In the criminal justice system today, digital evidence is just as if not more prevalent and important than physical evidence. Information on an iPhone or text messages hold the same weight in the courtroom as eyewitness testimony. Even with the rise of digital evidence, there is still a disconnect between police and identifying this evidence. A survey conducted by Thomas…
Trial judges are encouraging courtroom technology. It is not uncommon to see both prosecuting and defending lawyers using technology to keep a jury’s attention. Both jurors and judges expect to see technology in the courtroom because of the tech-driven world we live in. Technology has transformed every aspect of our lives, including the legal system. Lawyers have learned to use technology…
On December 1, North Carolina became the last state to adopt the “Raise the Age” law that prevents 16- and 17-year-olds from being charged with crimes. The state General Assembly passed the law back in 2017. Other states including Louisiana, South Carolina, New York, North Carolina, and Missouri have the same law that raises the age of juvenile court to…
Researchers at the Purdue University Polytechnic Institute have developed a new AI software that searches storage sites like Google Drive and DropBox for digital criminal evidence. Data in the cloud can be difficult for law enforcement to access as is identifying the owner of the data. Researchers created a forensic cloud model to scan images, videos, and other files. The…
Tech company Boston Dynamics has partnered with the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad to test their new robot dog, Spot. Spot has been leased from Boston Dynamics for testing. It is unknown what Spot will be doing for the police. A spokesperson said that Spot is being used as a “mobile remote observation device” to monitor suspicious packages and possible…
Every year over 10,000 people in the United States die from drunk-driving related crashes and injuries. A survey conducted by National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), found that almost 200 courts reported 35% of their cases were drink-driving related. The most recent data released from the NHTSA shows that in 2017, 10,847 people were killed in the United States by a…
Digital evidence such as emails, search history, texts, phone call records, and location data are vital to law enforcement in investigations today. Many times, digital evidence is the only evidence in certain cases. Some law enforcement agencies do not have the resources or knowledge to access digital evidence or which technology companies hold which data. Representative Val Demings, D-Florida is…
Researchers and forensic scientists have developed a method that can identify a person from as little as 1 centimeter of a single strand of hair. If this new method takes off, it could revolutionize forensic science, and make criminal investigators much faster and more effective. This method of identification would also prevent innocent people from being accused of and prosecuted…
