The ForensicWeek.com Webcast TV Show is airing Episode 70 this Thursday, January 29th at 7 P.M. (EST).

The topic “Forensic Interviewing in Child Abuse cases,” with a distinguished panel of guests from the Child Advocacy and Juvenile Justice community.  There is some controversy in regards to whether or not some police and prosecutors are choosing to use forensic interviewing to assist the child with pretrial preparations and investigations for evidence and convictions.  How are child advocates handling these delicate cases? Find out by viewing this episode. Join host, Tom Mauriello and the ForensicWeek crew on www.ForensicWeek.com brought to you by ForensIQ, Inc.  Thank you for watching!

Special guests on this show will be Dr. Quanda Stevenson, Ph.D, Program Director Criminal Justice, Athens State University;  Claire Jones, Esq., former Deputy District Attorney for Limestone County Courts, Alabama and Board Member of the Child Advocacy Center;  Susan McGrady, Director of the Child Advocacy Center, Limestone County; and Marcia Milliken, Executive Director of the Minnesota Children’s Alliance.

Gun Buy-back Programs – Do they Stop Crime or Reduce Accidental Deaths?

See this piece on ABC News, WMAR Channel 2 Baltimore, where Tom Mauriello, ForensIQ and University of Maryland Professor comments on gun buy-back programs and how they reduce accidental deaths more than crime.

Talk Forensics – Digital Evidence Series

Talk Forensics is a new digital evidence series show that is brought to viewers by DFI News Digital Forensic Investigator© and Forensic Magazine.

The topic for discussion for their debut show is “Warrants.” Join Patrice Galvin, Editorial Director of DFI News and Forensic Magazine, in Episode 1, as the show examines how warrants apply to cell phones, computers, and other types of digital evidence.

Additional topics for discussion will include the Plain View Exception Controversy, Properly Preparing a Search Warrant, and Seeking Proper Legal Authority for Warrants. Talk Forensics seeks to engage and inform viewers about topics specifically related to the field of forensics. For more information about the series or to view the series click on the link below.

Click here for the link to the Talk Forensics digital evidence series!

Source: Forensic Magazine

[Abstract written by Noel Andres, ForensIQ Intern, 4/24/14]

The ForensicWeek.com Show – “Unsolved Histories – The Roots of Forensic Genealogy,”

The Big Picture of Forensic Photography

From Evidence Technology Magazine, author Sanford Weiss speaks about how hard it is to get a job as a forensic photographer. The “CSI Effect,” which is the idea that everything seen on the CSI TV shows can be done in the real world, is a major topic in the article. “Whenever contemporary programs capture the imaginations of the public, they invariably create a thirst for further information, resulting in an upsurge in interest and sales of associated products and technologies.” Weiss goes through advice that might be pertinent to a possible future forensic photographer. Weiss talks about personal experiences, which helped get a head in the practice. Weiss also explains how there are jobs outside of the field of law enforcement that use forensic photographers.

For the full article, click here!

Citation

Weiss, S. (n.d.). Getting a job in forensic photography. Retrieved from Evidence Technology Magazine website http://www.evidencemagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=256

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

Be Careful Around The Holidays!

While trying to be a part of the holiday spirit, or at least the “great shopping time” spirit, a word of advice is that one needs to be careful when shopping online around the holidays. Why? Because hackers have the ability to steal your information off of your banking websites. In an article from ABC News, Ira Victor, Director of Digital Forensics Practice at Data Clone Labs says “the cyber criminals can essentially drain your savings account without you even knowing it, or alerting the bank.” But what can we do? Isn’t cyber Monday one of the busiest shopping days online of the year? Ira’s solution is to do all your banking over the phone, or even in person if it is possible to avoid cybercrime and hacking.

For the full article, click here!

Citation
Boatman, S. (2013, December 2). Hackers targeting online banking on cyber monday. Retrieved from News4.com website:                                   http://www.mynews4.com/news/local/story/Hackers-Targeting-Online-Banking-On-Cyber-Monday/gTBXsLq4VESmHgx3GfI-                   Eg.cspx

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

The Omnivore Field Kit

It’s hard to get video evidence in today’s world. Only a few years ago, videotape evidence was used in many cases throughout the world. Now we have moved into the age of the Digital Video Recorder (DVR). In an article from policeone.com, an article from police and security news’ website goes through a few disadvantages to having the new DVR system as a system that gathers video recordings and then provides a solution. An example of a shortcoming is that some media storage devices’ connection ports that are being used to collect video evidence might be incompatible with other devices. The article states that sometimes these connection ports are broken or just the wrong type altogether. A solution from Ocean Systems is the Omnivore Field Kit. The kit is capable of connecting to any type of video device and capable of storing many uncompressed files of video evidence. In a very slim and portable case, the Omnivore Field Kit is available to make investigations with video evidence progress much smoother.

Read the full article here!

Ocean systems releases video acquisition field kit. (2013, October 2). Retrieved from Policeone.com website: http://www.policeone.com/police-products/investigation/computer-forensics/articles/6491797-Ocean-Systems-releases-video-acquisition-field-kit/

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

Forensic Science – Sherlock Holmes Style

The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry recently opened an exhibit that features interactive forensic presentations stemming from the Sherlock-Holmes era. The setting of the two-story exhibit is inspired by the Holmes’ stories and is sprinkled with hands-on, Victorian-era forensic activities led by museum staff. Some of the featured demonstrations include poison testing, observation skills, and handwriting matches. These demos help to prep museum guests for their final activity – they are tasked with searching for a missing wife and daughter. In January the exhibit will move to the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio.

To read more, click here.

Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting

Citation:

OPB. Bringing Sherlock-Era Forensic Science to Life. Retrieved October 30, 2013 from http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/bringing-sherlock-era-forensic-science-to-life/

[Abstract written by Alex Mitzel, ForensIQ Intern]

Texas Governor’s Office Provides Forensic Training for Law Enforcement Officers

In an interesting report from the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, the Governor’s office of Texas has given Texas A&M a donation of around $300,000 for specific training. The training will be all about forensics, and it is for around 300 law enforcement officers and “noncommissioned” personnel in the state that will be investigating violent crimes. According to the article, the goal is to provide the training necessary to increase effectiveness of investigations on crime scenes throughout the state.

For the full article, click here!

Citation

Welch, W. (2013, October 30). Texas criminal justice division grant will fund CSI training for   300investigators. Retrieved from Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service website:http://www.teex.com/teex.cfm?pageid=teexresc&area=teex&storyid=1249&templateid=23

[Abstract written by Karl “Kip” Zenowich, 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]

A Second Chance, After the Death Penalty

A man put to death by the death penalty in Texas is having his case re-looked at. Cameron Todd Willingham was executed for the deaths of his three daughters in a fire in 1991. A phony testimony has come to light and now, investigators are checking out the case one more time. Not only was the testimony used against Willingham false, but the arson investigation that went on during the case was found to have “erroneous forensic analysis” which was “ the basis for Willingham’s conviction,” says author Bob Ray Sanders in his article on the “Star-Telegram” website. There is a call from the Innocence Project to reinvestigate the case.

For the whole article, click here!

Citation

Sanders, B. R. (2013, October 1). Further investigation needed in case of executed man.

     Star-Telegram. 

[Abstract written by Karl "Kip" Zenowich, Forensiq Intern]

Upcoming Fingerprint Training

On October 1, 2013 there will LIVE online fingerprint training provided by RTI International (Research Triangle Institute). Conveniently, there are two different classes being offered at two different times, so for those you who want to observe both – you can! “Latent Fingerprints: Developing Methods and New Technology” will be broadcast at 9 AM, and Fingerprint Identification: Reliability and Accuracy” will be broadcast at 1 PM. Registration is open now.

You can follow this link and scroll down to the title of the training you want to register for!

[Abstract written by Alex Mitzel, ForensIQ Update Reporter]

Forensic Science Exhibit to Teach “Real-World Forensics”

Recently, a traveling forensic science exhibit debuted at the Sciencenter in New York. The “Crime Lab Detective Unit” exhibit was developed at The Museum of Discovery in Arkansas and was then transported to New York for the unveiling on September 13^th.   A spokesperson for the Sciencenter explains that the exhibit is designed to demonstrate what “real-world forensics” is like to the public in order to diminish that CSI effect.  Participants are given the option of a short or long version of the burglary investigation that they are being enlisted to help solve. Then, they are taken through a series of workshops that include interviews, fingerprinting, lab testing, and much more.  Ultimately, the “investigators” will offer their determination of the guilty party before finding out if they successfully solved the case.

For more information on this exhibit, please check out the article here

Citation:

Barrett, E. (September 18, 2013). Sciencenter sets up a forensic science exhibit. In Ithaca Times. Retrieved September 25, 2013, from http://www.ithaca.com/family_and_health/sciencenter-sets-up-a-forensic-science-exhibit/article_8aa35ff4-209b-11e3-a84d-001a4bcf887a.html.

[Abstract written by Alex Mitzel, ForensIQ Update Reporter]

Rapist Gets Life in Prison in Montgomery County Cold Case

Richard E. Ricketts has been sentenced to life in prison for the October 24, 1977 rape of a woman in Montgomery County, Maryland. In 2011, The Montgomery County cold-case detectives reopened one of their oldest unsolved cases and tested old evidence for DNA that led them to a direct match to Richard Ricketts. The DNA test from the victim’s body was checked against a national database of convicts that matched Ricketts’s DNA. Ricketts had been convicted in Florida in 1999 of burglary and sexual battery. Ricketts went on trial in Montgomery County in February 2013 and was convicted by a jury in April 2013 of first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sex offense. Now in his mid-sixties, Ricketts will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Source: Forensic Magazine and the Washington Post

Read the article here: Forensic Magazine and The Washington Post

Citation: Morse, D. (2013, April 26). Rapist gets life in montgomery county cold case. The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rapist-gets-life-in-montgomery-county-cold-case/2013/04/26/4052ada2-ae8f-11e2-a986-eec837b1888b_story.html

[Abstract by ForensIQ intern, Andrea Williams]