San Diego County Forensic Science Center: County Veterinarian and Medical Examiner Join Forces
02/01/2006

The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office recently received the green light to proceed with the design of a new facility, a regional forensic science complex incorporating the activities of the County Veterinary Laboratory as a co-located agency with common service, education, and research needs.

Crime Lab Moves: Planning + Involvement = Success
02/01/2006

Of the many sources of anxiety in a workplace, moving a work operation ranks very high on most peoples’ lists. This is particularly true of a crime lab, where stress can run high even without the complications of a move, and where the demands for service must be met in a timely fashion.

The Journey from Backlog to Critical
02/01/2006

The Massachusetts State Police crime lab's phased approach to eliminating backlog.

Getting What You Paid For: A Discussion of Laboratory Building Commissioning
02/01/2006

Much like a relay race, bringing a new or renovated laboratory facility on line requires the same level of teamwork. Commissioning is a process that makes this team concept a reality.

State-of-the-Science Crime Lab Blooms in Garden State
02/01/2006

A one-stop crime-fighting laboratory opened last year in New Jersey. We asked Thomas Brettell, Director of the Office of Forensic Sciences, what makes it unique.

The State of American Crime Labs, 2006
02/01/2006

When it comes to the state of the crime lab, it’s hard to imagine a subject where there is a greater gap between public perception and reality.

Construction Safety for Those on the Sidelines
02/01/2006

There is one aspect of the design and execution of a project that we as “safety guys” find often stirs up more business for us than one might expect. This is the protection of building occupants and people in public areas adjacent to the construction activities.

CSI: What Your Crime Lab Can Do for You
02/01/2006

This issue of Forensic Magazine is dedicated to facilities – crime labs, medical examiner’s office, and the like. So what’s that got to do with the crime scene folks? More than you may realize.

Focus on Forensic Facilities
02/01/2006

I believe the best way to enhance the forensic industry is to learn from each other, pressing forward together as the industry advances.

Beware of that Old Abandoned Building: A Guide to Remodeling
01/02/2006

Most cities and towns have experienced periods of time where buildings in their communities, for whatever reason, have become abandoned, later to be either remodeled for a different use or demolished to make room for something new.

Life in a Disaster Morgue
12/01/2005

Mass disasters mean two things: multiple deaths and DMORT deployment.

Evolution of Technology: Moving Away from the Paper Trail
12/01/2005

The county of Sacramento District Attorney's laboratory of Forensic Services automates the chain of custody procedures.

After Katrina: Identifying the Dead with Biometric ID
12/01/2005

Disaster victim identification is an emerging challenge for forensic practitioners, driven by the deadly upsurge in national catastrophes and the ongoing threat of terrorist strikes.

Forensic Profile: Private Forensic Consulting
12/01/2005

While many forensic specialists find satisfaction and security in working for a government agency, one recent graduate is determined to make a name for herself in her own forensics company.

ISO 17025 and the Effect on Forensic Facility Design
12/01/2005

In the forensic industry, if a new standard could reduce doubt in the courtroom and enhance scientific analysis, every director would want to implement it into their laboratory. ISO 17025 accreditation does just that.

Keeping Safety in Sight
12/01/2005

We received a question recently about proper eye protection that got us thinking. Many of us have probably seen the horror stories of nails stuck in eyes of employees and other such gruesome accidents. Did you know that about 2000 eye injuries occur on the job every day?

Wrapping Up the Scene
12/01/2005

In this column, I will discuss the documentation of wounds, weapons, drugs, and medications as well as identifying the deceased and the notification of the family; documenting trace evidence; processing the scene; and wrapping up the scene.

Setting Priorities
06/01/2005

The state crime lab in my neighboring state of Massachusetts has been taking a beating in the press lately. A suspect was arrested in a high profile murder case on Cape Cod.

Film to Digital Conversion: Special Considerations for Larger Agencies
04/01/2005

Photography has seen some dramatic changes over the years ever since the 1840’s when the advancement of acetate and gelatin for use as film made photography more practical.

Biological Evidence: Maintaining Integrity of DNA Samples through National Standards
04/01/2005

With their growing ubiquity in the courtroom, biological evidence and DNA analysis are playing an increasingly important role in proving guilt or innocence.

Digital Radiography in Forensic Odontology
04/01/2005

Digital radiography gives forensic odontology more bite.

Forensic Applications of New Analytical Technologies
04/01/2005

Increasingly sophisticated anyalytical tools and methods are being employed to detect and discriminate evidence.

Forensic Facility Design
04/01/2005

Good facility planning and the proper solutions for HVAC systems credit today's successful forensic facilities. Together they support modern forensic laboratories by providing comfort for lab occupants and an environment that supports scientific investigation.

Crime Scene Contamination
04/01/2005

Today, more than ever, the quality of evidence in criminal cases is scrutinized in the courtroom. Both defense and prosecuting attorneys look to the manner in which evidence is collected and handled to bolster their cases.

Get in the Flow!
04/01/2005

One problem with all hoods, but definitely more so with chemical hoods than others in our experience, is that as a cabinet space in a lab they tend to accumulate stuff and are frequently used for storage.