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.”

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.

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

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. A quick glance at the compound’s MSDS might have prevented this terrible loss.

Pertaining to the seizure of digital devices, there is some misunderstanding concerning what “executing the warrant within ten days” actually means.

An open letter from ASCLD to Senator Patrick Leahy regarding the National Academy of Sciences report “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward.”

Forensic mitochondrial DNA analysis of hair shafts and naturally shed hairs is a tool to enhance the investigation of cold cases; this form of evidence historically has had severely limited utility.

Over the past year or so, many private sector digital forensic examiners have expressed concern regarding whether or not his or her state requires them to obtain a PI license.

In order to make the most of evidence, you need to know where to look for it, how to collect it, and how to package it. If you put in the effort to do the job right, you will be rewarded with an even stronger case.

This is the first in a series of articles about the more than 30 Scientific Working Groups (SWGs) and TechnologyWorking Groups (TWGs) active within the criminal justice system.

There has been an increase over the last few decades in foraging for wild mushrooms as ingredients for gourmet meals. This practice has however not surprisingly come with a high price, an increase in mushroom poisoning (mycetism) cases.

Surely, as we get older, we will all get the "lines on our face" we call wrinkles, but to a forensic artist who is working on an age progression or a facial reconstruction, the signs of ageing go much deeper than a crack or crease or fold in the skin.