Developing an Empirically Based Ranking Order for Bone Sampling
May 02, 2013
This study established an empirically based ranking of skeletal elements according to each bone’s capacity to provide usable genetic material for a DNA identification and assessed how these results varied over longer post mortem intervals (PMI).
New A-to-Z Guide for Preserving Biological Evidence
May 02, 2013
A new handbook by NIST and NIJ provides forensic laboratories, law enforcement agencies and the judicial system with state-of-the-art guidelines and recommended best practices for preserving biological evidence so that it is available at any time to solve “cold cases,” confirm the guilt of criminals or exonerate the innocent.
Three Removed Backpack from Boston Suspect's Room
May 02, 2013
Three college friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were arrested and accused of removing a backpack containing fireworks emptied of gunpowder from Tsarnaev's dorm room three days after the attack to try to keep him from getting into trouble.
DNA, Fingerprints Collected in Fatal California Child Stabbing
May 02, 2013
Fingerprints and DNA evidence from the northern California home where an eight-year-old girl was stabbed to death over the weekend, apparently by an intruder, were sent to a state crime lab as detectives sought to identify a suspect, police said.
Carl Zeiss Microscopy Holds Workshop Series on Scanning Electron Microscope Products
May 02, 2013
Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, has announced that it is holding three workshop series on its innovative scanning electron microscope (SEM) products.
Wrongful Convictions: Watch a Seminar with Dr. Jon Gould and John Firman
May 01, 2013
If you missed the latest Research for the Real World seminar on wrongful convictions, there's good news! The presentation, "Wrongful Convictions: The Latest Scientific Research and Implications for Law Enforcement" by Dr. Jon Gould and John Firman is now available to view online.
Safeguarding Forensic DNA Samples
May 01, 2013
Boise State Univ. professor Greg Hampikian is known internationally for his work in DNA forensics, and he has developed a solution that permanently marks DNA samples to prevent contamination.
Forensic Confirmation Bias: When the Evidence Doesn't Speak for Itself
May 01, 2013
As a growing number of wrongful convictions in the U.S. judicial system are brought to light, psychologists are exploring what caused these miscarriages of justice and how they can be prevented.
Trial for 1987 Slaying of Jimmy Casino to Wrap Up
May 01, 2013
He was a smooth-talking swindler who operated Orange County's most notorious and lucrative strip club, the Mustang Topless Theater. Born James Stockwell, he rebranded himself Jimmy Casino and lived the extravagant lifestyle of a character from an Elmore Leonard novel.
Students Seek Solutions in Splatters and Stains
May 01, 2013
After being handed the cup containing blood and saliva, Alison Pierce soaks the liquid with the pipette, and then sprays it onto the paper taped to the wall. As the liquid oozes down the paper, Pierce explains to students, who are dressed in large yellow lab coats, that blood stains containing saliva will be connected by the mucus strands.
Broadened DNA Law Aids Crime Solving
May 01, 2013
A year after the Nebraska State Patrol conducted a record 8,700 DNA tests on felons, it made an unprecedented 75 matches to the DNA database maintained by the FBI.
DNA Samples Taken from Home of Boston Suspect's Widow
April 30, 2013
Investigators have removed bags of evidence including some containing DNA samples from the home in Rhode Island where the widow of suspected Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev has been living.
Postmortem Interval and Molecular Autopsy, Part II
April 30, 2013
NIJ presents the Webinar Falling Into Decay: Postmortem Interval and Molecular Autopsy, Part II.
Rapist Gets Life in Cold Case
April 30, 2013
For more than 30 years, Richard Ricketts got away with raping a woman outside her apartment. Then cold-case detectives reopened the case and tested old evidence for DNA — leading to Ricketts, his conviction this year and his sentencing hearing.
Debris Believed to be 9/11 Plane Wing
April 30, 2013
The rusted metal aircraft part believed to be from one of the hijacked jetliners that slammed into the World Trade Center in the Sept. 11 attacks came from a wing, not landing gear, police have said.
Entomologist Studies Blow Flies and Crime Scenes
April 30, 2013
At crime scenes, there are the obvious clues: DNA, fingerprints and blood stains. Then, there are the maggots.
Utah Company's Forensic Technology Featured on 'CSI'
April 30, 2013
A Utah-based company’s forensic DNA collection system will be featured on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Cayman Chemical Achieves ISO Accreditations
April 30, 2013
Cayman Chemical has announced it has been accredited to ISO Guide 34:2009, General Requirements for the Competence of Reference Material Producers, and ISO/IEC 17025:2005, General Requirements For the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
Big Foot Mystery Afoot
April 29, 2013
A mysterious and potentially grisly find by two young boys in a wooded area has police and residents of Quincy, Mass., baffled.
Boston Marathon Crime Scene: How Forensic Techniques Led to Capture
April 29, 2013
Within hours of the Boston Marathon bombing, state and local forensic experts were combing through evidence that included video and photo images, bloody clothing, and other artifacts from the area of the explosion.
DNA Pioneer Francis Crick Honored with Cambridge Memorial
April 29, 2013
A memorial to DNA pioneer Francis Crick has been unveiled at his former college at the University of Cambridge. The memorial was unveiled on the 60th anniversary of the publication of the paper which outlined the double-helix discovery.
Iowa Attorney General Backs DNA Collection Bill
April 29, 2013
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said Wednesday that people convicted of less-serious crimes such as aggravated assault and theft should be required to submit DNA samples for a federal databank that currently focuses on felons and sexual offenders.
Forensic Experts Examine Murder Victim
April 29, 2013
Thai police on Tuesday said they had made forensic progress in the gruesome killing of a Bangkok bank clerk who was murdered and then dismembered, but have made no arrests in the case.
Forensic Science Students Learn Facial Reconstruction
April 29, 2013
Using a model skull, Enterprise High School students determined the age, gender and race of victim using their knowledge of bones, teeth and sutures, which are where pieces of the skull join together.
Statistical Examination of Handwriting Characteristics using Automated Tools
April 29, 2013
This project demonstrated the construction of probabilistic models for several of the steps in handwriting examination, with a particular focus on handwriting characteristics.
