Finding Closure: Identifying Human Remains Helps Law Enforcement Solve Cases

Forensic anthropology is a field that can directly assist law enforcement with numerous cases. Human bones are put back together and analyzed by forensic anthropologists to determine the sex, age, height and nationality of a deceased individual. Determining these characteristics provides law enforcement with clues to unsolved cases and can help provide closure. Forensic anthropology helps with missing person cases in determining the identity of the individual and providing closure for the family of a missing person. Tools such as scalpels and dermestid beetles are used to analyze human remains and bones. The age of an individual is determined by analyzing the growth plates and specific areas of the human skeleton that deteriorate with age. Analyzing the pelvis bone determines the sex of the individual and height is determined by analyzing the length of the bones and looking at ancestry. Forensic anthropologists are also able to identify evidence of traumatic injuries such as stabbings and gunshot wounds.

Source: Forensic Magazine and Times Standard

Read the full article here.

Citation: Rodriguez, L. (2013). Times-Standard. Finding closure; identifying human remains helps law enforcement solve cases. Retrieved from http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_22973608/finding-closure-identifying-human-remains-helps-law-enforcement

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]

How Forensics Plays a Role in Civil Litigation

Forensic science plays a role in many scenarios, many being criminal investigations and crime scenes. However, the value of forensic science and evidence collection can be used in many other areas as well. Civil law and litigation is a branch where forensic science is also very crucial because just like a criminal case, civil cases need evidence to prove a particular case. Many ways a criminal case is analyzed for evidence, similarly a civil case can be analyzed also. For example, cases involving some type of property damage can be analyzed by looking at some form of trace evidence. Forensic science can be beneficial in many types of civil litigation cases, using many of the methods and techniques commonly used to analyze criminal cases and crime scenes.

Source: Forensic Magazine and Gateway Analytical

To read the full article, click here.

Citation: Wagurak, R. (2013). Gateway Analytical. How forensics plays a role in civil litigation. Retrieved April 11, 2013, from http://www.gatewayanalytical.com/blog/how-forensics-plays-a-role-in-civil-litigation/?goback=%2Egde_3473162_member_227338971

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]

12th Annual Advanced DNA Technical Workshop

Bode Technology is sponsoring the 12th annual Advanced DNA Technical Workshop series that will be held May 20-24. The various workshops included are designed to provide DNA training on the latest techniques and technologies to the forensic scientific community, as well as the opportunity for scientists to openly share experiences from their own laboratories. Leaders from various law enforcement and federal agencies will provide lectures, demonstrations, and mini-workshops on new technologies, concepts, and challenges in the DNA identification field. Included in this DNA forensic workshop is a 2-day Technical Session, comprised of  presentations and mini-workshops. Attendees are encouraged to register for the workshops and a ½ day Technical Leader Session on the 24th.

For the full schedule and registration information, click here.

Citation:

Bode Technology, Forensic DNA Analysis, DNA Collection Products. 12th. Annual Advanced DNA Technical Workshop.Retrieved April 9, 2013, from http://www.bodetech.com/training-and-workshops/workshops/annual-advanced-dna-technical-workshop-east/

NFSTC Launches Forensic Update News Series on YouTube

The National Forensic Science Technology Center announced April 9^th, 2013 its bi-weekly Forensic Update, a show series that will be broadcast on the NFSTC’s YouTube channel. Each episode will cover the latest forensic science news and technology and discuss forensic science events occurring all over the world. Every episode will also have a “Technique of the Week” clip, where forensic science experts or crime scene technicians will demonstrate a common technique used in the forensic science field. Viewers also have the opportunity to have their forensic science questions answered by sending an email to NFSTC.

Source: National Forensic Science Technology Center

To read the full article, click here.

To access the NFSTC YouTube Channel, click here.

Citation: (2013). National Forensic Science Technology Center. NFSTC launches forensic update news series on YouTube. Retrieved April 11, 2013, from http://www.nfstc.org/nfstc-launches-forensic-update-news-series-on-youtube/

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]

NYPD Developing App for Officers with Crime Scene Data and Criminal Records

The New York Police Department is in the process of developing a new high-tech department-issued smartphone application for officers to use to access a wide variety of data and information about the people in the buildings they are dispatched to. A preview of the application was revealed on April 9, 2013 but Deputy Chief Ruben Beltran stated that it is still in the works but has so far yielded positive results by the 400 officers who are testing the application. With the application, officers will not be entering buildings blindly. The smartphone application would also give officers access to criminal and vehicle records and ideally to check for outstanding warrants, gun charges, high-risk sex offenders, and previous domestic violence incidents. As funding and approval are still being worked out, the NYPD stated that they will soon present the proposal to Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

Source: New York Daily News

To read the full article, click here.

Citation: Slattery, D., & Hutchinson, B. (2013). New York Daily News. NYPD developing app for officers with crime scene data and criminal records. Retrieved April 11, 2013, from http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nypd-developing-detailed-app-officers-article-1.1312254

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]

Seeking truth: meet the deacon who is a forensic scientist

Part Catholic deacon and part forensic scientist, Gary Pusillo uses the latest forensic technology to investigate problems in animal husbandry.  He considers everything from feed to air quality while investigating causes for animals dying or getting sick on farms that supply food to major corporations.  He also provides nutritional programs for animals, including the top level race horses like the 14 2012 Kentucky Derby winners. Pusillo describes his work as “putting together a puzzle” being “no different than a mystery” where his role is to simply seek the truth.

Full article here.

Citation:

Kandra, G. (2013, 6). Patheos: Hosting the Conversation on Faith. Seeking truth: meet the deacon who is a forensic scientist. Retrieved April 7, 2013, from http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2013/04/seeking-truth-meet-the-deacon-who-is-a-forensic-scientist/

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 6^th, 2013, in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  Faculty Mentor, Tom Mauriello and his student team of Criminal Justice majors, Tim Fromm, Mark Lombard, and Andrea Williams placed 3^rd 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

Rapid DNA Analysis Webinar: Understanding How it Can Expedite Forensic Investigations

Rapid DNA analysis has the potential to become one of the most powerful biometric tools to be implemented in decades. This webinar will  host two speakers currently involved in the investigative genetic, forensic, and scientific fields from both the University of North Texas  and NetBio. The webinar will explain several things about Rapid DNA technology including how DNA is used in forensic applications, and how Rapid DNA technology complements current biometric technology while shortening the time from sample collection to results. This free webinar will be hosted by forensicmag.com and will take place on April 11 at 11:00 AM ET.

Register here.

Source: forensicmag.com

Robotics Cuts Crime Lab Back Log

New advances in DNA processing have once again aided investigators in shortening the turnaround time for DNA evidence. The six month back log of DNA evidence analysis that use to swamp the Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab in Ohio has been cut down into a two to four weeks completion time. With these faster turnaround times comes the quicker adjudication of innocent suspects and sooner charges levied against the true criminals. Denise Rankin, assistant director of the crime lab, said that this new innovation will enable the processing of DNA evidence from local departments to begin as soon as it is received and that each case may have 10 to 50 evidence samples for testing. Laboratory testing has become an increasing and vital aspect of law enforcement, and new advances such as these aid in closing the gaps in cases that have remained unsolved for months or even years.

Full article here.

Source: Forensicmag.com

[Abstract by ForensIQ Intern – Mark Lombard]

Citation:

Smith, J. News, information & entertainment for Middletown and Butler. Robotics cuts crime lab back log. Retrieved March 28, 2013, from http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/robotics-cuts-crime-lab-back-log/nWzST/

Seminar Brings Legal, Forensics Experts Together to Win Cases

Penn State Law is offering a day-long seminar on April 5, that will provide attendees an opportunity to learn from experts about forensic tools that can help win cases. “Forensic Science Legal Tools” is designed for prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys and civil litigators as well as members of the science and law enforcement communities who may be expert witnesses. Students who are interested in careers in law, law enforcement and/or forensics are also encouraged to attend. The seminar is free to the public but there is a fee to register for continuing education credits.

“The ‘CSI effect’ has created the perception that forensic science can solve and win cases with ease, but forensic scientists and law enforcement and legal professionals are continuing to face serious challenges on the collection and use of this evidence,” said David Kaye, a professor at Penn State Law. Kaye, who has written a comprehensive history of DNA evidence, will be one of the featured speaker and will be joined by Cedric Neumann, a member of Penn State’s Eberly College of Science Forensic program, and a renowned expert on fingerprint evidence who helped develop the digital ink library for the U.S. Secret Service.

For more information on the seminar’s agenda and location click here. 

Source: forensicmag.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 28^th, 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.

NIST Guides Seek Interoperability for Automated Fingerprint ID Systems

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released three new publications to assist forensic examiners in matching a set of fingerprints to those on file in local, state, or federal fingerprint databases. In 2008, NIST’s Law Enforcement Standards Office partnered with NOBLIS, a non-profit research corporation to implement the Extended Feature Set (EFS). The EFS is a method for encoding fingerprint, palm print, and footprint features regardless of what automated fingerprint identification system is being used. The first publication, Extended Feature Set Profile Specification, defines the EFS Profile, sets of reference friction ridge characteristics that allow examiners to “triage” their search strategy for a particular latent print. The Markup Instructions for Extended Friction Ridge Features provides forensic examiners with instructions to encode a set of latent ridge print information using the Extended Feature Set. It also ensures that examiners use common terminology to enable information sharing between other examiners. The third publication Latent Interoperability Transmission Specification describes the application profile language by which different automated fingerprint identification systems can communicate with each other.

Source: Forensic Magazine and NIST

To read the full article and download the publications, click here.

Citation: (2013). Forensic Magazine. NIST guides seek interoperability for automated fingerprint ID systems. Retrieved from http://www.forensicmag.com/news/nist-guides-seek-interoperability-automated-fingerprint-id-systems.

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]

Seminar Brings Legal, Forensics Experts Together to Win Cases

Penn State Law will hold a “Forensic Science Legal Tools” seminar on Friday, April 5^th, 2013. The seminar is designed for prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, civil litigators, students and members of the forensic science and law enforcement communities. The seminar is will begin at 10am and end at 5pm, is free to the public and is also available through a live webcast. Topics that will be presented include Forensic DNA for Litigation, The Nature and Admissibility of Fingerprint Evidence, DNA Databases and the Fourth Amendment and Confrontation Clause Challenges to Laboratory Reports and Testimony.

Source: Penn State News

For more information and to register for the seminar, click here.

Citation: (2013.) Penn State News. Seminar brings legal, forensics experts together to win cases. Retrieved from http://news.psu.edu/story/269830/2013/03/22/academics/seminar-brings-legal-forensics-experts-together-win-cases

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]