Child Abuse: Physical [Shaken Baby]
Broken Bones This Medline Plus page is great for illustrations of fractures, broken bones and other injuries common to physical child abuse. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001552.htm
AAP Guidelines for the Evaluation of Physical Abuse of Children This report provides guidance in the clinical approach to the evaluation of suspected physical abuse in children. The medical assessment is outlined with respect to obtaining a history, physical examination, and appropriate ancillary testing. The role of the physician may encompass reporting suspected abuse; assessing the consistency of the explanation, the child's developmental capabilities, and the characteristics of the injury or injuries; and coordination with other professionals to provide immediate and long-term treatment and follow-up for victims. Accurate and timely diagnosis of children who are suspected victims of abuse can ensure appropriate evaluation, investigation, and outcomes for these children and their families. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/pediatrics;119/6/1232
Bruises: How old or new are they? The old way of dating bruises by color has been shown to be less than accurate. http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/medizin_gesundheit/bericht-35752.html Bruises: DOJ Age Dating Chart http://www.ncjrs.org/html/ojjdp/portable_guides/abuse/bruises.html
Dating of Bruises in Children: An Assessment of Physician Accuracy http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/112/4/804
Misdiagnosis of child abuse http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/child_abuse/intro.htm
MRI/S in the Diagnosis of Child Abuse The role of cranial MRI in identifying patients suffering from child abuse and presenting with unexplained neurological findings. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=10219941
Shaken Baby "Fatal Pediatric Head Injuries Caused by Short-Distance Falls" by Dr. John Plunkett This is research documenting that injuries can happen from a short distance fall. http://www.amjforensicmedicine.com/pt/re/ajfmp/abstract.00000433-200112000-00019.htm;jsessionid=GDZMPyY0MDnznz14pLKPpxVLNgrnRtlMcy0KY1Cz087YZq24CnWv!1152499061!181195629!8091!-1
Shaken Baby Can a Short Fall Produce the Medical Findings of Shaken Baby Syndrome? http://www.dontshake.com/pdf/Dave%20Chadwick%20Article.pdf
Shaken Baby National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is the collection of signs and symptoms resulting from the violent shaking of an infant or small child. It is a form of child abuse. In America every year an estimated 1,200 - 1,400 children are shaken for whom treatment is sought. Of these tiny victims, 25 -30% die as a result of their injuries. The rest will have lifelong complications. It is likely that many more babies suffer from the effects of SBS yet no one knows because SBS victims rarely have any external evidence of trauma. http://dontshake.com/
The “Shaken Baby Syndrome” Fallacy http://www.abusedparentsalliance.com/Shaken_Baby_Syndrome/Shaken_Baby_Syndrome.htm SBS Resource This site contains a list of educational and legal resources available for those falsely accused of "Shaken Baby Syndrome" or nonaccidental trauma including alternate diagnosis. http://www.sbsdefense.com/resources.htm Shaken Baby Syndrome Medical Articles Follow the links to brief notes from the articles and links to abstracts(*) or full text(**) elsewhere on the web. http://www.susancanthony.com/Resources/SBS/sbsart.html
Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) “is an all to frequent diagnosis for infants who have subdural hematomas and retinal bleeding. We represent a cutting-edge group of physicians, medical researchers, bio-mechanical engineers, legal authorities and falsely accused who believe that Shaken Baby Syndrome is often an incorrect medical diagnosis leading to false allegations.” With a lot of information http://www.sbstruth.com/ Shaken Baby Syndrome Informational Page with links to visual examples of, for example, cerebral hemorrhage http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000004.htm#visualFile Shaken Baby Syndrome NINDS Information Page http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/shakenbaby.htm Shaken Baby Syndrome or vaccine induced encephalitis? http://www.gunner-oedum.suite.dk/alan.html Shaken Baby Syndrome or DTP Vaccination? http://www.ndaa.org/publications/newsletters/update_volume_13_number_9_2000.html
Commonwealth v. Louise Woodward summary from Court TV http://www.courttv.com/trials/woodward/week1.html
Computer/Cyber Crime
Computer Forensic Library http://www.seawall.com/forensics.html
Computer Email multimedia tutorial http://nfstc.org/links/animations/images/rev_emailv3.swf
Computer Crime Research Center This has many computer crime related links http://www.crime-research.org/links/ Current Info For The Use Of The Defense. Make sure you scroll to the top of the page. www.sgrm.com/Resources.htm#ComputerCrime
DOJ Digital Evidence in the Courtroom: A Guide for Law Enforcement and Prosecutors 2007 http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/211314.htm
DOJ Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for First Responders 2001 http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/187736.htm
DOJ/FBI guideline: Searching and Seizing Computers and Obtaining Electronic Evidence in Criminal Investigations: Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section Criminal Division United States Department of Justice, July 2002. Actually it does educate us about computers and what to ask for in discovery. http://www.cybercrime.gov/s&smanual2002.htm Other information can be found at their home page.
DOJ Forensic Examination of Digital Evidence for Law Enforcement http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/199408.pdf
DOJ Guideline critique: Taking the Fourth Amendment to Bits: The Department of Justice Guidelines for Computer Searches and Seizures http://www.seanet.com/~rod/comp_4a.html#partI
Electronic Crime Research and Development http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/ecrime/welcome.html
Forensic Focus a newsletter covering current computer forensics issues. http://www.forensicfocus.com/
Forensic Search Procedures: IACIS® is an international volunteer non-profit corporation composed of law enforcement professionals dedicated to education in the field of forensic computer science. http://www.iacis.com/iacisv2/pages/forensicprocedures.php
International Journal of Digital Evidence (IJDE) online journal is available online at http://www.utica.edu/academic/institutes/ecii/ijde/ Links to Computer Forensics & Related Law Enforcement Pages by Judd Robbins http://www.computerforensics.net/links.htm
PDA Information Just in case you have a potential discovery issue involving PDA's - palm pilots, etc. they are developing programs to get the data. See http://www.paraben-forensics.com/ The Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE) Guidelines: The purpose of this document is to describe the best practices for computer forensics. This document is not all inclusive and does not contain information relative to specific operating systems or forensic tools. http://68.156.151.124/documents/swgde2006/Best_Practices_for_Computer_Forensics%20July06.pdf
"Practical Approaches to Recovering Encrypted Digital Evidence" (IJDE 2002 1:3), by Eoghan Casey, available online at: http://www.utica.edu/academic/institutes/ecii/publications/articles/A04AF2FB-BD97-C28C-7F9F4349043FD3A9.pdf
When the Government Seizes and Searches Your Client’s Computer NACDL article on how to approach this http://www.nacdl.org/public.nsf/698c98dd101a846085256eb400500c01/3025308b102e18d185256e540074c16b?OpenDocument
Confessions
Center on Wrongful Convictions Northwestern Law School http://www.law.northwestern.edu/depts/clinic/wrongful/index.htm
Coercive Questioning And Why People Falsely Confess: Richard Ofshe list of publications. http://sociology.berkeley.edu/faculty/ofshe/ Call CPCS Forensics Director for transcripts.
The Innocence Project: Understanding Why People Falsely Confess http://www.innocenceproject.org/understand/False-Confessions.php
New England Innocence Project http://www.newenglandinnocence.org/index.php
False Confessions: Annotated Clinical Research http://www.psychologyandlaw.com/false.htm
Kassin's Home Page with his research on False Confessions: http://www.williams.edu/Psychology/Faculty/Kassin/research/confessions.htm John Reid Web Site of the organization that trains almost all police agencies re: getting suspects to confess. http://www.reid.com/
NLADA False Confessions Library Tutorial, Motions and instructions plus research. Slow to load but worth it. http://www.nlada.org/Defender/forensics/for_lib/Index/Confessions#Confessions Suggestibility: Journal of Credibility Assessment and Witness Psychology: from polygraph to child suggestibility to false confessions to eyewitness memory. http://truth.boisestate.edu/jcaawp/default.html
Truth about false confessions run by Williams College Professor Alan Hirsch http://www.truthaboutfalseconfessions.com/
Transcripts of direct and cross of Ofshe and Leo and Kassin that can be used to educate and be aware of if you are using one of them as an expert: http://www.reid.com/critic-doj.html Reid has taken these off the website but all of the transcripts can be accessed by putting this address into the Wayback Machine Internet Archive web finder http://www.archive.org/index.php
Reid Chapter Distinguishing Between True and False Confessions http://www.reid.com/educational_info/criticfalseconf.html
Crime Scene Investigations
Boston Police Crime Lab http://www.cityofboston.gov/police/divisions/lab.asp
Crime and Clues This is a good site to begin your education about techniques in the following areas. It also has links to other sites and textbooks. Crime Scene Investigation; Fingerprint Evidence; Physical Evidence and Criminalistics. Demonstrative Evidence: Photographs and Drawings. Confessions Death Investigation: Pathology, Anthropology, Entomology. Criminal Investigation discussion forum. http://crimeandclues.com/
Crime Lab Walk Through This has photos of various types of forensic techniques supported by experts and learned treatises http://www.courttv.com/forensics/lab/ Crime Scene Walk Through at Court TV This site walks you through a scene with the medical examiner to the crime lab http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/forensics/crimescene/1.html
Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement, DOJ. This takes you to an Adobe Acrobat edition, discusses the fundamental principles of investigating a crime scene and preserving evidence that need to be practiced in order to yield reliable information. 2004 http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/200160.pdf Crime Scene Investigation http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net
CSI No kidding. It does have a pretty decent glossary with case files. Not too much music! http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/
Crime Scene Photography http://www.epic-photo.org/ This is the website for people involved with or interested in forensic photography. It has publications, info. on forensic photography, becoming board certified, hiring expert witnesses etc. Evidence Collection Guidelines http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/collect.html For Blood Stains, Seminal Stains, Hair, Fibers and Threads, Glass, Paint, Flammable Liquids, Firearms Evidence, Tool Marks, Controlled Substances and Medicinal Preparations, Questioned Documents, Latent Fingerprints.
GC/MS Analysis by Frederic Douglas: A short primer for lawyers on gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. http://www.scientific.org/tutorials/articles/gcms.html
GC/MS walk through with movies! http://www.shsu.edu/~chemistry/primers/gcms.html
Laboratory Orientation and Testing of Body Fluids and Tissues for Forensic Analysts The second lesson is an overview of historical and contemporary techniques used to characterize body tissues. Some techniques are still used in the examination of body fluids, while knowledge of others, such as ABO and multi-enzyme systems, is of value if old cases are opened for review. http://forensicbiology.dna.gov//
Locard's Exchange Principle & Crime Reconstruction Evidence Dynamics: We do leave a little part of us wherever we have been! http://www.profiling.org/journal/vol1_no1/jbp_ed_january2000_1-1.html
Boston Police Crime Lab http://www.cityofboston.gov/police/divisions/lab.asp
Mass. State Police Crime Lab site. It discusses what is available and has a walk through a crime scene. You can click on the various items in the picture and see how that article would potentially be processed. http://www.state.ma.us/msp/unitpage/crimelab/index.htm
Protecting The Crime Scene [This Article Originally Appeared in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, September 1994.] http://www.crimeandclues.com/protect.htm
Crime Statistics
Boston Police website Did you know that this site, like many police web sites, contains all kinds of crime statistics for greater Boston? This information can be very useful in preparing voir dire motions for potential jurors. Along with yearly and monthly statistical reports, there are special sections on domestic violence and sexual assault. Check out the website at: http://www.cityofboston.gov/police/divisions/crimestats.asp Bureau of Justice Statistics http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/
Cambridge Crime Stats http://www.cambridgema.gov/CPD/publications/annual_2006.cfm
CDC State Injury and Mortality Data site. Center for Disease Control. It is useful to get the %’s of, for ex. The number of homicides by guns. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/osp/data.htm
Compare Crime Statistics Using This Site http://www.netforlawyers.com/compare_crime.htm
Crime statistics tutorial. See: A Bare Bones Guide on how to find stats on crime. Useful for voir dire http://www.fastennetwork.org/Display.asp?Page=crimestats or http://www.crime.org/tutorial.html DEA Statistics Arrests, Seizures, State Fact Sheets http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/statistics.html Massachusetts at http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/states/massachusetts.html
DOJ Sourcebook of Criminal Statisitcs: This is a great resource to get current statistical information, recent Department of Justice publications. I use it to update my voir dire affidavits. http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/
FBI Uniform Crime Reports http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm Massachusetts State Police website also contains crime statistics at: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopssubtopic&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Law+Enforcement+%26+Criminal+Justice&L2=Crime+Statistics+%26+Research&sid=Eeops
National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) is one of the most extensive sources of information on criminal and juvenile justice in the world, providing services to an international community of policymakers and professionals. NCJRS is a collection of clearinghouses supporting all bureaus of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs: the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the OJP Program Offices. It also supports the Office of National Drug Control Policy. http://www.ncjrs.org/ or http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov . These two sites are the home pages for many government publications.
Organized Crime TM: A Crime Statistics Site http://www.crime.org/
Rape and Sexual Assault: Reporting to Police and Medical Attention, 1992-2000. This BJS release presents information on the consequences of rape and sexual assault for female victims. The study provides the percentages of completed rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault of females that were reported to the police in 1992-2000. (NCJ 194530) http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/rsarp00.htm
US Census 2000– gives a lot information the %’s of population. This information can be used in voir dire affidavits and change of venue motions. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000.html
Criminal Law/Justice Mega Pages
Crimelynx Jerrilyn Merritt, a Colorado attorney and NACDL member, etc., runs this site. She is an excellent lawyer and resource. http://www.crimelynx.com/ Jeff Flax's Law Related Resources This is an all inclusive link site. http://www.jflax.com/
Cecil Greek Criminal Justice Link. A good resource. This is another phenomenal giant sight with many links. http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/cj.html
Criminal Justice Sites Links to Criminal Justice Related Sites: Law Enforcement Sites related to law enforcement, including local agencies. Corrections Sites related to prisons and other corrections issues. Forensics Sites related to forensic science and criminalistics. Juvenile Justice Sites related to juvenile delinquency, gangs, and juvenile justice. Social Science Social science links, such as the American psychological Society. Libraries On-line card catalogs and information. http://cjwww.csustan.edu/cj/rframe.html
JUSTINFO, an electronic newsletter service sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, is published the 1st and 15th of each month. It provides the latest criminal justice news, information, services, and publications. All you have to do is sign up. It's free. http://www.ncjrs.org/
Kruglaw More than 800 links to forensic and criminal law sites. Just follow the trail. http://www.bioforensics.com/kruglaw/ Mega Reference List with tons of links. http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/
Criminal Records
Mass CORI Reader How to understand probation records and rights http://www.masslegalservices.org/docs/3d_Ed-2d_Rev.pdf
Mass. Law About Criminal Records Great link for anything related to CORI http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/aboutcrimrecord.html
Mass. Statute http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/gl-6-toc.htm
D.A./A.G./U.S.A.
Attorney General's http://www.ago.state.ma.us/ Press releases: http://www.ago.state.ma.us/sp.cfm?pageid=961 Bristol County District Attorney’s Web Site http://www.bristolda.com/ Press releases http://www.bristolda.com/doc.ccml?7,0,890317,da890317,,,,press.html
Cape and Islands DA http://www.mass.gov/da/cape/ Press releases http://www.mass.gov/da/cape/pr.htm Essex County DA http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=deashomepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Deas Press releases http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=deasgeneric1landing&L=1&L0=Home&f=Home_more&sid=Deas#top Middlesex County District Attorney’s Web Site http://www.middlesexda.com/ with Press releases Norfolk County District Attorney's Office http://www.mass.gov/da/norfolk/ Plymouth County District Attorney's Office Web Site http://www.mass.gov/da/plymouth/ Suffolk County DA's posts their press releases on this site. Funny how they are sorted by defendant’s names. This site also contains phone numbers and locations. http://www.state.ma.us/da/suffolk http://www.mass.gov/da/suffolk/press_releases.html USA http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/ma/ Press releases http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/ma/press.html Worchester County District Attorney’s Web Site http://www.worcesterda.com/ Press releases http://www.worcesterda.com/news_publications/press_releases.htm
Prosecutorial Misconduct Massachusetts http://www.publicintegrity.org/pm/states.aspx?act=list&st=MA
Daubert
Daubert on the Web – an updated resource re opinions and court decisions http://www.daubertontheweb.com/
Daubert Tracker tracks cases involving the admissibility of expert testimony and, in particular, find out how specific experts fared in the courts. Its central feature is a database of all reported cases under Daubert and its progeny, trial and appellate, backed up when available by full-text briefs, transcripts and docket entries. Part of what makes the site unique is that it links cases to experts. Even if the expert is not named in the court decision, the site's editors track down the expert's identity. For free, you can search the site's collection of more than 10,000 briefs and other supporting documents from both appellate and trial courts relating to expert witness testimony. If you find a document you are interested in, you can also view the first 10 percent of it free. If you decide you want to purchase the complete document, the cost is $15 for non-subscribers and $7.50 for subscribers. at www.dauberttracker.com
Deconstructing Daubert: Rule 702 and Non-Scientific Evidence By Jon May http://www.nacdl.org/public.nsf/01c1e7698280d20385256d0b00789923/04f750c812e8787885257321005f04f1?OpenDocument FBI Whistlestop WELCOME to fbiwhistlestop.com, a not-for-profit organization established to inform and educate the public concerning the culture and practices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). http://www.fbiwhistlestop.com/
Preparing for a Daubert Hearing By Andre A. Moenssens http://forensic-evidence.com/site/ID/ID_FBI.html
Death Penalty
Capital Defense Network A Wonderful resource that keeps current http://www.capdefnet.org/ Center for Justice in Capital Cases - DePaul College of Law as a resource for anyone searching for information about death penalty law on the Internet. Andrea Lyon, Director [This page often disappears but you can find in Google] http://www.law.depaul.edu/institutes_centers/cjcc/default.asp DPINFO Death Penalty Information offers the latest death penalty headlines, articles, and up to date death penalty information. www.dpinfo.com Federal Death Penalty Litigation Guides Online http://www.capdefnet.org/fdprc/contents/litigation_guides/guide_to_guides/guide_to_guides2.htm
Federal Death Penalty Inmates http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?scid=29&did=193 Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty http://www.icadp.org/ Illinois Report of the Governor's Commission on Capital Punishment April 2002 PDF http://www.idoc.state.il.us/ccp/ccp/reports/commission_report/index.html
Kruglaw Death Penalty Page with links to all the important sources of information. http://www.kruglaw.com/dp_links.htm
Mass. Citizens Against the Death Penalty www.mcadp.org
Massachusetts Governor’s Council Report On Capital Punishment http://www.lawlib.state.ma.us/docs/5-3-04Governorsreportcapitalpunishment.pdf This report has very useful language on the fallicy of scientific evidence that can be used in other Daubert like challenges.
No Death Penalty in Massachusetts Very thorough resource for all of the organizations in Mass. That are working on this issue. http://www.nodp.org/ma Overview of the Federal Death Penalty Process http://capdefnet.org/fdprc/contents/shared_files/docs/1__overview_of_fed_death_process.asp