Forensic Magazine

Microsoft’s Photosynth: A Future Forensic Tool?

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

First responders, forensic technicians, and investigators could quickly gather a large number of overlapping photographs without the need for special targets, expensive equipment, or complicated software, and then use Photosynth to find the common features between the photos and how each of the photos are oriented with respect to one another in 3D space.

Case May Turn On Tossed Test

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

AA Huntsville man charged with manslaughter in a deadly 2005 wreck wants the crime lab results of his blood alcohol test thrown out because the sample was destroyed before the defense could do its own tests.

Local DNA Lab Comes With Hefty Price Tag

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The Beaufort County Sherriff’s Office is pushing to open its own crime lab to bypass backlogs and restrictions on samples analyzed, but control comes at a price.

County Could Benefit From Local Pathologist

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

No board certified forensic pathologist practices in the Four Corners region and autopsies are conducted 180 miles away. No toxicology lab exists locally, either. San Juan County would need both a pathologist and toxicology lab to make the forensic process as efficient as possible.

EPIC School for Evidence Photographers in Nashville

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Evidence photographers will head to Nashville, TN, this January for training and certification from the traveling EPIC (Evidence Photographers International Council) School.

2010 Impression & Pattern Evidence Symposium: Call for Abstracts

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Thousands of Innocent Welsh People Still On Police DNA Database

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Bombings Place Unique Burden on Iraq’s 1st DNA Lab

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Documenting Bloodstain Patterns through Road Mapping

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

An accurate and methodical technique for documenting bloodstain patterns is invaluable in crime scene analysis. The road mapping technique allows for complete photo documentation of bloodstain patterns. The procedure involves using overall, medium, and close-up photographs combined with labels and scales.

Seminole County Crime Lab Helps FDLE Reduce Wait on DNA Tests

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Aggressive steps taken by the FDLE to speed up the process and an experiment by Seminole and three other counties are putting the DNA results in the hands of investigators in an average of 53 days.

Mobile Print Reader Makes DC Area Crime-Solving A Snap

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A mobile print reader, based on technology developed for the military, has helped police in Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland solve countless cases as officers use the devices on the street and during traffic stops.

Nevada Coroner Gets $400,000 Grant to Set Up Missing Persons Program

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The Clark County coroner's office received a $400,000 federal grant to create a program for using DNA testing to help solve missing persons cases. The county will set up an 18-month program to exhume, sample, and test DNA in about 50 missing persons cases.

New Products from Applied Biosystems, Mideo, Spectronics, and Dazor

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Forensic DNA kits from Applied Biosystems, a forensic imaging workstation from Mideo, a new forensic inspection kit from Spectronics, and a digital computer microscope from Dazor.

Forensics Group LGC Put Up For Sale

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Sculptor Learns First-Hand What It Takes To Be an FBI Agent

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

First International Ph.D. in Forensic Medicine and Sciences

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Book Review: The Real World of a Forensic Scientist

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

In The Real World of a Forensic Scientist Henry Lee, Elaine Pagliaro, and Katherine Ramsland expose the true nature of forensic science, countering the “CSI Effect” with a sobering analysis of the education, skills, and challenges involved in forensics.

Indicting DNA Profiles Is Vital in Old Rape Cases

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Prosecutors in Manhattan — racing the legal clock for bringing a case — devised the novel strategy of indicting a rapist’s DNA. While DNA evidence has been used to overturn wrongful convictions, often many years after the trial, such evidence has become essential in solving cold cases.

Microsoft Gives Free Forensics Tool to U.S. Police

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Microsoft has teamed up with the National White Collar Crime Center to distribute a computer-forensics tool to U.S. police for free. The Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor (COFEE) makes it easy for any officer, not just digital forensics specialists, to record the current processes of a suspect’s computer.

FBI Analyst Accidentally Contaminates DNA

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

An FBI forensic analyst mistakenly got some of her own DNA on evidence recovered from the site where Chandra Levy’s body was found, the most recent mishap in a case riddled with mistakes and missed opportunities.

New Products from FEI, Micronic, Benchmark, and Thermo Fisher

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A look at the new solution for gunshot residue analysis from FEI, a direct-print tube labeling system from Micronic, sample mixing units from Benchmark Research Products, and a water purity book from Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Jail for Man after Leech Provides DNA

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

S.C. Police Agencies Want In-House DNA Labs

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Too Broke To Bury Their Dead

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

In Mexican Drug War, Investigators Are Fearful

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A Fresh Look at Your Old Lab

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Does the lab you manage represent the message you would want to pass on to those entrusted to you? Yoga instructors often say we should close our eyes and open them as a child to see the world anew. We ask that you do the same with your laboratory and take a walk through your lab, looking at all with unprejudiced honesty.

DNA’s Deterrent Effect

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The number of reported rapes nationwide has fallen from a peak of 109,062 in 1992 to 89,000 last year, according to FBI data. That coincides with increased use of DNA technology that first became available 20 years ago.

Dope Disposal: What to Do With Seized Drugs?

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Exactly what to do with the seized drugs placed in evidence storage rooms after a case is over has been a problem for area law enforcement over the years. Finding a place that can meet environmental guidelines has become increasingly difficult.

Trained Dog Aids in Wisconsin Arson Cases

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

To the bureaucrats in state government, his official title is ignitable liquid detection canine. Moon, a black Labrador retriever, is employed by the State Fire Marshal’s Office and sniffs out fire scenes for possible arson.

Motorola Announces MC75 Validation for idSoftware, Inc.

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Motorola Inc. and idSoftware, Inc. announced the successful co-validation of PrintSearch Mug Remote enterprise mobility biometric software for Motorola’s MC75 Enterprise Digital Assistant. The software includes mobile biometric identification, employee authorized access, e-ticket writing, and GPS location.

Opinion: Danger in the DNA Backlog

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Free Forensic Biology Screening Workshop from NIJ

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

New Products from Carl Zeiss, DEXIS, Air Science, Phenomenex

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Paratroopers Learn Battlefield Forensics

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Paratroopers with the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are learning the basics of finding and collecting forensic evidence as part of the Biometric Intelligence Project, an effort to collect, exploit, and analyze biometric material collected on the battlefield. Scenarios are the heart of the battlefield forensics course, all of which are completed in fewer than 12 minutes - typical battlefield conditions.

Sotomayor’s First Term and Lab Analysts Testimony

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The appointment of Justice Sonia Sotomayor could lead to the narrowing of the Melendez-Diaz decision holding that crime lab analysts must provide live testimony concerning lab tests and results. This term, Briscoe v. Virginia provides an opportunity to limit the scope of that ruling.

The Fingerprint Sourcebook

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The NIJ is publishing the The Fingerprint Sourcebook, a guide to the science of fingerprint identification created by experts from the International Association for Identification, in PDF form. Chapters one and four are currently available.

Orange County D.A.’s DNA Database Rapidly Growing

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Orange County has nearly quadrupled its DNA database over the last nine months. The agency’s effort to build a database exempt from the rules that govern state and national DNA repositories has resulted in rapid growth as low-level offenders agree to submit DNA samples in exchange for dropped charges.

Does Texas Forensics Panel Put Politics Before Justice?

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Gov. Rick Perry’s surprise appointment of a conservative ally to lead a panel investigating whether Texas executed an innocent man has raised the question of whether politics will trump science on the state's forensics board. charges.

DNA Evidence Powerful, But Not Always the Full Story

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Thousands of Cases in Houston Await DNA Tests

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Biometrics: What’s new?

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Video: How to Use a Stun Gun as an Electrostatic Dust Lifter

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Necro-Radiology: Postmortem CT Scans Are On the Rise

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The efficacy of forensic postmortem computed tomography is no longer in dispute. What is still in question is whether radiologists proficient at interpreting clinical imaging of the living can be expected to be equally adept at rendering precise postmortem forensic findings without special training.

Silicon Valley Fingerprint Network in Jeopardy

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

In a cost dispute that is creating bad blood among local law enforcement agencies, parts of Silicon Valley's high-tech jail-booking system are being pushed back into the dark ages of typing out hard copy forms and snail mail.

FBI Building System That Blows Away Fingerprinting

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The FBI plans to migrate from its IAFIS fingerprint database to a new biometrics system that will include DNA records, 3-D facial imaging, palm prints, and voice scans.

New Digital Cameras Clicking At Purcell Police Department

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Police will be capturing photographs of crime scenes now that new digital cameras have been purchased for the department. Three Sony Model DSLR-A230 digital cameras with cases were purchased with money forfeited from drug seizure cases.

IEEE Launches Biometrics Certification and Training Program

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

IEEE and some of the world’s leading biometrics experts have developed a new certification and training program for biometrics professionals. The IEEE Certified Biometrics Professional program focuses on the relevant knowledge and skills to apply biometrics to real-world challenges and applications.

Viewpoint: After Reforms, Houston Police Department Crime Lab Open for Business

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

NH Crime Lab Sees Spike in Caseload: Sour Economy Prompts More Crime

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

MPD Crime Lab Is First in Minnesota to Receive ASCLD/LAB (ISO) Certification

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

New Products for DNA Analysis, Digital Imaging, Fighting Contamination, and More

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Crime Scene Photography: Capturing the Scene

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

As a crime scene officer, you must capture an accurate record of the scene and the evidence collected. While you do not need to be a photography expert to take crime scene photographs or testify in court about these photographs, you do need to have a solid understanding of the proper way to photograph a scene.

Officials Study DNA Database Gaps

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections worked through the weekend to study problems with the state's DNA database. The problems were discovered last week by the Attorney General's office. The Department of Justice review found 12,000 convicted felons were not in the DNA database.

Aurora Looking to Speed up Times for Fingerprint Matches

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Aurora, Illinois, police can collect prints from crime scenes, but matching them up to state and federal databases is another matter entirely. Getting a match can take up to nine months, if not more. Alderman Rick Lawrence is questioning budget decision not to purchase AFIS.

Caution Recommended With Bitemark Evidence in Forensics

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Against the backdrop of last week's Congressional hearing into the future of forensic science, researchers from the University at Buffalo's Laboratory for Forensic Odontology Research in the School of Dental Medicine, have published a landmark paper on the controversial topic of bitemark analysis.

MorphoTrak Biometric Provider for New FBI Identification Program

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

MorphoTrak has been awarded a contract by Lockheed Martin to provide fingerprint identification technology for the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system.

Cold Case Team Seeks Answers

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Free Training in Medicolegal Death Investigation from NIJ

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Opinion: Making Forensic Science Scientific

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The Backlog Quiz

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Forensic Archeology in Criminal and Civil Cases

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Individuals qualified to conduct forensic archeological investigations are trained in traditional archeological techniques, but are flexible enough in their approach to adapt these methods to the diverse forensic contexts they may be presented with in criminal or civil cases.

Congress Probes Science behind Convictions

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Members of Congress appear likely to allocate money for more research into forensic analysis. Senators at a hearing on strengthening forensic science also seemed to support creating national standards for crime labs and forensic analysts, in light of the recent NAS report.

Arkansas Medical Examiner Lets Accreditation Lapse

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

State Crime Laboratory board members are irked by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Charles Kokes' decision to let the office's national accreditation lapse.

More Victims Tied To Serial Killer

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Milwaukee authorities have added five more women to the list of victims an unemployed factory worker is accused of killing. District Attorney John Chisholm says that number could grow after the state crime lab finishes DNA testing on 20 other cases of strangled prostitutes.

Forensic Science Cost-Cutting Could Cause Errors

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Police contracts that put pressure on forensic scientists to deliver low-cost investigations within tight timescales risk jeopardizing quality and could lead to a miscarriage of justice, experts have warned.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Restores Crime Lab Funding

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

DUI Breath Tests Were Reliable, Judge Says

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

France Scraps DNA Tests for All New Arrivals

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

An Electrifying Tour of the Taser Factory

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Tissue Depth Measurements and Forensic Facial Reconstruction

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The reconstruction is guided by facial tissue depth markers, which are measurements of the distance between the surface of the underlying bone and the surface of the skin. The purpose of this research is to expand the facial tissue depth data available in Canada to include African Canadian children.

Fingerprint Evidence Questioned In Death Penalty Case

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Attorneys in a homicide and carjacking case tried to convince Judge Catherine Blake in Baltimore’s U.S. District Court that fingerprints are not as fool-proof as they’re believed to be. In a groundbreaking ruling in 2008, county Judge Susan Souder disallowed prosecutors in this case from using fingerprint evidence.

Dallas County DA Shifts Costs of Crime Lab Tests to Area Police Departments

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The Dallas County district attorney's office has told area police departments it will no longer pick up the tab for crime lab testing. County commissioners say a huge budget shortfall that once exceeded $60 million has forced their hand.

DNA Sampling Misses 50,000 Felons Released In Illinois

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

An estimated 50,000 felons have been released from Illinois prisons or county probation without submitting DNA samples as required by law, leaving a gaping hole in the 7-year-old program designed to link known criminals to unsolved crimes.

Lab's Rules for DNA Frustrate Police

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A Wichita, Kansas, police official says the regional forensic laboratory's restrictions on DNA testing will hamper efforts to combat street gangs. The restrictions specifically limit weapon testing in felony cases and DNA tests on evidence from drug and property crime cases.

GovSec, U.S. Law Announces Specialized Digital Forensics Exhibition

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Free NIJ Leadership Workshop for Forensic Managers

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

"The Talk Forensics Expert Series" Provides Continuing Education, Live and Online

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Arson Case May Be Catalyst for Forensic Reform

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Questions of investigators' competence in a tragic arson case were vaulted to center stage last week when nationally renowned fire expert Craig Beyler blasted the accuracy of the early probes in a study commissioned by the Texas Forensic Science Commission.

Arsenic Elimination Varies Among Humans

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Researchers in Austria say they found wide variations in how people absorb arsenic into their bodies, finding a range in study participants from those who eliminated 95% of the ingested arsenic to others who eliminated as little as 4%.

Links to Sex Crimes to Follow Texas Suspects

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A new law has taken effect in Texas that allows prosecutors and parole boards to see DNA evidence that links a suspect to an old sexual assault, even if the statute of limitations has expired on the case and the suspect was never tried.

Virginia Lab Analysts Testifying in Exponentially Higher Number of Cases

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts that crime lab technicians must be available to appear in court, rather than submitting affidavits, Virginia's approximately 160 technicians have been subpoenaed 925 times in July 2009 compared to 43 times in July 2008.

Forensics Shed Light on Murder of Oklahoma City Pastor

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

"Brutal and severe" injuries to the neck are what killed the Rev. Carol Daniels, said Brent Turvey, a private forensic scientist and criminal profiler.

DFI News™ Sponsors Full Scholarships to the Techno Forensics & Digital Investigations Conference

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

With Added Lab Staff, DNA Tests Resolve String of Old Killings

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

DOJ Webinar to Clarify Recovery Act Reporting Requirements

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Case Shows Limits of Sex Offender Alert Programs

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Forensic Virtual Models

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

3D graphics and animations have had a large impact in the courtroom. Forensics experts have used 3D software to analyze evidence, build 3D models of a scene, and recreate events that would otherwise be impractical or impossible to do. Forensic Virtual Models are the next evolution of these animations.

DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Scientists in Israel have demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, undermining the credibility of what has been considered the gold standard of proof in criminal cases.

New York Assemblywoman Blasts Plan to Close Crime Lab

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Nancy Calhoun has spoken out against a plan to close the State Police Mid-Hudson Crime Laboratory. “I am thoroughly outraged that in an effort to save money, the state would close a crime lab which is necessary to quickly and correctly identify and prosecute criminals,” she said.

Washington State Crime Lab Solving More Crimes with DNA

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The Washington State Police Crime lab is now testing DNA on more non-violent crimes. It's already helping Yakima police.

Faster, Accurate Drug Analysis with New Award-Winning GC Column

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Separating morphine from its cousin opiate norcodeine has long been a thorny problem for chromatographers. With its year-old Zebron ZB-Drug-1 gas-chromatography column, Phenomenex has tackled this and other separation hitches.

The Death Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Death Investigation

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Video: New and Improved North Dakota Crime Lab

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Wrongfully Convicted San Jose Man To Receive $1 Million Settlement

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Digital Forensics Symposium: 20% Early Bird Discount, Free to Law Enforcement

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Crime Lab/University Partnership Is Mutually Beneficial

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Forensic Science Institute is partnering with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to share their respective new buildings. This synergy could improve the quality of forensic science in Oklahoma through better training and research for all involved.

Court to Revisit Crime-Lab Co-Workers' Testimony

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling concerning lab analyst testimony will require the Ohio Supreme Court to take another look at a Marion County murder case in which a substitute analyst testified about DNA tests conducted by an analyst on maternity leave at the time of the trial.

Auditors Suggest Savings in Sheriff's Office Crime Lab

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

In the latest twist in the budget battle between the Sheriff’s Office and Broward County, Florida, government, auditors are alleging millions could be saved in the operation of the local crime lab.

DNA Work Heats Up Cold Cases

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Police and prosecutors credit DNA —- and a three-year, $57,000 federal grant dedicated to solving cold cases in Annapolis — with helping detectives move forward on various cases.

West Virginia Forensic Lab Results Slow

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

It took the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department 10 months to get confirmation from the West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory that a substance it sent there for testing was heroin. Results are slow in coming from the only crime lab in the state, which tests everything from all 55 counties.

Free Pipetting Technique Training Videos

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Houston Lawyers Ready to Tackle 200 Requests for DNA Review

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Forensics for Filched Fossils

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Download Free SEM Theory and Operation Books

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Biometrics: Eye on the Future

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

As 3D modeling, digital imaging, and data collection and processing mature, the possibilities for biometric identification systems are growing. Looking forward, we can expect significant developments in biometric solutions for law enforcement.

Training the Next Generation of Forensic Scientists

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Kids love a good mystery, and child sleuths have been solving them in the pages of young-adult novels for decades. Now a series of summer programs are introducing teens to the real-life mystery-solving world of forensic science.

Video: Crime Scene Creatures

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Biologists are joining the ranks of criminal investigative teams to interpret evidence offered by those with a "natural ability" to crack a case. For example, how do ants nesting in a human skull help police to zero in on a suspect? PBS investigates in their new series Crime Scene Creatures.

Portable DNA Testing Machines Will Give Results within an Hour

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Handheld DNA testing machines will revolutionize crime scene investigation by producing results within an hour. New “Rapid DNA” technology would enable detectives to test material at the scene of a crime or in a police station, eliminating the need to send it to a laboratory.

The Nation’s First and Only Independent Crime Laboratory System

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Bode Technology and Integrated Forensic Laboratories, Inc. have finalized a landmark agreement to create the nation’s first and only independent criminal forensic testing laboratory system.

Teaching DNA Testing to Iraqis

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

If Lab Techs Must Testify, DUI Cases Will Be Harder to Prosecute

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

DNA Led To Suspect In '80 Murders

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

New Products: Vaporizer, Cross-Beam Workstation, and more

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Photo-Facial Comparison and Analysis

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Photo-facial comparison can be a useful identification tool, helping to determine whether two or more images are of separate persons or one and the same. With knowledge of facial features and imaging, this process helped solve a seven-year-old cold case.

Where Fingerprinting Fails, There’s Trigger ID

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Trying to extract identification from a crime-scene gun is a tricky prospect. Fingerprints, for instance, can be of marginal quality and tricky to identify. Now Forensic ID hopes to revolutionize gun-crime identification with Trigger ID, a new DNA collection program.

Police-Ordered DWI Blood Tests Creating a Furor

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A new Texas law, which takes effect Sept. 1, allows police to order blood drawn from a person suspected of driving while intoxicated without judicial review under certain circumstances.

State Crime Lab in Utah Waiting To See Effects of Budget Cuts

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The 15 to 20 scientists in Utah’s state crime lab analyze about 15,000 items a year in thousands of cases. Now staff are poised to see how a 15% budget cut, which took effect July 1, could lengthen turnaround time.

Police Hope DNA Can ID Bank Robber

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Hutchinson, Kansas, police officers are still searching for a man who robbed Peoples Bank and Trust. Detectives are hopeful DNA evidence collected from the scene will lead them to a suspect as security camera photos have yet to yield results.

DA Eager to Launch Pilot DNA Unit

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Ventura Country, California, District Attorney Greg Totten hopes to whittle down unsolved criminal cases with federal funds for a DNA cold case prosecution unit, a $570,00 pilot program.

Popular Mechanics Presents CSI Myths: The Shaky Science Behind Forensics

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Indonesia Using MegaMatcher Biometric Technology in Integrated Passport System

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Supreme Court's Decision May Have Minimal Affect on Wisconsin's Two Crime Labs

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Supreme Court Requires Lab Analysts to Testify: Now What?

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

In early July we reported on the outcome of the contentious Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts Supreme Court decision requiring forensic analysts to be available to testify if their reports are admitted as evidence. We’ve now had some time to contemplate what this ruling will mean.

Accuracy of Forensic Evidence Challenged in Amanda Knox Murder Trial

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The defense counsel for murder suspect Amanda Knox charged forensic investigators with sloppy handling of key evidence last week, in the final day before the sensational international trial breaks for summer.

Stimulus Money Helps Solve DNA Backlog

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A backlog of DNA samples at the Sheriff’s Office in San Mateo County, California, will finally get looked at due to extra help being hired, paid for with a $108,000 grant from federal stimulus funds.

Forensics at Heart of Jakarta Bombings Investigation

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Forensic analysts are hard at work in Jakarta, Indonesia, working to identify both perpetrators and victims of the hotel bombings on July 17 that killed nine and left approximately 40 wounded. Indonesian police have taken DNA samples of the suspects’ relatives to confirm identities.

San Diego Forensic Investigative Agency Announces Triple Expansion

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The San Diego private investigative firm Able Forensic Investigations, Inc. has announced its intent to expand three divisions of its services: Litigation Support, Family Law and Assets, and Personal Injury Investigation.

Modern Forensics Solves Mystery of Three Civil War Soldiers

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

City Morgue Gets a $26.8 Million Makeover

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Opinion: Forensic Science Going to the Dogs

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

First NIJ Compliant Multi-Threat Body Armor Introduced

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Toxicology Processing Delays: Even Michael Jackson Has to Wait

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

With several high profile cases in the news, the focus has turned on increased toxicology processing delays. Michael Jackson’s and other high profile cases might get to cut in line, but the tests still take time—especially when the tests involve multiple substances.

Dollars to Lab a Wise Investment

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

$1 million of federal stimulus money has been funneled into California’s crime labs. The money will go to Cal State Los Angeles, which oversees the 2-year-old, on-campus, joint LAPD-LASD crime lab through the California Forensic Science Institute.

Infant DNA Databasing

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Laws in all 50 states require hospitals to collect a sample of every newborn baby’s blood. The primary purpose is to test for PKU and other diseases, but researchers and government agencies are realizing the value of such a databank of DNA. Some are calling for the creation of a national database.

DNA Evidence Storage Still an Issue

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Local law enforcement agencies in Mississippi say they lack both the space and expertise to store DNA evidence that a new state law requires them to preserve. Agencies hoped the Mississippi Crime Lab would preserve and store DNA evidence for them, but the lab doesn't have the capacity either.

Missouri Governor Signs DNA Bill

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

After August 28, anyone arrested in Missouri for first- or second-degree burglary or a felony violent crime will have a DNA swab taken at booking. Previously DNA was only collected from those convicted.

Online Forensic Training Courses Available

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Serbian Mass Graves One of the World’s Largest Forensic Puzzles

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Canine Forensics

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Dell Unveils Digital Forensics Package for Police

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Evidence Collection Primer

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Ever feel like you need a little refresher course on evidence collection? Maybe you collect prints all the time, but when was the last time you collected some more obscure evidence. The Crime Scene Investigator Network has compiled evidence collection guidelines that can help jog your memory.

Flexible, Specific, and Cost-Effective Real-Time PCR Method Discovered

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Scientists from the Department of Life Science and Medical Bio-Science at Waseda University, in Tokyo, Japan, recently presented their new, faster, and more cost-effective PCR method for DNA analysis in a paper published by the American Chemical Society. This method could dramatically reduce the DNA backlog.

Cross-Examination Ruling Unsettled in Virginia

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Virginia courts are feeling the impact of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prosecutors must make forensic examiners available for defense cross-examination about lab reports on drugs, ballistics, and other trial evidence.

Houston Officers, Mayor Square Off Over Immigration Policy

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Houston’s largest police union, citing the death of six officers during Mayor Bill White’s tenure, called on the mayor and City Council this week to hire more officers, restore $14 million in overtime pay, and overturn the long-standing policy of not questioning residents about their immigration status.

New DNA Testing Procedure on The Books For South Dakota Inmates

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Effective Wednesday, South Dakota joined other states in setting up a system that lets prison inmates who meet strict conditions seek DNA testing that could prove them innocent.

Training a Lens on D.C.'s Most Gruesome Crimes

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

With his camera, Curtis E. Lancaster hovers over mangled bodies for hours, ensuring that he has all the angles, close-ups and wide shots. For nearly 25 years, Lancaster has documented some of the city's most horrific crime scenes. "I bring the jury from the jury box to the scene," he says.

A Crime Lab Evolves, From Makeshift to High-Tech

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

California Cities, Counties May Have To Pay Lab, Witness Fees

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Skeletal Remains Sent To State Crime Lab

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Opinion: Jon Benet Ramsey Killer Can Be Found by Molecular Photofitting from DNA

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Gunshot Residue: The Hilti Defense

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

In a 2007 shooting, primer residue was found on the prime suspect. In his defense he claimed that the residue came not from firing a gun, but from using a Hilti nail gun, a powder-actuated tool, at his construction job. This study addresses the fallacy of the "Hilti Defense."

Supreme Court Ruling Requires Crime Lab Analysts to Testify

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Get ready to trade your lab coat for a suit coat. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling last Thursday will require crime lab analysts to appear in court and submit to cross-examination if their reports are used as evidence. This ruling could have tremendous impacts on how crime labs operate and exacerbate the backlog problems that plague crime labs nationwide.

The DNA Testing War Continues

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

In a 5-4 decision last month, the Supreme Court ruled that convicted prisoners do not have an intrinsic constitutional right to DNA testing. At the same time, Pennsylvania lawmakers are on the verge of passing legislation that would make it easier for convicts to have tests done.

California Budget Cuts Jeopardize Crime Labs

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is taking extreme measures to cope with California’s $24 billion deficit including a $20 million cut from the Justice Department's crime lab, charging local police departments for processing rape kits and other evidence, and the early release of criminals.

Ecstasy Showing Up As Cartoon-Shaped Pills

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Ecstasy and Ecstasy-like pills shaped like Snoopy, Ninja Turtles, and The Simpsons are showing up on Kansas City streets. The shapes are a marketing ploy to represent the drugs as being fun and lighthearted but present a far greater risk.

DNA Identification Laminated in Government ID Cards

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. can now incorporate its SigNature DNA into laminates typically used in travel documents, credit cards, driver’s licenses, and other government issued identification cards. ID cards can now carry a unique DNA marker for security and identification purposes.

Houston Crime Lab Facing Scrutiny on Murder Case

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Profile: Michael Baden, Detective of Death

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

New Field in Animal Forensics

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

New Products: Holster, Case Management Software, and More

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The Man Without a Fingerprint

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A Singaporean cancer patient was detained by U.S. customs because his cancer treatment had made his fingerprints disappear. A forensic expert explains other ways people can lose—intentionally or unintentionally—one of their unique identifiers.

Florida Police Fleet Going High-Tech

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The DeLand, Florida, police fleet used a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to purchase 18 digital video cameras and audio recorders to fit into patrol cars. "Whatever a camera captures or records is visual evidence pretty hard to dispute in a court of law," Deputy Chief Randel Henderson said.

Oregon Case Puts Reliability of Science On Trial

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Inside the Oregon State Penitentiary, Philip Scott Cannon spends every waking moment poring over legal documents. The "bullet lead analysis" that was the prosecution's primary tool in an otherwise circumstantial case against him has since been discarded as bad science.

Sagem Sécurité Wins Contract For Advanced Facial Recognition System In Australia

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Sagem Sécurité has signed a contract with the New South Wales Government’s Roads and Traffic Authority to supply and maintain a biometric face recognition system with a 15 million image database, for driver licenses.

HyperVision Video Camera Records 1 Million Frames Per Second

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Shimadzu Scientific Instruments has designed the compact HyperVision HPV-2 to meet the demand for high-speed video cameras that are functionally advanced and easy to use. The HPV-2 achieves ultra-fast recording at speeds of 1 million frames per second.

Family of UCLA Lab Fire Victim Criticizes Investigation

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Crime-Lab Work Techniques Questioned in Murder Trial

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

10% Discount on iPhone Forensics Workshop

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Outrage Over Rape Kit Backlog

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Article By: By Rebecca Waters. The growing nationwide rape kit backlog has been featured prominently in the news. Aside from the implications for the individual sexual assault victims in these cases, many argue that failing to test each kit allows the offender to remain at large and precludes the opportunity of discovering linked attacks and repeat offenders.

Budget Decrease Could Lead To Crime Increaset

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

District Attorney Ed Jagels in Kern County, California, fears that county budget cuts forcing layoffs in his department will result in important evidence not being analyzed in the crime lab, allowing some misdemeanor cases, including gang cases, to go unprosecuted.

Online Forensic Library

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

FORENSICnetBASE provides access to references and resources covering every aspect of forensics and law enforcement, from criminal justice and forensic investigation to counterterrorism, cyber crime, and money laundering.

Mount Royal College Opens Crime Lab

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The Mount Royal Criminal Justice Research Lab, the only independent research crime lab in Alberta, Canada, has been in operation a couple months. It will conduct research on identity theft, human trafficking and border security.

Automated Plasmid DNA Purification

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Many of today’s applications require rapid isolation of pure plasmid DNA and automation can meet these high-throughput needs. To this end, Hamilton Robotics has introduced a tested and verified protocol for automation of the Promega Wizard SV 96 Plasmid DNA Purification System.

Fido Verdict Quickly Identifies Explosives, Narcotics and Liquid Threats

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

ICx Technologies has released Fido Verdict, a palm-size instrument capitalizing on the miniaturization of Raman-based spectroscopy instruments, to help military and law enforcement officials identify explosives, dangerous liquids, narcotics, and other threats.

In New York, Number of Killings Rises With Heat

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Nuclear Forensics: Preparing for the Worst

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Police Forensics Inspire Sculptures

Forensic Magazine news desk — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Point of View: Some Thoughts on Quality Concerns in Crime Laboratories

Forensic Magazine news desk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

According to the much anticipated crime laboratory study report released by the National Academy of Science (NAS) on February 18, 2009, a "badly fragmented" forensic science system needs an overhaul.

The DNA Connection: Is DNA a Silver Bullet?

Forensic Magazine news desk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Every now and then, although much less recently, a reporter asks me the inane question, “Is DNA a silver bullet?”While the obvious answer is “no,” the follow-up is always, “DNA will never replace a thoughtful, creative detective with the proper resources.

Polonium-210 and The Assassination of Alexander Litvinenko

Forensic Magazine news desk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A highly active alpha particle emitter, Polonium-210 is a fatal toxin, even at very small doses.

Biometrics: Eye on the Future

Forensic Magazine news desk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

Biometrics technology has matured, offering some exciting new forensic products — and promising revolutionary innovations in the near future.

Alcohol In the 21st Century: New Standards, New Technology

Forensic Magazine news desk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

New technology can reduce calculation times when determining the degree of uncertainty in blood alcohol concentration estimations.

The Safety Guys: Making Sense of MSDS--The Foundation of Safe Chemical Management

Forensic Magazine news desk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

A few months ago an entirely preventable tragedy occurred when a UCLA research assistant was burned over 43% of her body and died eighteen days later in a hospital burn unit.

Who Says You Can't Do That?: Marking Evidence at Crime Scenes: Developing a System

Forensic Magazine news desk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

One of the most basic—and most important—tasks a crime scene officer has is locating, collecting, packaging, and marking evidence found at a crime scene.

Digital Insider: To Search or Not to Search

Forensic Magazine news desk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

In a recent case scenario, an adult female victim indicated to the police that she had just been sexually assaulted by an adult male subject in his apartment. She stated that the subject forcibly removed her clothing and photographed the sexual assault.

Most Wanted Answers to Facility Issues: Change Is in the Air: Safety and Design of Toxicology Laboratories

Forensic Magazine news desk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:53:55 -0400

The proper design of a toxicology lab is more than process and people.

Hazardous Materials Evidence Collection: Crime Scene Procedures Protect Response Force, Preserve Evidence