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Topic: Forensic sciences,
Subtopic: Forensic sciences

Just DNA Results in Rapid Time

February 2023

In episode two of our Unidentified Human Remains season, Just Science sat down with Neal Parsons, a Research Forensic Scientist at RTI International, to discuss how rapid DNA analysis has become an important method for identifying unknown human remains, especially in cases of mass fatality. Rapid DNA analysis is a fully automated process of developing DNA profiles without the need for a DNA laboratory or human interpretation.

Just Certification for Death Investigation

February 2023

In episode four of our Supporting Medicolegal Death Investigators mini season, Just Science sat down with Bridget Kinnier and Bethany Smith, the President and Executive Director of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, also knows ABMDI, to discuss the importance of standardization and accreditation within the MDI community. Because of the complex and multidisciplinary role of a medicolegal death investigator, it is important that there are national standards of knowledge for those who work in the field.

Going All In – Laboratories with Completely Digital Systems

February 2023

Change can be intimidating and making a transition to a paperless system can be daunting task. This presentation discusses two perspectives on how laboratories embraced technology for administrative and casework processes, the lessons learned, and the vision for additional growth.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on February 2, 2023. 

Triaging Cases – Case Management and All That Means

January 2023

This webinar presents laboratory managers with a discussion on case management in forensic science laboratories. All forensic science laboratories struggle with caseloads and backlogs in some way and to varying extremes. The answer to this struggle is a process to manage caseloads through evidence triage, case information management, and communication. A discussion on the challenges involved in case management is followed by practical experiences in writing and implementing case management policies.

Just Teeth and Technology

January 2023

In episode one of our Unidentified Human Remains mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Kenneth Aschheim, Assistant Chief Forensic Ontologist for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, to discuss how dental evidence can be used to help identify human remains. Due to their strength, heat resistance, and lack of decomposition over time, teeth are one of the most resilient substances found in the human body. As a result, forensic odontologists can use the teeth of decedents to match the antemortem dental records in order to help identify unknown human remains. Listen as Dr.

Maintaining a Positive Quality Culture during Change

January 2023

This webinar shares insight into why it is important to have a positive quality culture within a laboratory. Attendees see how establishing a culture where the proactive pursuit of quality is a positive for a laboratory. When actively pursuing quality, staff will help management navigate and be successful during the time of change. The presentation discusses how change, whether small or large, can be perceived and affect employees differently, and will provide some strategies on how to mitigate the effect change could have on their employees.

The State of Standard Development & Tools for Assessing and Implementing Standards

January 2023

This webinar introduces attendees to the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) Registry of Standards, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee (TC) on Forensic Science, and the Academy Standards Board (ASB). Attendees learn about forensic science standard development in the national and international space as well as standard implementation tools provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS).

Age Estimation from the Pubic Symphysis: Back to Basics

January 2023

The pubic symphysis joint on the pubic bone is frequently used in anthropology to estimate age-at-death in late adolescent and adult individuals. This webinar will provide a background on the age indicator, as well as a review of the anatomical features used in the age estimation methods based on this joint. The primary focus of the webinar is to help participants better interpret the written phase descriptions in pubic symphysis age estimation methods.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on January 11, 2023.

Just Identifying Lake Erie John Doe

December 2022

In the final episode of our 2022 Case Studies: Part 2 mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Thomas Gilson, Dr. Harmeet Kaur, and Hristina Lekova with the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office to discuss a puzzling case in which the identity of a decedent from 2014 still remains unknown. Since 2011, it has been uncommon for the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office to have a case in which a decedent remains unidentified for an extended period of time.

Digital Caseload Processing with the NIST National Software Reference Library

December 2022

This webinar provides an overview of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) National Software Reference Library (NSRL) Reference Data Set (RDS). The NSRL hash set changes to a new format beginning March 2023, bringing several new capabilities into the hands of digital evidence practitioners. Examples shown enable the creation of case-specific hash sets and searches for notable files. A new update process is also demonstrated.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on December 13, 2022.

Transition Analysis 3 Age at Death Estimation: Past, Present, and Future

December 2022

The Transition Analysis 3 (TA3) age-at-death estimation method was developed as part of an international research project supported by National Institute of Justice (NIJ) award #2014-DN-BX-K007. This presentation provides a brief history of the TA3 project from its beginnings in the late 1990s to its current status two decades later. Participants learn about the iterative process used to identify traits and develop definitions and are introduced to the TA3 trait manual and generic data collection form.

Just Identifying Gacy’s Victims, Part 2

December 2022

In episode two of our Case Studies Part 2: mini season Just Science sat down with Jason Moran, commander of police at the Cook County Sheriff's Office, to discuss how he and his colleagues set out to identify the remaining victims of John Wayne Gacy, decades after their bodies were found. Technological limitations can sometimes make it very challenging to identify decomposed human remains. In the case of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, eight of his 33 victims remained unidentified for more than 30 years.

Just Identifying Gacy’s Victims, Part 1

December 2022

In episode two of our Case Studies Part 2: mini season Just Science sat down with Jason Moran, commander of police at the Cook County Sheriff's Office, to discuss how he and his colleagues set out to identify the remaining victims of John Wayne Gacy, decades after their bodies were found. Technological limitations can sometimes make it very challenging to identify decomposed human remains. In the case of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, eight of his 33 victims remained unidentified for more than 30 years.

Audio Forensic Analysis Procedures for User Generated Audio Recordings

November 2022

The widespread use of handheld smartphones and other devices capable of recording audio and video means that user generated recordings (UGRs) are increasingly presented as evidence in criminal investigations. Combined with other recordings from law enforcement systems, home surveillance systems, etc., the availability of UGRs may offer important audio forensic insights. Forensic handling of UGRs requires best practices for assessing authenticity and integrity of the recorded information.

Just Autopsy Results and Crime Scene Reconstruction

November 2022

In episode one of our Case Studies: Part 2 mini season, Just Science sat down with Kelly Ayers, an International Association for Identification Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst, to discuss how preliminary autopsy results can help investigators piece together a story of what happened at a crime scene. For crime scene investigators, preliminary autopsy results issued by forensic pathologist and medical examiners can be used in conjunction with other disciplines, such as bloodstain pattern analysis, to provide pivotal information about a case.

Forensic Fractography of Bone A New Model for Skeletal Trauma Analysis

November 2022

Fractography is a tool for studying material failure. Analysis of cracks and fractures can reveal information about how, why, and where a fracture initiated and how a crack traveled, providing insight into the cause of failure. This webinar provides a basic introduction to forensic fractography of bone, which represents a new model for skeletal trauma that emphasizes understanding the cause of material failure rather than simply classifying fracture patterns.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on November 2, 2022.

Skeletal Sex Estimation and Practitioner Use of MorphoPASSE final

October 2022

This presentation briefly discusses the current state of skeletal sex estimation in forensic anthropology. The primary focus of this presentation is on the MorphoPASSE: Morphological Pelvis and Skull Sex Estimation database and program for skeletal sex estimation. The presentation details the revised trait descriptions and scoring procedures, with examples, and demonstrates how to use the MorphoPASSE graphical user interface and interpret the output.

Just Using Forensic Art and Anthropology for Identification

September 2022

In episode four of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification Season, Just Science sat down with Katharine Pope, a Research Public Health Analyst at RTI International, Dr. Bruce Anderson, a forensic anthropologist with the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, and Joe Mullins, an instructor at the New York Academy of Art, to discuss human identification using forensic anthropology and facial approximations.

Forensic Analysis of Automobile Paint Layers on Plastic Substrates Using Chemical uFTIR

September 2022

Welcome to our virtual poster session! The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) would like to highlight student research in the forensic sciences! The FTCoE is grateful for all the universities, faculty, and students who took the time to prepare poster presentations for submission to this year’s event. We recognize your hard work, and we are here to celebrate and learn from your research.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 22, 2022.

Prevalence, Persistence, and Probabilistic Study of Inorganic and Organic Gunshot Residue in Shooter and Non-Shooter Populations

September 2022

Welcome to our virtual poster session! The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) would like to highlight student research in the forensic sciences! The FTCoE is grateful for all the universities, faculty, and students who took the time to prepare poster presentations for submission to this year’s event. We recognize your hard work, and we are here to celebrate and learn from your research.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 22, 2022.

DNA Integrity in Ionic Liquid with Indolizine Squaraine Dye

September 2022

Welcome to our virtual poster session! The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) would like to highlight student research in the forensic sciences! The FTCoE is grateful for all the universities, faculty, and students who took the time to prepare poster presentations for submission to this year’s event. We recognize your hard work, and we are here to celebrate and learn from your research.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 22, 2022.

Assessing the Enhancement of Blood Impressions from Fresh and Preserved Fetal Pig Skin Using Inter- and Intra-observer Validity

September 2022

Welcome to our virtual poster session! The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) would like to highlight student research in the forensic sciences! The FTCoE is grateful for all the universities, faculty, and students who took the time to prepare poster presentations for submission to this year’s event. We recognize your hard work, and we are here to celebrate and learn from your research.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 22, 2022.

eDNA Detection of Lycomora delicatual Using Various Forensic Swabs via STR Analysis

September 2022

Welcome to our virtual poster session! The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) would like to highlight student research in the forensic sciences! The FTCoE is grateful for all the universities, faculty, and students who took the time to prepare poster presentations for submission to this year’s event. We recognize your hard work, and we are here to celebrate and learn from your research.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 22, 2020. 

2022 NIJ Forensic Science Graduate Research Symposium

September 2022

The National Institute of Justice has long hosted an annual Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium in which NIJ grantees present their research findings to promote the transition of research into practice. This inaugural NIJ Forensic Science Graduate Research Symposium aimed to provide a similar platform for graduate students and early career scientists. The symposium presented an excellent opportunity for new researchers, including current and former NIJ Graduate Research Fellows, to present their work to a broad audience.

Just a Curious Case of Print Persistence

September 2022

In episode two of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification Season, Just Science sat down with Bryan Johnson, the Major Incident Program Manager in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Latent Print Unit, to discuss how postmortem prints can be used to help identify unknown decedents. One of the cheapest, easiest and fastest methods of identifying individuals is through friction ridge prints. However, challenges can arise in cases where trauma or decomposition affect quality of a decedent's hands.