Expert Forensic Communication: Best Practices and Common Pitfalls
A world in crisis and a 24/7 media cycle demands consistent, clear, and effective communication from organizations tasked with death investigation and related responsibilities. Two seasoned professionals share their experiences reaching diverse stakeholders and engaging the public in the vital work of the largest medical examiner’s office in the country.
This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on November 28, 2023.
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Just Footwear Impressions on Fabric
In Episode eight of our case study season, Just Science sat down with Brian McVicker, a forensic footwear and tire examiner at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to discuss developing shoe and tire impressions on fabric using ninhydrin. When a victim is stomped or run over the transfer of skin cells onto the inside of the victim's clothing can leave an impression of the shoe or tire that was used.
Just Collecting Fingerprints Without Contact
In episode seven of our case Study season Just Science sat down with Ross Krewenka product manager IDEMIA and Mike Ransom, automated print manager for the Michigan State Police, to discuss the development and use cases of contactless fingerprint capture technology. Traditionally, ink and paper are used to capture fingerprints from subjects.
Transient Workforce in Forensic Pathology: Challenges, Rewards Compressed
A roadmap to successfully utilizing contract forensic pathologists, also known as locum tenens, was presented by a Chief Medical Examiner and a Coroner with extensive experience in employing these useful contractors to perform forensic autopsies and other professional tasks in today’s environment of increasing caseloads. Topics include the forensic pathologist workforce shortage, scheduling, budgeting, fee structures, and different business models for the use of locum tenens forensic pathologists in busy Medical Examiner and Coroner offices. \
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Advancing Research and Collaboration in Forensic Science
This webinar aims to provide vital information to forensic laboratories and universities that are interested in establishing research partnerships. The session starts with a review of data-sharing agreements and their importance in collaboration. The next topic highlights research partnerships, outlining ways individuals and organizations can collaborate on research projects. The final topic explores a successful research partnership between a forensic laboratory and a university, providing valuable insights on the best practices for research collaborations.
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Just Facial Recognition for Forensic Investigations
On episode six of our case study season. Just Science sat down with Dr. Richard Vorder Bruegge, senior physical scientist at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to discuss how facial recognition technology was used to help identify individuals in photographs and two landmark cases. Many individuals encounter facial recognition technology in their everyday lives, like when they unlock their phones. The same technology can significantly speed up and improve forensic investigations. Listen, along is Dr. Vorder Bruegge describes how pattern based matching is used to compare faces and images.
Body Fluid Identification and Classification
In the first installment of the 20230R&D Webinar Series, Dr. Sarah Seashols Williams from Virginia Commonwealth University, demonstrates the ability to classify body fluids using miRNA expression from DNA extracts with 92% accuracy, eliminating the need for RNA extraction, greatly reducing evidentiary sample consumption and processing time in forensic laboratories.
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Modern Death Investigation: Hub and Spoke Models for Adequate Workforce
This webinar describes the history, structure, and operations of the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The system includes four regional offices staffed by forensic pathologists supervising over 100 appointed Local Medical Examiners. Decedents requiring autopsy are transported to a regional office, while most external examinations are performed in the community by appointed Local Medical Examiners.
This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on November 7, 2023.
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Just Forensics in the Digital Age
In Episode five of our Case Studies season Just Science sat down with Justin Schorr, principal Collision reconstruction engineer, and Tim Primrose, mobile forensic analyst at E.J.S. Associates, Inc., to discuss utilizing digital evidence in real world cases. In the digital age forensic technology has broad applications for investigations from cell phones, social media accounts and car infotainment system data to three dimensional modeling for crime scene reconstruction, technology is becoming a staple in forensics. Listen, as long as Dr.
Webinar: NIJ Research Assistantship Program Informational Webinar
This recorded webinar, originally held September 28, 2023, provides information on NIJ’s Research Assistantship Program, which offers highly qualified doctoral students the opportunity to bring their expertise to NIJ to work across offices and program areas to obtain a practical and applied research experience. The program is a research focused professional development opportunity for doctoral students from all academic disciplines. NIJ provides funds to participating universities to pay salaries and other costs associated with research assistants who work on NIJ research activities.
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Just Adding Value Using Voice Identification
In episode four of our case study season, Just Science sat down with Josh Yonovitz, expert witness and forensic audio. To discuss the history of utilizing voice identification and investigations and the current state of forensic audio. In the 1960s, voice ID started being used in forensics, but the original voiceprint analysis used was proven to be inaccurate. Nowadays, forensic scientists use a methodology known as oral acoustic speaker identification, which is scientifically accepted but poorly understood.
Just Footwear Forensics to Further Investigations
In episode three of our case study season Just Science sat down with Laura Matson an advanced latent print and footwear examiner in the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories to discuss the value of providing footwear investigative leads. Footwear impressions are commonly found in crime scenes. However, these impressions can be difficult to detect and collect, which leads to the under-utilization of footwear evidence.
TOF/QTOF Mass Spec for Identification, Screening & Confirmation in Forensic Toxicology & Chemistry, Part I
In this specialized workshop intended for forensic science service providers (FSSPs), we explore the increasing adoption of Time-of-Flight and Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOF/QTOF-MS) technologies within forensic laboratories. The session provides an in-depth examination of various critical stages, encompassing planning, validation methodologies, analytical techniques, data review processes, and report generation. Subject matter experts disseminate knowledge and share first-hand experiences related to the utilization of TOF/QTOF-MS technology.
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TOF/QTOF Mass Spec for Identification, Screening & Confirmation in Forensic Toxicology & Chemistry, Part II
In this specialized workshop intended for forensic science service providers (FSSPs), we explore the increasing adoption of Time-of-Flight and Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (TOF/QTOF-MS) technologies within forensic laboratories. The session provides an in-depth examination of various critical stages, encompassing planning, validation methodologies, analytical techniques, data review processes, and report generation. Subject matter experts disseminate knowledge and share first-hand experiences related to the utilization of TOF/QTOF-MS technology.
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Just Collecting More Evidence from Cartridge Cases
In episode two of our Case Studies season, Just Science sat down with crime scene technician Brian Turner and Detective Roberto Caceres from the Broward County Sheriff's Office to discuss a new methodology for processing fired cartridge cases. When a cartridge case is recovered from a crime scene, investigators must typically decide whether to swab it for DNA or process it for latent prints.
Just Investigating a No-Body Homicide in Canada
In episode one of our Case Studies season, Just Science sat down with Ian Oxton, Forensic Identification Specialist for the Calgary Police Service to discuss a triple homicide case involving the longest lasting Amber Alert in Alberta Canada's history. Operation Amber started as a race against the clock for a missing child, and his grandparents then quickly evolved into a massive search effort on a 40-acre property.
Molecular Panels and Sampling Strategies
This webinar is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.
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Molecular Autopsy Implementation Discussion Panel
This discussion is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.
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How Molecular Panels Affect the Living
This presentation is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.
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A Forensic Pathologist's Approach to Molecular Autopsy
This presentation is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.
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Bringing Molecular Autopsies to Your Morgue
This presentation is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.
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Postmortem Genetic Test Results and How to Communicate Them
This presentation is part of the Molecular Autopsy Implementation Panel, hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2023.
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Cold Cases and Serial Killers, Part 1
In April 2018, the Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo was arrested. NIJ support helped lead to his arrest, and in the aftermath of the arrest, NIJ Social Science Analyst Eric Martin was among those tasked with finding other cases NIJ helped law enforcement solve. Eric joins the show to talk about some of those cases, and answer some broader questions about serial killers: What is a serial killer? Are they on the rise? How do we know how many serial killers are currently active?