Firearm Forensics Is Still Troubled by Systemic Failure
Three forensic examiners at the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory last year mistakenly concluded that cartridge cases from a crime scene matched a specific firearm. The error exposes systemic flaws that risk wrongful convictions
Genetic Genealogy Can Stop Violent Criminals and Free the Wrongly Convicted
Despite investigative genetic genealogy revolutionizing cold case investigations, it has been underused to free the wrongly convicted
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The Law Must Respond When Science Changes
What was once fair under the law may become unfair when science changes. The law must react to uphold due process
Shaken Baby Syndrome Has Been Discredited. Why Is Robert Roberson Still on Death Row?
Convicted of a crime that never happened, Roberson’s case is a prime example of how the U.S. legal system often fails to recognize advances in scientific knowledge
We’re Not Asking the Right Question to Solve the Overdose Crisis
Drug policy continues to fixate on symptoms rather than the actual disease
Marijuana’s New Legal Status Must Spark More Research
While most Americans enjoy access to marijuana, barriers to research and knowledge expansion persist—with dangerous consequences. Unlimited research access is needed
More Climate Lawsuits Than Ever Are Trying to Hold Companies and Countries to Account
At least 230 new climate cases were filed in 2023, but researchers noted the growth of such cases was slower than in prior years
How George Floyd’s Death Exposed a Fake Syndrome: ‘Excited Delirium’
A completely fabricated condition, crafted from racist medical biases, still corrupts the criminal justice system today
University Presidents Should Study How Democracy Works
A philosophy department chair arrested at a campus protest offers university presidents a lesson in democracy
A Widely Used Criminal Justice Algorithm For Assessing Child Pornography Recidivism Is Flawed
The CPORT algorithm, commonly used to estimate the risk that a child pornography offender will offend again, hasn’t been validated for use in the U.S.
Disregard for Women’s Lives Explains the Comstock Act’s Origins. It Also Explains Its Revival Today
Activists who seek to revive this antiquated law share with Anthony Comstock, the Comstock Act’s namesake and progenitor, a similar view of women as subordinate to the decisions of men and God
Forensic Genealogy Offers Families the Gift of Closure
The forensic scientist’s toolbox is growing thanks to creative methods that generate reliable leads, analyze evidence, identify suspects and solve cold cases