Common Mistakes Made by Police in Harrisburg

Many people believe that when they are arrested for a DUI that they are doomed to a conviction.  This is not true.  Many cases that look like an open-and-shut case for the prosecution can fall apart on close examination. One of the main reasons for DUI cases to be dismissed or arrive at a not…

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C&EN Quotes Attorney McShane

Recently, Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN) interviewed me for a feature they were doing on Annie Dookhan: Chemist Charged In Crime Lab Scandal Police arrested a Massachusetts forensic chemist on Sept. 28. Annie Dookhan allegedly tampered with drug evidence in criminal cases, forged colleagues’ signatures, and faked her academic credentials while working at a state…

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Annie Dookhan: The Personification of Everything that is Wrong with Cirme Labs

For those readers who don’t know who Annie Dookhan is, here is the rundown. Recently, The Boston Globe uncovered that Dookhan, who was working at a Massachusetts state drug testing lab compromised evidence in many, many cases. She lied. She forged signatures. She contaminated evidence on purpose. She dry-labbed, meaning she would sim­ply look at…

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Innocence! Forensic Science, Chemistry and the Law features the Innocence Project and Wrongful Convictions

Innocence! Forensic Science, Chemistry and the Law features the Innocence Project and Wrongful Convictions

The Amer­i­can Chem­i­cal Society’s Chem­istry and the Law Divi­sion and its Foren­sic Sci­ence Co-Chairmen, Justin McShane, Esq. of Har­ris­burg, PA and Josh D. Lee, Esq. of Vinita, OK, are proud to announce a full-day pre­sen­ta­tion on the work of the Inno­cence Project. Foren­sic Sci­ence often plays a tragic role in the con­vict­ion and wrong­ful impris­on­ment…

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DUI Blood Tests Impacted by Lab Errors

More sloppy lab work leads to more uncertainty about DUI convictions.  This time it’s Colorado again:   At issue is the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s testing for blood-alcohol content, which many law enforcement agencies rely on to establish if someone is over the legal limit for driving, .08 percent. In early May,…

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Seriously, who's working in these crime labs?

More Crime Lab Problems: Philly Lab Tech Flunk Competency Test

Am I really asking for too much?  All I really want from a crime lab is: Validated techniques Proper supervision Adherence to scientific standards Competent technicians who do their job properly and time and time again we find out that these  simple requests are not being met. Philly crime lab technicians flunk competency test THREE…

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If the forensic labs are not doing their jobs properly, we will show that in court.

External Quality Assurance Auditor for Pennsylvania Forensics Labs

Forensics, in the form of both blood and breath testing, is a big part of a DUI case.  This is why I have dedicated myself to the study of forensic science so I can offer the best defense for my clients.  You have to know the science to hold the scientists accountable. In my studies…

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If you still believe forensic blood tests are accurate then might as well check for monsters in you closets as well.

Crime Labs Positive. Retests Show Substance was not Present in the First Place!

Blood tests are often treated like the “holy grail” of DUI evidence.  Prosecutors see it as infallible and many inexperienced DUI attorneys fail to question the results because of its perceived accuracy.  I even once had a prosecutor say to me, in open court mind you, “It’s a blood test. How can you possibly challenge…

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