Putting More Science Behind Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Bloodstain pattern analysis is full of uncertainties in the forensic science field. Scientific studies and research support some pattern analysis but much more is needed to take out the uncertainness. Daniel Attinger, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University and his team are using a three-year grant from the Department of Justice to perform numerous studies on bloodstain pattern analysis to help bring more science to the understanding and investigation of these unique patterns. Attinger and his highly qualified team are working to understand the physics behind the impact and drying of blood droplets and are working to develop tools for crime scene investigators to analyze bloodstains at the crime scene. In the lab, the team is working on tasks such as trying to understanding the trajectory of blood droplets through the air, reconstructing the trajectory, and developing a 3D device to measure the thickness of bloodstains at a crime scene.

Source: Forensic Magazine

Read the full article here.

Citation: (2013). Forensic Magazine. Putting more science behind bloodstain pattern analysis. Retrieved April 25, 2013, from http://www.forensicmag.com/news/putting-more-science-behind-bloodstain-pattern-analysis

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]

Photonics-enabled Tools Help Sort Clues in Boston Bombing

Photonics-based technology could play a central role in improving efficiency of investigations and possibly help prevent similar incidents to the Boston Bombings. Today, advances have reached the point to where it can identify suspects simply by their gait caught on camera, to identify shifting emotional states by calculating their pulse, and even identify explosives from as much as 100 meters away. With the huge array of cell phones with cameras being used by the public, the amount of video and image surveillance available to investigators of domestic terrorism, such as the Boston bombings, has increased. This image and video evidence can then be integrated into a huge panorama of the scene of an event, and can make faces and actions more recognizable when enhanced in the lab. As was the case in the recent Boston bombings, where surveillance, private, and even cell phone images and video sources were complied by investigators to identify the two male suspects.

Check out the full article here. 

[Abstract by ForensIQ Intern – Mark Lombard]

Citation:

Burkhart, F. Forensic Magazine. Photonics-enabled Tools Help Sort Clues in Boston Bombing. Retrieved April 24, 2013, from http://www.forensicmag.com/news/photonics-enabled-tools-help-sort-clues-boston-bombing?et_cid=3211923&et_rid=515363537&linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.forensicmag.com%2fnews%2fphotonics-enabled-tools-help-sort-clues-boston-bombing&location=top

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

West Virginia University Forensic Science Webinars

West Virginia University is offering free upcoming webinars on several very interesting topics in the forensic science field.

The first webinar, What Prosecutors and Defense Counsel Need To Know About Eyewitnesses, will be held June 11, 2013 at 1:30pm, lead by Associate Professor of Law at Widener University School of Law, Jules Epstein. Topics to be discussed include examination of eyewitness evidence, the psychology of perception and memory, the law governing eyewitness identification cases, assessing the strength of identifications, and the best practices for identification.

To register for this webinar, click here.

The second webinar, Reliability and Validity of Fire Science Examination, will be held July 31, 2013 at 12:00pm. Lead by Paul Bieber, director and founder of the Arson Research Project, this webinar will focus on the reliability and validity of fire investigation, application of the scientific method and emergence of a standard of care, and expectations and bias in fire investigation.

To register for this webinar, click here.

The third webinar, Fingerprint Fundamentals for the Legal Professional, will be held August 8, 2013 at 12:00pm. This webinar is an overview of fingerprint evidence and is geared towards helping attorneys understand the latent fingerprint process from the crime scene into the courtroom. Some topics to be discussed include latent print preservation and collection, chain of custody, friction ridge patterns, development techniques, and AFIS. West Virginia University instructor, Martin Overly, will lead this one-hour long webinar.

To register for this webinar, click here.

To read more about these courses and find out more information, click here.

Source: West Virginia University and Forensic Magazine

Citation: (2013). Forensic Science Initiative West Virginia University. Applications of forensic science for the legal professional—webinar series. Retrieved April 23, 2013, from http://fsi.research.wvu.edu/training/onsite-training/legal-professionals/webinar-series

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]

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

The Changing Forensic Science of Arson is Freeing Innocent Convicts

New changes in the forensic science of arson field are freeing innocent convicts. The earlier and very poor practices of arson investigation have had extremely detrimental consequences. The new practices and standards of forensic science of arson are revealing the faults of the past. Louis C. Taylor spent forty-two years in prison, convicted of setting a fire in a hotel that killed twenty-nine people. The evidence of arson in his case has been revealed to be faulty. The New Yorker reported from an earlier case that certain evidence of arson also shows up in accidental fires as well. Earlier forensic science of arson standards were extremely lax, for example arson investigators having very little training and resisting new evidence within their field. In Louis Taylor’s case, modern fire investigator John Lantini looked at the evidence that originally convicted Taylor and stated it is impossible to determine how the hotel fire started.

Source: POPSCI

Read the full article here.

Citation: Diep, F. (2013). Popsci. The changing forensic science of arson is freeing innocent convicts. Retrieved April 14, 2013, from http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-04/science-arson-and-how-its-changed

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]

Forensic Scientists in Britain Recover Fingerprints From Foods

Forensic scientists from the University of Abertay Dundee in the United Kingdom have successfully recovered latent prints from foods in a new scientific breakthrough for Britain. This accomplishment has been published in the forensic science journal, “Science & Justice” as Britain’s first academic paper on the subject. Two other studies in India and Slovenia have been done on this topic and both have also reported successful recovery of prints however these studies used a chemical substance not often used in Britain. This success will help assist law enforcement by providing more opportunities to recover evidence. The team at the University of Abertay Dundee first began trying to recover latent prints by using the techniques currently recommended by the Home Office. These techniques yielded low-quality fingerprints not acceptable for presentation in a court of law. The team modified the substance, powder suspension (PS), to find that this produced a high-quality mark on smooth-surfaced foods.

Source: University of Abertay Dundee

Read the full article here.

Citation: (2013). Abertay University. Forensic scientists recover fingerprints from foods. Retrieved April 15, 2013, from http://www.abertay.ac.uk/about/news/newsarchive/2013/name,11743,en.html

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]

University of Maryland Places 3rd at Crime Scene Investigation Challenge

University of Maryland College Park students participated for the first time in Mount Saint Mary’s University’s ninth annual Crime Scene Investigation Challenge on Saturday, April 6^th, 2013. Professor Tom Mauriello and his student team of Criminal Justice majors, Tim Fromm, Mark Lombard, and Andrea Williams placed 3^rd out of 35 teams. The CSI Challenge is a crime scene competition where students from several universities both in the United States and Canada demonstrate their knowledge, skill, and proficiency 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 scene scenario and given a limited amount of time to process the crime scene, collect pertinent evidence, and write all necessary reports. Students were required to perform crime scene tasks to include surveying and securing the scene, interviewing witnesses, crime scene sketching, crime scene photography, proper evidence collection, and thorough report writing. Law enforcement and forensics professionals and educators observed and critiqued the students throughout the crime scene scenario and recorded a final score for all teams at the conclusion of the event.

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]

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.