The ForensicWeek.com Show airing Episode 39, “The Science and Evidence of Alcohol Use & Abuse”

The ForensicWeek.com Show is airing Episode 39, “The Science and Evidence of Alcohol Use & Abuse” Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, 7 PM to 8 PM EST.  Learn from two experts who create the research that help determine the evidential standards for alcohol use and abuse— Dr. Ken Beck from University of Maryland School of Public Health, and Jim Fell, Pacific Institute, Alcohol, Policy and Safety Research Center.  Also on the show is return guest, Mark Zaid, Attorney, who defenses clients who have their own use of alcohol judged by security clearance standards.  So join host, Tom Mauriello and his student interns at www.forensicweek.com and view the show LIVE, or watch it later at your convenience with all previous ForensicWeek.com shows.  Thank you for watching!

Grace’s Law

Grace’s Law

Cyber bullying has become a majorly hot topic in recent news. Thankfully, a new bill is in motion, the Misuse of Interactive Computer Service bill, or Grace’s Law, will give investigators and computer forensic experts a way to use their findings in these cases to get convictions. 15-year-old Grace McComas of Howard County committed suicide on Easter Sunday in 2012 due to months of cyber bullying. Grace’s family, along with Baltimore Ravens’ football player, Ray Rice, led a fight in support of legislation to make cyber bullying a legally punishable crime. Grace’s Law makes the bullying of a minor through use of technology, namely a computer or smartphone, illegal with the possibility of a fine up to $500 or one year in prison. On October 1, 2013, The Maryland General Assembly passed Grace’s Law.

To read more, click here.

Citation:

Ames, B. (April 11, 2013). Grace’s Law, a cyberbullying bill, called ‘landmark legislation’. In The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 23, 2013 from http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/ellicott-city/ph-ho-graces-law-passes-20130410,0,4834495.story

[Abstract written by Alex Mitzel, ForensIQ Intern]

Another Tragedy Due to Cyberbullying

Another Tragedy due to Cyber Bullying

The recent case of a young Florida girl who committed suicide has received a lot of media attention. 12-year-old Rebecca Ann Sedwick ended her life last month in order to escape the cyber torment she received from a large group of girls – two in particular. Those two particular girls, of ages 12 and 14, were arrested last week for their involvement in the events leading to the suicide, failure to show remorse, and actions that suggested the cyber attacks would continue. This case has brought to light the many different anti-bullying programs in place in different states. It has also shed light on the fact that the amount of cyberbullying-related suicides of young people has risen significantly in the past several years. USA Today explains that they believe the most effective way to fight these bullies will actually not be through computer forensic investigations or legislation, but rather through peer disproval of the behavior. “Fighting back against bullies and denying them peer approval are the best antidotes.”

To read more, click here.

Citation:

CBSNews.com. (October 15, 2013). Rebecca Ann Sedwick suicide: 2 arrests made in death of bullied Florida girl. In CBSNews.com. Retrieved October 23, 2013 from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57607530/rebecca-ann-sedwick-suicide-2-arrests-made-in-death-of-bullied-florida-girl/

Sanburn, J. (October 16, 2013). A Florida Tragedy Illustrates Rising Concern about Cyber-Bullying Suicides. In Time. Retrieved October 23, 2013 from http://nation.time.com/2013/10/16/a-florida-tragedy-illustrates-rising-concern-about-cyber-bullying-suicides/

The Editorial Board. (October 23, 2013). Cyberbullying calls for new weapons: Our view. In USAToday. Retrieved October 23, 2013 from http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/10/23/rebecca-sedwick-suicide-cyberbullying-criminal-editorials-debates/3173189/

[Abstract written by Alex Mitzel, ForensIQ Intern]

Do blow out games count as bullying?

Blow out games, in any sport, are never satisfying for both the winning and losing teams. Yet, in Texas, one unhappy parent took a loss to an extreme, calling Aledo High School’s 91-0 victory in a football game a case of bullying. The parent accused Aledo’s coach, Tim Buchanan, of “not easing up when the game was in hand.” Buchanan, however, had tried to stop the game from slipping out of control, when at halftime, he approached the referees and asked them to keep a running clock for the final quarter. According to Buchanan, his players had a hard time grasping how their actions could be defined as “bullying” against the definitions they had come to understand. With each bullying accusation, Texas law requires school districts to investigate the incident. For this case, the school district found that there had been “no grounds” for the complaint.

To see the full article, click here!

Citation: Weber, P. (October 23, 2013) MSN News. HS football coach: no bullying found in 91-0 win. Retrieved October 23, 2013 from http://news.msn.com/us/texas-dad-alleges-bullying-in-91-0-football-game.

[Abstract written by Emily McGowan, ForensIQ Intern]

Bully Deterrence

Can the criminalization of bullying deter the act? According to Professor Nadine Connell, the answer to that question is no. She argues that punishment in the criminal justice system might not be effective for either the bully or the victim. Punishment might not solely deter bullying because children and adolescents often respond to immediate interests, rather than weighing on long-term consequences, and lack the ability for emotional self-regulation. Instead, Dr. Connell suggests that the best way to combat bullying is for adults to quickly respond to it, and to encourage behavior that “benefits society and modeling such civility and respect ourselves.”

To read the full opinion, click here!

Citation: Connell, N. (October 23, 2013) USA Today. Criminal charges don’t deter bullies: Opposing view. Retrieved October 23, 2013 from http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/10/23/bullying-bullies-rebecca-sedwick-nadine-connell-editorials-debates/3173171/.

[Abstract written by Emily McGowan, ForensIQ Intern]

New Cyber Forensics Certification Program Out of Illinois

Rend Lake College, Ila, Illinois, is starting a Cyber Forensics Certification program. The program will consist of four classes that students are required to complete to become certified in cyber forensics.  “The class will help our students develop forensic skills to uncover digital evidence,” says Ron Meek, a criminal justice instructor at Rend Lake College. The class will use EnCase software, which is known to be used by the Secret Service and other agencies. In order to relate to our topic this week, cyber forensics can be used to hunt down cyber bullies on social networks and other websites along those lines.

For the full article, click here!

Citation:

New cyber forensics certification planned for fall 2014 semester at RLC. (2013, October 22). Retrieved from Hispanicbusiness.com website: http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2013/10/23/new_cyber_forensics_certification_planned_for.htm

[Abstract written by Karl “Kip” Zenowich, ForensIQ Intern]

The ForensicWeek.com Show is airing episode 38, “Bullying—Beyond A Reasonable Doubt.”

The ForensicWeek.com Show is airing episode 38, “Bullying—Beyond A Reasonable Doubt.”  October is Anti-Bullying month and this Thursday, October 24, 2013, 7 PM to 8 PM EST, ForensicWeek.com joins a worldwide effort to STOP BULLYING by broadcasting a show that will educate forensic and criminal justice students and professionals on how to respond to this aggressive behavior among school aged children.  Join Host, Tom Mauriello and special guest expert, Dr. Quanda Watson-Stevenson, Athens State University, Alabama, whose research concentrates on bullying, school violence and incidents, high risk students, intervention and prevention of school violence, juvenile justice and delinquency.  JUST GO TOwww.forensicweek.com to view the show LIVE, or watch it later at your convenience with any of the other previous ForensicWeek.com shows.  Thank you for watching!

Aiding the Road to Recovery

In the American criminal justice system, the individual most often forgotten in the process is the victim of the crime. The focus of the system centers on the rights of the offender and retribution for the crime committed against society.  However, there have been modern efforts in empowering victims of crime through advocacy, victim’s rights, laws, and various other means. To help victims of crime cope in the aftermath of their trauma, restorative justice offers victims a chance for healing that the criminal justice process does not always fulfill.  Instead of gaining revenge for the crime against them, victims can express their pain, and most importantly, hear the offender take accountability for their actions.

To learn more about restorative justice, check out the link here!

Citation: Lopez, J. KALW: Local Public Radio 97.1 San Francisco. Crime victims find healing through restorative justice. Retrieved October 16, 2013 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/30/government-shutdown-pickup-lines_n_4019358.html.

[Abstract written by Emily McGowan, ForensIQ Intern]

Computer Forensics, Taking Over

In this article, author Brian Wallace shows how computer forensics has begun to have a major effect on forensics as a whole. He goes over which crimes have had great benefit from computer forensics in the past, notable cases include the BTK killer and Scott Peterson. Provided in the article is a great diagram that gives examples from cases in the past that have been very notable. The diagram itself is an interesting read, along with the summary of  it provided by Wallace.

Read the full article here!

Citation

Wallace, B. (2013, October 11). The power of computer forensics. Retrieved from Business 2 Community website: http://www.business2community.com/infographics/power-computer-forensics-infographic-0644262

[Abstract written by Karl “Kip” Zenowich, Forensiq Intern]

Counterterrorism Presentation and Training

FREE training to all present/former intelligence, Counterterrorism, and law enforcement professionals at Peirce College on November 19 from 10-12 in room 51/52. NYPD’s Counterterrorism unit will be presenting Terrorism Awareness and Hostile Surveillance open to all. Then a breakout session for only LEO and CT for training on NYPD’s Shield program.

Go check it out!

[Abstract prepared by Emily McGowan, ForensIQ Intern]

Crime Predicting Computer Software

Recently, the company PublicEngines released computer software called CommandCentral Predictive that is designed to better detect local crime hot spots for police agencies. The program provides street-based officers with daily reports identifying likely high-crime areas in which to target. CommandCentral Predictive is intended to be an easy program to navigate – no technical expertise is needed; officers and crime analysts alike can use it. The purpose is to take the pressure off of crime analysts so that they no longer need to discuss tactical directions with each and every officer. This tool can substitute their oversight, allowing for analysis in more stringent areas. By using CommandCentral Predictive, law enforcement organizations can more effectively allocate their resources.

To read more about this product, click here.

Source: forensicmag.com

Citation:

Forensic Magazine. Crime Prediction Tool. Retrieved October 17, 2013 from http://www.forensicmag.com/product-releases/2013/08/crime-prediction-tool#.Ul9s02TBK6O

[Abstract written by Alex Mitzel, ForensIQ Intern]

Internet Evidence Collection Methodology

“Collection, Preservation, and Presentation”: these are the significant factors identified by Todd Shipley, a highly experienced law enforcement investigator, in his article on internet evidence collection. Defensibility of the evidence in court will depend on the “defined, repeatable, and verifiable” approach investigators take when engaging the evidence. He begins by classifying “internet forensics” and isolating its aspects that prove somewhat problematic for investigators. The tools most often used by investigators for internet evidence collection are not designed for law enforcement and, therefore, do not retain much integrity in court. Shipley cites different sources of expertise including a landmark court case and a previously proposed methodology to come to his conclusion – collection must be verifiable, preservation must be in the original state, and presentation must simulate collection techniques.

For more details on this subject, click here.

Source: forensicmag.com

Citation:

Shipley, T. Collection of Evidence From the Internet: Part 1. In DFI News. Retrieved October 17, 2013, from http://www.dfinews.com/articles/2009/12/collection-evidence-internet-part-1#.Ul9iUmTBK6M.

[Abstract written by Alex Mitzel, ForensIQ Intern]

The ForensicWeek.com Show highlights the Stevenson University MOOC in Forensic Studies

The ForensicWeek.com Show is airing episode 37, “MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES (MOOC) in Forensic Studies,” this Thursday, October 17, 2013.  MOOCs are being supported by top universities and colleges in a wide range of subjects that are similar to university courses.  Stevenson University, Baltimore County Maryland, is offering their first worldwide MOOC this semester – “Survey of Forensics.”  Join Host, Tom Mauriello and learn more about their program and these online courses aimed at large-scale participation and open (free) access via the internet.  Stevenson University special guests on the show LIVE include Forensic Studies Department Chair, Dr. Thomas Coogan; Instructional Designer, Kelly Miller; and several MOOC students from around the world who are participating in this program.  JUST GO TO www.forensicweek.com to view the show LIVE, or watch it later with any of the previous shows at your convenience.  Thank you for watching!

Free Forensic Training

Looking for some training in different aspects of forensic science? Interested in forensic anthropology, fingerprint identification, toxicology, DNA profiling, drug testing, or various other forensic-related training sessions? Check out the different training options offered on the RTI International Forensic Science Education website. They offer many training sessions in addition to the aforementioned options. The best part? It’s FREE!

Click here to check out the different training options and register!

Source: forensiced.org

[Abstract written by Alex Mitzel, ForensIQ Intern]