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Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal: Thousands More Cases Likely Affected
by Kevin Bliss
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has dismissed about 45,000 charges in more than 30,000 drug cases prosecuted in the state due to misconduct by chemists Sonja Farak of Amherst drug lab and Annie Dookhan of Hinton drug lab.
Both were found to be falsifying records. Farak was also ...
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More from this issue:
- Jurors Showing More and More Savvy Toward Trial Evidence, by Edward Lyon
- News in Brief
- Minnesota Sees Rising Tide of Payouts for Epidemic of Police Misconduct, by Derek Gilna
- Government Snitches: Incentivized Witnesses Are the Leading Cause of Wrongful Convictions, by Dale Chappell
- NYPD Gang Database Lacks Transparency, Limits Due Process, by Kevin Bliss
- $175,000 Settlement to Public Protester with Profanity-laced Sign Tased by Police Officer
- Study: Racial Bias Inherent in the Jury Selection Process, by Kevin Bliss
- Agencies: Bite-mark Forensics Outdated Science, by Kevin Bliss
- Algorithm-dictated Freedom? Vet California’s New Pretrial Risk Assessment Tool, by Virginia Griese
- San Francisco DA Candidate Chesa Boudin Puts Criminal Justice Reform Front and Center
- New California Laws Peel Back Secrecy Surrounding Police Discipline Amid Pushback, by Betty Nelander
- Facebook Tells Law Enforcement to Quit Using Phony Accounts, by Dale Chappell
- ‘Ban the Box’ Movement Expands in New Direction, by Edward Lyon
- Forensic Entomology Helps Nevada Murder Convictee Get Exonerated After 17 Years in Prison, by Edward Lyon
- Massachusetts Drug Lab Scandal: Thousands More Cases Likely Affected, by Kevin Bliss
- NY Election Websites Tell Parolees They Can’t Vote, Even Though They Can, by Dale Chappell
- Police Use of ‘Undercover Friending’ Investigative Technique Unregulated, by Kevin Bliss
- Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Applicable Standard for Mandatory Testing Under DNA Testing Act, Reverses District Court for Applying Wrong Standard, by Chad Marks
- Hawaii Supreme Court Finally Complies with SCOTUS’ Apprendi Decision, Vacates Enhanced Sentence Based on Fact Determined by Judge, Not Jury, by Christopher Zoukis
- Sexual Assaults and Harassment by Members of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Costing Taxpayers Millions, by Edward Lyon
- Sixth Circuit Vacates a Witness Tampering Conviction, Principally on the Ground that the District Court Erroneously Instructed the Jury on the Intent Element of Witness Tampering, by Punch & Jurists
- Bronx Prosecutors Trained to Manipulate System to Delay Trials, by Matthew Clarke
- Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rosenstein Defends Junk Science Forensics, by Matthew Clarke
- SCOTUS Clarifies Scope of Generic Burglary Under the ACCA, by Richard Resch
- Report: Wisconsin Crime Labs Face Multitude of Problems, by Edward Lyon
- Custodial Interrogation Must Cease When Suspect Unambiguously Invokes Right to Remain Silent, Says Fourth Circuit, by Douglas Ankney
- Fifth Circuit: Introduction of Deposition Video Without Making Good-Faith Effort to Secure Witnesses’ Presence at Trial Violates Confrontation Clause, by Douglas Ankney
- Oklahoma Supreme Court Announces Drug Court Dismissal of Charges After Successful Completion of Drug Program Entitles Defendant to Immediate Expungement, by Douglas Ankney
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Clarifies Proper Evidentiary Standard and Type of Evidence for Informal Competency Hearing, by Christopher Zoukis
- Third Circuit Orders Habeas Relief Based on Trial Counsel’s Failure to Present or Even Investigate Mental Health and Juvenile Records in Pennsylvania Death Penalty Case, by Matthew Clarke
- Third Circuit: Summons Is Not an Arrest for USSG Criminal History Calculation, by Mark Wilson
- Sixth Circuit Reverses 60-Month Upward Variance Sentence Based on News Article Provided to Parties by Court at Beginning of Sentencing Hearing, by Matthew Clarke
- Ninth Circuit Announces Expert Testimony on Battered Woman Syndrome Not Categorically Excludable, Relevant to Duress Defense, by Richard Resch
- Fifth Circuit Holds Special Conditions in PSR Appendix but Not Orally Pronounced by District Court Must Be Removed From Sentence Where Conflict With Written Judgment, by David Reutter
- SCOTUS: Florida’s Robbery Statute Satisfies Physical Force Requirement of Armed Career Criminal Act, by Douglas Ankney
- Idaho Supreme Court: Temporary and Isolated Crossing of the ‘Fog Line’ Not Enough to Support a Traffic Stop, by Christopher Zoukis
- Louisiana Supreme Court Vacates Conviction for Batson Violation, by Christopher Zoukis
- First Circuit Announces No Joint Participation Exception to Spousal Testimonial Privilege, by Matthew Clarke
- Minnesota Supreme Court Holds Sentencing Guidelines at Time of Offense, Not Time of Sentencing, Controls for Purposes of Calculating Criminal History Score, by Matthew Clarke
- Eighth Circuit Rules Search Warrant Based on Affidavit That Failed to Link Target to Criminal Activity Lacked Probable Cause, Not Saved by Good-Faith Exception, by David Reutter
- Seventh Circuit Reverses Denial of a Certificate of Innocence Needed as a Prerequisite for Damages for an Unjust Conviction and Imprisonment, by Punch & Jurists
- California Court of Appeal: Using Criminal Process to Collect Fines That Indigent Defendants Cannot Pay Is Unconstitutional, by Douglas Ankney
- Ninth Circuit Announces SCOTUS’ Rodriguez Opinion Requires Overturning ‘Reasonableness Standard’ Precedent in Traffic Stop Prolongation Cases, by Richard Resch
- U.S. Government Lab Withheld Groundbreaking Study for 5 Years That Can Help Defendants Question the Reliability of Certain DNA Evidence, by Steve Horn
- Cops Are At War Out There, by Jacobin, Brian Platt
- New York Mass Bail Out Action Targets Bail System Manipulation, by Virginia Griese
- From the Editor, by Richard Resch
More from Kevin Bliss:
- LGBTQ+ Detainees at Rikers Island Suffer Under Mayor Adams, Sept. 15, 2023
- Government Watchdog Adds BOP to List at “High Risk” of Mismanagement, Sept. 15, 2023
- At Massive and Corrupt Philippine Prison, Contraband Includes Jacuzzis and Horses, Sept. 15, 2023
- Second Circuit Affirms $600,000 Punitive Damage Award to New York Prisoner Brutally Beaten by Guards, Sept. 15, 2023
- Maryland Sheriff Charged with Illegally Procuring Machine Guns from ATF, Sept. 15, 2023
- Voting Rights Restoration for Virginia Ex-Felons Once Again Subject to Governor’s Whim, Sept. 15, 2023
- Prison Profiteer Who Chairs Christian Seminary Board Called Not Very ‘Christlike’, Aug. 15, 2023
- Menstruation Weaponized Against Women in Prison, Aug. 15, 2023
- Idaho Revives Firing Squads, Aug. 15, 2023
- Pennsylvania Jail Hit With Over $1.5 Million in Overages for Guards, Healthcare, July 15, 2023
More from these topics:
- Disgraced NYC Council Candidate Gets Slap-on-the-Wrist Sentence, April 26, 2024. Misconduct/Corruption, Check-Kiting/Bad Checks.
- Alabama Denies Parole to Former Sheriff Convicted of Corruption, April 1, 2024. Misconduct/Corruption, Jail Misconduct, Parole, Release Decisions.
- DOJ Spending Over $6 Billion in Firms to Seize Innocent Citizens’ Property Via Civil Asset Forfeiture, Jan. 15, 2024. Misconduct/Corruption, Government Misconduct, Forfeiture Money Judgments.
- See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Treat No Evil: Centurion and the Curse of For-Profit Prison Healthcare, Jan. 1, 2024. MHM Inc., Corizon, Centurion, Misconduct/Corruption, Contractor Misconduct, Government Misconduct, Retaliation, Systemic Medical Neglect, Cancer, Private Contractors, Frivolous Litigation, Disclosure of Records, Declaratory Judgment, Public Records, Medical Neglect/Malpractice, PLN Litigation, Censorship, Articles About PLN, Public Records Act, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), HRDC Litigation.
- Former Florida Guard Gets Five Years for Fatal Assault on Mentally Ill Prisoner, Jan. 1, 2024. Misconduct/Corruption, Guard Misconduct, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Guards/Staff.
- Federal Judge Refuses to Shorten Corruption Sentence for Former Head of New York City Jail Guards’ Union, Feb. 1, 2023. Misconduct/Corruption, U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, Guard Unions.
- NYC: The First DNA Gun Crimes Unit in America, Jan. 15, 2023. DNA Testing/Samples, Crime Labs.
- Understanding Environmental Effects on Blowflies Permits Fine-Tuning of Evidence Revealed From Fly Colonization of Decomposing Bodies, Sept. 15, 2022. Crime Labs, junk science.
- Costs of Untested Rape Kits, May 15, 2022. Crime Labs.
- HRDC Sues for Records Denied by Sheriff and Jail in Will County, Illinois, Feb. 24, 2022. Misconduct/Corruption, Disclosure of Records, PLN Litigation, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).