DoJ Updates Standards for Forensic Examination of Sexual Assault
April 25, 2013
Attorney General Eric Holder has announced a revised version of the National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations. The SAFE Protocol is a voluntary best practices guide to conducting sexual assault medical forensic examinations protocols.
Legal Marijuana Law Jeopardizes Prosecutions
April 25, 2013
Prosecutors and crime lab scientists say a little-noticed provision in Washington's new law legalizing recreational marijuana has jeopardized their ability to go after any pot crimes at all, and they're calling for an immediate fix in the Legislature.
Missing Body Impedes Probe
April 24, 2013
The mysterious disappearance of Lupita Cantu was supposed to be over — with a long-suspected tragedy confirmed, her body recovered at long last. Instead, the uncertainty has only deepened.
Charges Dropped in Ricin Letters Case
April 24, 2013
U.S. prosecutors have dropped charges against a Mississippi man accused of sending ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama, a U.S. senator and a state judge, according to court documents.
The Influence of Forensic Science in False Conviction
April 24, 2013
An article recently published provides an overview of classic psychological research on expectancy and observer effects and indicates in which ways forensic science examiners may be influenced by information such as confessions, eyewitness identification and graphical evidence.
Tarnished Gold Standard: Limited Quantity and Degraded DNA
April 24, 2013
Research on ancient and degraded DNA, and the role of DNA repair and whole genome applications in forensic samples are topics presented in this NIJ webinar.
Multiplex qPCR - How to Get Started
April 24, 2013
In multiplex qPCR, multiple targets are amplified in a single reaction tube. Each target is amplified by a different set of primers, and a uniquely-labeled probe distinguishes each PCR amplicon. Thus, you can measure the expression levels of several targets or genes of interest quickly.
What's Next for Boston Bombing Suspect?
April 23, 2013
A decision to charge the Boston Marathon bombing suspect in a civilian rather than a military court means he will face the same legal process as other federal criminal defendants in U.S. courts.
Photonics-enabled Tools Help Sort Clues in Boston Bombing
April 23, 2013
The Boston Marathon bombings on April 15 have put a spotlight on photonics-based technology that could play a central role in improving efficiency of such an investigation, and possibly help prevent similar incidents.
Formula Calculates Speed with Footprints
April 23, 2013
Two Spanish scientists have designed an equation that provides a highly accurate estimate of an individual's speed based on stride length.
Basic Crime Scene Investigation for Legal Professionals
April 23, 2013
This course will provide the legal professional with an opportunity to see the crime scene from the perspective of the practitioner and practice the skills necessary to properly recognize, document, collect and preserve evidence.
Texas Legislature Considering Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission
April 23, 2013
Richard Miles was 19 years old when he was wrongly convicted of murder and attempted murder and served 15 years in a Dallas jail before DNA tests proved his innocence. His dream is that no innocent person in Texas goes through the same ordeal.
Inspector General Rejects Syracuse Police Claims of Crime Lab Misconduct
April 23, 2013
The New York inspector general rejected claims of negligence and misconduct at the Onondaga County crime lab over the past seven years.
Texas Fertilizer Company Didn't Disclose Amount of Compound before Blast
April 22, 2013
The fertilizer plant that exploded, obliterating part of a small Texas town and killing at least 14 people, had last year been storing 1,350 times the amount of ammonium nitrate that would normally trigger safety oversight by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Boston Marathon Case Prosecutor Known for Aggressive Record
April 22, 2013
As the top federal law enforcer in Massachusetts, U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz has taken heat for being tough to a fault and coming down too hard on some defendants.
Inspector General Probes Use of Unaccredited Lab
April 22, 2013
The New York state inspector general is launching an investigation into a Syracuse police officer’s use of an unaccredited lab to run forensic tests on crime scene evidence in at least 11 cases.
Suspects Seemed Set for Attacks beyond Boston
April 22, 2013
The two men suspected in the Boston Marathon bombings were armed with a small arsenal of guns, ammunition and explosives when they first confronted the police, and were most likely planning more attacks, authorities have said.
What Prosecutors and Defense Counsel Need to Know about Eyewitnesses
April 22, 2013
This Webinar will examine eyewitness evidence - the psychology of perception and memory; the law governing eyewitness identification cases; tools for assessing the strength of a particular identification; and best practices in identification cases.
Utah Law Enforcement Receives Training on FLIR Forensic Equipment
April 22, 2013
Twenty-two law enforcement officers were trained in Salt Lake City, Utah to use a new piece of field-portable chemistry equipment for their drug identification program.
Updates on Aftermath of Boston Marathon Explosions
April 19, 2013
Follow developments in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings.
Putting More Science behind Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
April 19, 2013
The size and distribution of the bloodstains offers clues to violent crimes, but Daniel Attinger thinks current techniques in bloodstain pattern analysis need more science behind them.
First Man Exonerated Due to DNA Speaks at FHSU
April 19, 2013
For eight years, ten months, 19 days, Kirk Bloodsworth sat in a cell of the Maryland State Penitentiary, fighting to prove his innocence. Bloodsworth spoke to students, faculty and community members about the death penalty, and shared his story.
One Marathon Bomb Suspect Dead, Suburbs Locked Down
April 19, 2013
Two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombing killed an MIT police officer, injured a transit officer in a firefight and threw explosive devices at police during their getaway attempt in a long night of violence that left one of them dead and another still at large.
Experts Speak to Advances in DNA Forensics at 2013 ISHI
April 19, 2013
Forensic professionals interested in learning about developing forensic DNA technologies and exploring the potential impact are invited to join scientists, law enforcement professionals and forensic experts at the 24th International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI).
Texas Forensic Science Commission: Justice through Science
April 19, 2013
NIJ and the West Virginia Forensic Science Initiative are offering free Webinars for legal professionals.
