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Houston Police End Use of Error-Prone Drug Field Tests
by Matthew Clarke
In the summer of 2017, the Houston Police Department announced that it was ending its longstanding practice of using $2 field test kits for drugs that had frequently been used to persuade defendants to plead guilty—even when they were innocent.
In December 2016, the Timothy Cole Exoneration ...
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More from this issue:
- Civil Asset Forfeiture: Unfair, Unjust, Un-American, by Christopher Zoukis
- News in Brief
- Driver’s License Required for Conviction as Florida Habitual Traffic Offender, by David Reutter
- DNA Sketches Answer Prayers, Raise Concerns, by Dale Chappell
- Research Needed: Do Drug Dogs Respond to Drugs or Handler?, by Christopher Zoukis
- Questioning the Use of DNA Testing Software in Criminal Prosecution, by Christopher Zoukis
- Maine Supreme Court: State Must Provide Evidence to Support Probation Revocation, by Dale Chappell
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals: Right to Appeal Judge’s Questioning Not Forfeited by Failure to Object, by Dale Chappell
- Washington Court of Appeals Reverses Murder Conviction Due to Prejudicial PowerPoint, by Richard Resch
- Louisiana Indigent Defendants Face Death Penalty Without Lawyers, by Christopher Zoukis
- Two-Party Consent Law Forces Dismissal of 61 Cases in Washington Sting
- Georgia Supreme Court Reverses Mutually Exclusive Guilty Verdicts, by Christopher Zoukis
- Few Indigent Defendants Have Lawyer at Arraignment, by Mark Wilson
- Ohio Supreme Court: Courts Can Seal Case Records Prior to Expiration of Statute of Limitations, by Dale Chappell
- Massachusetts Supreme Court: Sleeping Juror Is “Structural Error,” Requires Intervention, by Dale Chappell
- CA Court Rejects Inventory Search and Inevitable Discovery Arguments in Warrantless Search Case, by Richard Resch
- California Court of Appeal: Prior Felony Does Not Convert “Wobbler” Into Felony, by Dale Chappell
- Idaho Supreme Court: Suspicionless Fishing Expeditions Not Tolerated, by David Reutter
- Georgia Supreme Court Instructs Federal Courts on Its Habeas Review Process, by Richard Resch
- Houston Police End Use of Error-Prone Drug Field Tests, by Matthew Clarke
- After 21-Year Imprisonment, Wrongfully Convicted Nevada Man Pardoned, by Christopher Zoukis
- First Circuit: Plain Error Standard Met When Trial Court Emphasized Erroneous Jury Instruction, by Dale Chappell
- New York Court of Appeals: Bail Bondsmen May Not Keep Premium If Defendant Not Released
- Use of Sentencing Mitigation Videos Grows, by Derek Gilna
- DNA Evidence: New Jersey Court Vacates Two 1996 Murder Convictions, by Mark Wilson
- Curb False Confessions: Provide Suspects With Lawyers, by Derek Gilna
- Fifth Circuit: “Fugitive from Justice” Enhancement Requires Intent to Avoid Prosecution, by Dale Chappell
- Mississippi Capital Murder Conviction Reversed Due to Prosecutorial Misconduct, by Christopher Zoukis
- Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas: Holds Trial Objection Enough to Preserve Issue for Appeal, by Dale Chappell
- $2 Million to Disabled Syracuse Man Tased by Cops, by Dale Chappell
- Hawaii Supreme Court: Defendants Entitled to Hearing Within 2 Days, by Dale Chappell
- Seventh Circuit: Capital Case Defendant Denied Pro Se Right Granted Habeas Relief, by Christopher Zoukis
- Jury Nullification: A Crucial Check on Government Power, by Christopher Zoukis
- U.S. Murder Clearance Rates Among Lowest in the World, by Matthew Clarke
- California Legalization of Marijuana Allows Convicted to Petition, by Derek Gilna
- Second Circuit Vacates 60-Month Sentence in Model Guidelines Sentencing Decision
- California Court of Appeal: Prejudice “Presumed” Where Jury Discussed Defendant’s Decision Not to Testify, by Dale Chappell
- Massachusetts Supreme Court: Permanent Ban on Sealing Record of Sex Offender Unconstitutional, by Dale Chappell
- Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules “Backseat Driver” Is a Real Thing Under Criminal Statutes, by Christopher Zoukis
- Iowa Supreme Court: Search of Third-Party at Premises Subject to Warrant Violates State Constitution, by Richard Resch
- Survival Tip: Don’t Call Cops If You’re Disabled, by Dale Chappell
- San Francisco and San Diego Expunging Marijuana Convictions Under Prop 64
- Ninth Circuit: Government Cannot Seize Cash Based Solely on Money’s Intended Use, by Christopher Zoukis
- Unjust Sexual Offense Laws: Insanity and Hope, by Brenda Jones, Ken Abraham
- Oregon Appeals Court: Defense Counsel Constitutionally Inadequate in Sexual Abuse Case, by Mark Wilson
- Ninth Circuit Warns Prosecutors Against Interfering With Defendants’ Legal Representation; Reverses First-Degree Murder Convictions, by Richard Resch
- $5.5 Million Verdict Against LAPD for Taser Death of Former Marine, by Derek Gilna
- Overworked Missouri Public Defenders Fear Suspensions and Firing, by Mark Wilson
- Prosecutor’s “Animosity” Toward Defense Leads Oregon Appeals Court to Vacate Convictions, by Mark Wilson
- $9.5M Settlement Approved by Chicago City Council for Yet Another Excessive Force Case, by Derek Gilna
More from Matthew Clarke:
- DOJ Finds “Horrific and Inhumane” Conditions in Georgia Prisons, March 1, 2025
- Sixth Circuit Upholds $6.4 Million Jury Award Against Corizon Nurses For Michigan Jail Prisoner’s Fatal Alcohol Withdrawal, March 1, 2025
- En Banc Fifth Circuit Reverses Panel, Holds Mississippi Felon Disenfranchisement Does Not Violate Eighth Amendment, March 1, 2025
- USDC (D. Oregon), Case No. 6:22-cv-00451, Feb. 15, 2025
- Legal Gaffe Prolongs Case of Former St. Louis Detainee Held Eight Months After Dismissal of Charges, Feb. 15, 2025
- Among World Nations, Individual U.S. States Near Top of List for Per Capita Incarceration, Feb. 15, 2025
- DOJ Settles Complaints About Conditions for Disabled Detroit Jail Detainees, Feb. 15, 2025
- New York Prison Officials Found Routinely Violating HALT Act With Overuse of Solitary Confinement, Feb. 15, 2025
- Historic $7 Million Settlement in Lawsuit Over Michigan Jail Prisoner’s Fatal Beating, Feb. 15, 2025
- Suits Filed Over Dehydration Deaths at Two Texas Jails, Jan. 15, 2025
More from these topics:
- Study Reveals Best DNA Recovery Spots on Drug Baggies, Feb. 15, 2025. DNA Testing/Samples, War on Drugs, DNA Evidence/Testing.
- California Court of Appeal Announces Defendants May Obtain Brady Evidence From Police Officers’ Personnel Files in Advance of § 1172.6 Hearing Requesting Vacatur of Conviction and Resentencing for Certain Types of Murder Convictions, Feb. 15, 2025. Disclosure of Records, Police, Brady Violations, Murder/Felony Murder, Resentencing, Prior Conviction/Sentence/Incarceration, Evidence - Admissibility.
- Chicago’s Police Body Cam Transparency, Feb. 1, 2025. Videotaping, Police, Police State-Surveillance.
- 50 Years After Starting “Scared Straight,” Former N.J. Prison Warden “Would Do It Again”, Nov. 15, 2024. War on Drugs, Juveniles, Education (Juveniles).
- Alabama Guard, Prisoners Among 13 Sentenced in Phone Scam and Drug-Smuggling Ring, Nov. 15, 2024. Guard Misconduct, Cell Searches, War on Drugs, Searches - Cellphones/Computers/Internet.
- Three Former Rikers Island Guards Among Five Ex-Employees Charged in Massive Smuggling Scheme, Oct. 15, 2024. Guard Misconduct, War on Drugs, Searches - Cellphones/Computers/Internet.
- Alabama Warden and Wife Busted for Making “Magic” Mushrooms, Oct. 15, 2024. Police Misconduct, War on Drugs.
- Study Finds That Black Americans Want Both Police Presence and Reform: Looking Beyond the Headlines, Oct. 1, 2024. Criminal justice system reform, Police, Racial Profiling.
- Colorado Law Enforcement Agencies Will Soon Send Drones Instead of Cops in Response to 911 Calls, Sept. 1, 2024. Police, Advanced Imaging Technology.
- Don’t Stand Too Close to First Responders Under New Florida Law, Aug. 1, 2024. Police, Safety Threat to Police.