AlcoPro, Inc. is a distributor of portable breath test devices commonly referred to as PBTs. Law enforcement officers in many states use these devices on the side of the road to help determine if someone is possibly under the influence of alcohol. One of the more popular PBTs that they sell is the Alco-Sensor FST manufactured by Intoximeters, Inc. The […]
Crime Scenes are Never Contaminated, Right?
I recently had a prosecutor in an arson case state out loud in court, “Your Honor, crime scenes are never ever contaminated by investigators. Not accidentally, and certainly not on purpose.” Where do you start with that sort of statement? Perhaps you start with Fred Zane, Joyce Gilchrist, and others. But most recently is this […]
The Burning Bed- Has an Innocent Man Been Locked up for 35 Years for an Arson that Never Happened?
The Burning Bed- Has an Innocent Man Been Locked up for 35 Years for an Arson that Never Happened? In 1978, a 36-year old businessman who owned his own used car lot, and who had no meaningful prior record, was accused of setting fire to his house on purpose with his teenage son inside of […]
Public Comment Period for NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations Begins
As I have stated before when it comes to fire science: There is a lot that one can read at this blog about what is wrong with forensic science, but there are also great efforts to reform and make forensic science better and scientific. As I stated a long time ago when I started this […]
Restek standards contamination
Restek standards contamination For the record, I think Restek is a good company. I have taken a tour of their facilities. It appears as if they want to do good and valid science. They are standards makers. In fact, they make ISO compliant standards. That is the top of the line. Here is a fine […]
Superfluous Sensitivity
I was at the 247th American Chemical Society meeting in Dallas where this research was first presented. Analytical instruments are destined to become more sensitive, it is the march of progress. But is this a good thing? Just because we can detect something, is it relevant? Is examining toxicological samples at 1000 times more sensitivity […]
“They are merely technicians”-the myth of Gas Chromatography analysis
“They are merely technicians”-the myth of Gas Chromatography analysis Language is important in science and in law. If you are a prosecutor, you would want to call those who preform the GC-FID analysis for EtOH “techs” because “techs” don’t think, they just do. It must be emphasized that the simple fact is these people are […]
Why it is not legitimate to retrograde extrapolate a DUID result based upon one measurement
Why it is not legitimate to retrograde extrapolate a DUID result based upon one measurement In my lecture yesterday at the OACDL annual OVI conference, I had the task of presenting on “What you need to know about blood.” I had 33 minutes to do so. What can you teach people in 33 minutes on […]
The Annie Dookhan Report: Investigation of the Drug Laboratory at the William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute 2002 – 2012
Hot off the presses is the Report about the Investigation of the Drug Laboratory at The William A. Hinton State Laboratory Institute (2002–2012). Read it yourself here.
Should Toxicologists Be Part of the “Prosecution Team”?
Should Toxicologists Be Part of the “Prosecution Team”? At this year’s AAFS meeting, Chuck Hayes of the International Association of the Chiefs of Police gave a thought provoking presentation about the DRE program in the Toxicology Section. I was there in person. It was entitled “Re-examining the ‘Three Legged Stool’ Approach to Deterring Drugged Driving.” […]
5 Potential changes in the DEC/DRE program are discussed
Potential changes in the DEC/DRE program are discussed I have blogged before on the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program (aka the Drug Recognition Expert Pr0gram): What is the relevant scientific community for the Drug Recognition Expert? A Pharmacologist and a DRE Score one for Science: The DRE program is found to be unreliable and […]
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