors around the country continue to engage in harsh, "tough on crime" tactics. One exception who bears watching is...
Supreme Court: ‘Excessive fines’ prohibition may apply to states
The Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads, "excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." An Indiana man is testing the excessive fines rule by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. The...