The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show airing Episode #29 – “Cold Cases Revisited”
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode #29 – “Cold Cases Revisited,” Thursday evening, June 27, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST). Join us as we examine what determines that an old unsolved case should be revisited and declared a “Cold Case” for additional investigation. What types of cases are considered for reinvestigation? What are the odds that a “cold case” will be solved when revisited; and who investigates these unsolved cases. So join host, Tom Mauriello and his special guest, Joe Giacalone, retired NYPD Detective Sargent and former Commanding Officer of the Bronx Cold Case Homicide Squad. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO TO www.forensicweek.com
The ForensicWeek.com Show – Airing Episode #28 – Finding the Washington Area Snipers
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode #28 – “Finding the Washington Area Snipers,” tomorrow, June 20, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST). Join us as we examine the trail of evidence that lead to the successful identification, apprehension, and conviction of the two snipers that terrorized the Washington, Maryland and Virginia surrounding areas. The shootings lasted for 22 days from the day of the first shooting death on October 2, 2002, until the apprehension of the two snipers on October 24, 2002. When it was over, 10 persons were killed and 3 wounded, as a result of the actions of convicted perpetrators, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo. We have as our guest Maryland State Police Lt. (Retired) David Reichenbaugh, Operations Commander, Criminal Intelligence Division, who played a pivotal role in the multi-jurisdictional investigation. So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team and learn the facts about this case and how it unfolded. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO TO www.forensicweek.com
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show airing Episode #27 – “Forensic Hypnosis—Fiction and Fact”
Tonight, June 13, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST). Guest, Dr. Arnett Gaston, Clinical Psychologist and Forensic Hypnotist, together with Host and Forensic Hypnotist, Tom Mauriello, will dispel fact from fiction. Throughout history hypnosis has been a phenomenon’ surrounded by an aura of mystery and controversy. Often, hypnosis has been the subject of theatrical presentations and English and American novels reinforce the popular image of the hypnotist as a mysterious, mind-controlling person. However, since the 1970’s hypnosis has become a tool often used by law enforcement in criminal investigations. Increasingly, witnesses and victims are hypnotized to enhance or “refresh” their memory of an event which may have happened too quickly or was too traumatic to recall. So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team and learn how hypnosis can be a valuable investigative tool when used cautiously. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO TO www.forensicweek.com
Supreme Court Decides on Police Collection of DNA Upon Arrest
This past Monday, June 3, 2013, the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision upheld a state law that allows investigators to take genetic information from arrestees, a practice followed by the federal government and 28 states. Police generally compare suspects’ DNA to records from other cases in hopes of developing leads
Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority, said “DNA collection was a legitimate booking procedure akin to fingerprinting and photographing for the purpose of “identifying” suspects.”
But in a dissent that aligned some of the court’s liberal members with conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, the minority said the court’s decision overextends police powers. Scalia quoted Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler describing DNA collection as a crime-fighting tool.
“Make no mistake about it: As an entirely predictable consequence of today’s decision, your DNA can be taken and entered into a national DNA database if you are ever arrested, rightly or wrongly, and for whatever reason,” Scalia wrote. He took the rare step of reading the statement from the bench. “In fact you could argue the taking of DNA is less intrusive than fingerprints — at least you don’t have ink on your fingers,” he said.
Law enforcement is already authorized to handcuff suspects, pat them down, draw blood, and strip-search someone before taking them to a jail cell, he said. “Clearly, they can touch the inside of your cheek and take a DNA swab,” Gansler said.
Stephen B. Mercer, chief attorney within the Maryland Public Defender’s Forensics Division, said he believes the decision could set the stage for a universal DNA database made up of all citizens.
“DNA testing has little to do with identification and everything to do with solving unresolved crimes,” said Steven R. Shapiro, the ACLU’s national legal director. “While no one disputes the importance of that interest, the Fourth Amendment has long been understood to mean that the police cannot search for evidence of a crime … without individualized suspicion. Today’s decision eliminates that crucial safeguard.”
This is an important decision that will make a positive difference in solving cases that otherwise would never be solved.
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show airing Episode #26 – Animal & Agricultural Forensic Services
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode #26 – Animal & Agricultural Forensic Services – tomorrow, Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST). This is a LIVE rebroadcast of this show because of previous technical problems experienced with the original show that aired in April. Guest, Dr. Gary Pusillo, from Marshalltown, Iowa, will talk about his research and forensic work investigating cases associated with uncovering how animal food products cause the poor health and sometimes death of all types of animals. So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team and learn about this amazing forensic science. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO TO www.forensicweek.com
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show – featuring “Forensic Nursing – A Medical/Legal Profession”
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode 25 – featuring “Forensic Nursing – A Medical/Legal Profession,” tomorrow – Thursday, May 30, 2013, at 7:00 P.M. Distinguished members of the International Association of Nurses will be guests on the show broadcasting LIVE from their locations all over the world. So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team as they discuss this important forensic science profession and learn about how the forensic nurse strengthens the investigative process. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO to www.forensicweek.com
The ForensicWeek.com Show – Episode 24 – “The Dollhouse Murders – A CSI Learning Tool”
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode 24 – featuring “The Dollhouse Murders – A CSI Learning Tool,” tomorrow – Thursday, May 23, 2013, at 7:00 P.M. The Dollhouse Murders is a book written by host, Tom Mauriello, who produced the stories in association with six dollhouse dioramas built as learning tools in the crime lab, thus making his science more accessible than ever before. Each of the dollhouses depicts a snap shot in time of a scene that may or may not be a crime. So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team and walk through each of the dollhouses and learn exactly how serious crimes are investigated. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO to www.forensicweek.com See The “Dollhouse Murders” Book Cover
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode 023
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode 023 – “Counterterrorism – A Response to the Boston Marathon Bombing,” tomorrow – Thursday, May 9, 2013, at 7:00 P.M. Hear the truth from three counterterrorism experts, as they share their thoughts about what has happened in Boston and elsewhere in our homeland, and what we need to do to protect ourselves. Guests include: Rusty Capps, Retired FBI Special Agent; Ray Semko, Retired Military Intelligence Special Agent; and LT. Col. Joe Ruffini, US Army (Retired). So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team and be prepared to be educated and entertained. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO to www.forensicweek.com
The ForensicWeek.com Show – Episode #22
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode 022 –“Criminal Justice Graduates Speak-Up.” They are University of Maryland Criminal Justice seniors preparing to graduate this month and go out into the real world looking for career opportunities. We will hear from them as they “speak-up” reflecting on their past four years of study; intern experiences; and career aspirations. So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team and meet some of our future professionals. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO to www.forensicweek.com
The ForensicWeek.com Show – Episode 021 – “Forensics4Real – A Company and an IDea.”
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode 021 – Forensics4Real – A Company and an IDea – Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST). Guest, John Paolucci, retired NYPD and President of Forensics4Real has integrated his vast experience in law enforcement to provide “one-stop-shopping” for expert witnesses, students and law enforcement with training and instruction on true to life applications for forensic evidence and crime scene processing. So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team and learn about Forensics4Real. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO TO www.forensicweek.com
The ForensicWeek.com Show – Episode 020 – Animal & Agricultural Forensic Services
The ForensicWeek.com Webcast Show is airing Episode 020 – Animal & Agricultural Forensic Services – Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST). Guest, Dr. Gary Pusillo, from Marshalltown, Iowa, will talk about his research and forensic work in investigating cases associated with how animal food products can cause the poor health and sometimes death of all types of animals. So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team and learn about this amazing forensic science. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO TO www.forensicweek.com
9th Annual CSI Challenge – Mount St. Mary’s University – April 6, 2013
University of Maryland College Park CCJS students participated for the first time in Mount Saint Mary’s University’s Ninth Annual Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Challenge, on Saturday, April 6th, 2013, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Faculty Mentor, Tom Mauriello and his student team of Criminal Justice majors, Tim Fromm, Mark Lombard, and Andrea Williams placed 3rd out of the 35 teams competing this past weekend. The CSI Challenge is a competition where students from local area universities and Canada demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities in crime scene investigation and evidence collection. Students assume the roles of both a crime scene investigator and evidence technician and are presented with their crime scenario and given a limited amount of time to process a mock crime scene, collect pertinent evidence, and complete all necessary reports. Student teams were required to perform crime scene tasks to include surveying and securing the scene, interviewing witnesses, crime scene sketching, crime scene photography, and demonstrate proper evidence collection procedures. The objective of the program is for students to use team work and critical thinking skills to complete their task effectively and efficiently. Law enforcement and forensics professionals and educators judged the students throughout the exercise and those teams with the three highest scores were recognized at the conclusion of the event. Congratulations to the University of Maryland CCJS Team for being one of those recognized. All three students had successfully completed CCJS 320, Introduction to Criminalistics, and demonstrated the value of the course by successfully competing with so many of their peers.
The ForensicWeek.com Show airing Episode 018 – April 4, 2013
The ForensicWeek.com Show is airing Episode 018 – BETA Team Threat Prevention – this, Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST). A panel of distinguished University of Maryland administrators will be on the show to discuss their role in the Behavioral Evaluation & Threat Assessment (BETA) Team. They are John Zacker, Ph.D – Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Chair of the University BETA Team; Sharon Kirkland-Gordon, Ph.D. – Psychologist and Director of the University Counseling Center; and Captain Robert “Bob” Mueck – Department of Public Safety, University Police Department. The BETA Team is designed to provide resources when confronted with inappropriate, disruptive, or threatening behavior on campus and provide intervention to avoid an escalation in violence. The University of Maryland BETA Team is a forensic model to be emulated for college campuses, as well as municipalities, government agencies and private industry. So join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the ForensicWeek.com team and learn what to do when confronted with a potentially threatening situation. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Just GO TO www.forensicweek.com
The forensicweek.com Show – Episode #17 – “Lizzie Borden-Nothing but the Truth” – LIVE – TODAY
The forensicweek.com Show is airing Episode #17 – “Lizzie Borden-Nothing but the Truth” – LIVE – TODAY, Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST). This topic was previously presented in Episode #13 on February 28th, but because of A/V and internet difficulties, forensicweek.com decided to redo the show for the viewing audience who expressed great interest in the topic. This show brings viewers back to the Victorian era in New England as guests located in Fall River, Massachusetts, analyze the most infamous murder case of the 19th century. The case…, the arrest and acquittal of Lizzie Borden for the double hatchet murders of her father and step-mother, Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River. The time,… August 4th, 1892. Special guest experts are Dr. Stefani Koorey, Editor and Publisher of the “The Hatchet: A Journal of Lizzie Borden & Victorian America; Michael Martins, Curator of the Fall River Historical Society, and Dennis Binette, Assistant curator, both co-authors of the book, “Parallel Lives: A Social History of Lizzie A. Borden and Her Fall River.” Want to know the facts about Lizzie, the murders, the evidence against her, why she was acquitted, and why the fascination with this case after 120 years? Then join host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the forensicweek.com webcast team and learn the “real” truth about Lizzie Borden and the legend. Watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience after the show is aired. Remember all previous episodes are there also. Just GO TO www.forensicweek.com . Thank you for watching.
The forensicweek.com Show – TONIGHT – Episode 16
The forensicweek.com Show is airing Episode 016 tonight LIVE, March 21, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST). Tonight’s show will be an “Open Forum” discussion of a number of forensic sciences topics, as well as the introduction of the use of “Virtual Teaching Crime Labs.” Dr. Richard Saferstein, Forensic Consultant and the foremost author and pioneer of forensic science textbooks will be a return guest. So join ForensIQ host, Tom Mauriello, and the rest of the University of Maryland forensicweek.com webcast team, and watch the show LIVE or view it at your convenience. Remember all episodes are archived, so just GO TO www.forensicweek.com to view the LIVE show or any of the previous shows whenever you want. Thank you for watching!
