Category Archives: Evidence
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in Guilty Plea Appeal Waiver Case
We’ve previously discussed the issue of plea bargains being on the rise in the United States. It has become such an issue that many argue that it has turned our criminal justice system upside down. In fact, today, an estimated 97 percent of federal and 94 percent of state prosecutions now end in plea… Read More »
Are Police Officers In New York & New Jersey Engaging In Misconduct To Get The Evidence They Want?
Below, we discuss two breaking stories that involve police misconduct and the potential repercussions it has on the innocent here in New York and New Jersey: NYPD & District Attorney’s Office Charges a Suspect in Jogger Murder “On a Hunch” The New York jogger who was murdered in Howard Beach (Queens, New York) two… Read More »
Should Prisoners Have A Right To DNA Testing?
The story of Kevin Cooper—who is currently sitting on death row, and demanding DNA testing to prove his innocence—has captured news headlines of late, especially after Nicholas Kristof—a columnist for The New York Times—published an opinion column suggesting that Cooper was framed for the murder he stands convicted of. The case not only involves… Read More »
Are Police Illegally Using DNA Evidence In Criminal Investigations?
Police tracking down the “Golden State Killer” has been in the news headlines of late, not only because he turned out to be a former police officer, but also due to the methods used by detectives to break the case. In the case, police officers reportedly used genetic data provided by the killer’s relatives… Read More »
Is It Possible To Incorporate Neuroscience Into The Courtroom While Also Safeguarding Liberties?
The U.S. Bill of Rights enshrines certain individual liberties and freedoms in our culture that the law, governments, courts, etc. cannot infringe upon; rights that include freedom from self-incrimination and the right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury. We’ve previously discussed the use of neuroscience to argue for mitigating circumstances in a… Read More »
New York Judge Issues Rule Forcing Prosecutors To Release Evidence Favorable To Defendants
In a huge victory for criminal defendants charged in New York, on November 6th, New York state’s top judge (Judge Janet DeFiore) issued a new rule requiring judges to forcefully order prosecutors to disclose all evidence that is favorable to the defendant at least 30 days before trial. This step will help to reform… Read More »