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Author: Yujiemi Chisholm
Events

1st Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting

On behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) Team, led by RTI International, is hosting the 1st Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting, scheduled for October 2-3, 2023!
October 2023
Forensics TTA

DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program – Demystifying Performance Measures

Originally appearing in the Forensics TTA Program’s 1st Annual Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting hosted on October 2-3, 2023, this Program Specific Workshop Session features members of the BJA team providing information to DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program grantees regarding performance measures. During this session, BJA provides a background on why the CEBR Program has performance measures, why supporting documentation is needed, why performance measures change over time, and what peformance measures are used for. BJA also provides examples of supporting documentation for performance measures, additional resources, and contact information for CEBR grantees needing assistance.
October 2023
District Attorney’s Office, Denver, CO

People’s Motion to Admit Evidence of Another Act of the Defendant (State of Colorado v. Jason Groshart)

Prosecution’s motion to admit evidence of a prior act of the defendant in a Colorado sexual assault case that occurred in 2004. The prosecution seeks admission of incriminating items that share commonalities with evidence in the 2004 sexual assault the defendant possessed during an arrest in 2007 and provides an analysis of applicable legal standards, including referencing Rule 404(b), in support of the motion.
September 2023
Grey-filled circle with a justice scale icon inside
CNN

DNA testing leads to exoneration of California man imprisoned nearly 3 decades on kidnapping and sexual assault convictions

In January 1995, a man and woman were robbed at gunpoint by two men who had also sexually assaulted the woman. Days after the crime, Gerardo Cabanillas, who was 18 at the time, was arrested because he generally matched the description of one of the suspects. Mr. Cabanillas was coerced by the investigating detective into giving a false confession after 7 hours of interrogation and promises of leniency. Mr. Cabanillas was sentenced to 87 years to life in prison for kidnapping, sexual assault, carjacking, and robbery. After 28 years in prison, DNA was shown not to match Mr. Cabanillas, and instead pointed to other perpetrators. The court used this information to dismiss the case and declare Mr. Cabanillas factually innocent.
September 2023