12/01/2007

With rapid development in the technology field, it’s difficult for a forensic photographer to choose the right camera and equipment.


12/01/2007

Computer forensics is a field that is changing as fast as software can be written—and that’s fast.


12/01/2007

Days after the Office of Justice Programs’ new missing persons and unidentified decedents Web site went live, Randy Hanzlick, the medical examiner in Fulton County, Georgia, received an e-mail message…


12/01/2007

Old technique (iodine fuming) plus new technology (digital subtraction) equals more options for the development and enhancement of latent fingerprints.


12/01/2007

As crime scene officers we have the responsibility of protecting the crime scene and its integrity, and protecting the dignity of the victim. In this article, I’ll discuss problems you need to watch out for and products you can use to help protect your crime scene.


12/01/2007

This issue’s Safety Guys column is the final one in our initial series on clandestine drug laboratories. This article will look at the next steps of conducting residual sampling, remediation, and final clearance assessments.


12/01/2007

Just as time ages the human body, it also affects your laboratory facility’s energy consumption. These complex facilities require constant maintenance to ensure energy productivity.


12/01/2007

A name is a funny thing. We are given our names by our parents.


12/01/2007

Appropriate standards and controls must always be specified in the analytical procedure and their use documented in the case notes.


10/01/2007

Data from numerous sources provide the necessary information to demonstrate a reduction in crime.


10/01/2007

Everyone outside the toxicology field seems to believe the forensic toxicology laboratory can identify any drug or compound of interest with a simple push of a button.


10/01/2007

To say there are many issues faced by today’s digital forensics community would be an understatement. Lack of funding, cross-jurisdictional legal struggles, and a lack of qualified professionals are just a small sample of the main body of issues.


10/01/2007

A CSI professional describes how the latest portable lasers allow even non-experts to find more evidence in less time and generate higher quality data including trace and latent prints, compared to any other technology.


10/01/2007

In this issue I’ll take a look at different types of prints and the decision-making that goes into processing them.


10/01/2007

The Safety Guys are back one more time to discuss the third phase of dealing with clandestine drug labs. This feature tackles the final step – the clean up, better described as the assessment of residual contamination and proper remediation.


10/01/2007

When the San Diego County Medical Examiner (SDME) and County Veterinarian needed new facilities, County Administrators undertook a needs assessment to understand what benefits might be obtained by co-locating both agencies under one roof.


10/01/2007

There are examiners working today in some agencies that do not have documented technical standard operating procedures ( SOPs) for the analysis of digital media. Most likely, this is because there are no Quality Assurance Practices (QAP) being followed and no Quality Assurance Systems (QAS) in those agencies to provide oversight.


04/01/2007

While conventional STR DNA analysis has been highly publicized over the past decade and used to aid countless criminal investigations, a newer technology known as Y-STR analysis is now being implemented in many laboratories.


04/01/2007

Multiplex STR analysis has long been accepted as the gold standard in the field of human identification. This method is highly informative, allowing DNA identification to be made with a high degree of accuracy.


04/01/2007

Exciting developments are on the horizon that will increase sample throughput at a lower cost while requiring fewer personnel resources.


04/01/2007

While there have been many jokes within the scientific community about the markers that might be present on the Y chromosome – propensity for the air guitar, total lack of recall for dates, incessant use of the TV remote, and inability to ask for directions – it is this very “maleness” that makes the Y chromosome extremely useful in forensic DNA analysis.


04/01/2007

In the field of composite image making there are generally three schools of thought on the use of reference images. There are those who do, those who sometimes do, and those who don’t use them at all.


04/01/2007

Suspects often leave important evidence throughout crime scenes: tire tracks, footprints, tool marks, extruder marks on different casings, etc. Casting can preserve this impression evidence for comparison work and analysis at the lab.


04/01/2007

In this issue we will discuss repetition/duration and force as it applies to ergonomic risk in the office setting and some possible solutions to get you through the day pain-free.


04/01/2007

Over the past 20 years, DNA has become a critical part of our judical system. As the process evolves and technology advances, forensic laboratory facilities must also transform to support countless cases that rely upon DNA evidence.