Senate Panel OKs Plan to Fingerprint People Leaving US
May 21, 2013
All foreigners departing from the nation's 10 busiest airports will have to have their fingerprints scanned within two years, according to a plan adopted by a Senate panel.
The Low-tech Way Guns Get Traced
May 21, 2013
Opponents of expanding background checks for gun sales often raise the fear that it would allow the government to create a national gun registry — a database of gun transactions. In fact, federal law already bans the creation of such a registry. And the reality of how gun sales records are accessed turns out to be surprisingly low-tech.
Forensics Utilized in Animal Abuse Crackdown
May 21, 2013
Adam Leath deals with the ugliness of animal abuse daily, operating out of a closet-sized office as the Gainesville-based southeast regional director of investigations and response for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) since late 2011.
Regional Crime Lab Taking Shape
May 21, 2013
As top law enforcement officials and state lawmakers in North Carolina mull over ways to bring a crime lab to the southeast, a de facto one of sorts has already begun taking shape in Wilmington.
Closed System DNA Purification for Degraded, Compromised Evidence in Microfluidic Devices
May 21, 2013
The aims of this grant were to develop a volume reduction solid phase extraction (vrSPE) microchip capable of accommodating large volumes. The device was then to be applied to degraded and compromised samples as well as the purification of mitochondrial DNA.
Police Retain DNA from Thousands of Children
May 21, 2013
The DNA of thousands of innocent children is being taken by police and stored on the national database in England, campaigners say, citing new figures. Police have taken the DNA of 120,000 children in the last two years, according to figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform.
Split-second Choice Ended with NY Student Dead
May 20, 2013
The college student was being held in a headlock by a masked intruder with a loaded gun to her head, police said. Then the gunman took aim at an officer. A moment later both Hofstra University junior Andrea Rebello and the intruder were dead — killed after a split-second decision that is perhaps the most harrowing in law enforcement: when to pull the trigger.
Forensics Mastermind Who Identifies Victims around the World
May 20, 2013
Forensics mastermind David Whittaker has lifted the lid on a life spent investigating murder, assault and natural disaster.
Role of Forensics in Justice System being Studied
May 20, 2013
A University of Canterbury researcher is investigating forensics and its developing role in the justice system. Historian Dr. Heather Wolffram is investigating the psychology of juries and what problems the psychological impact of expert forensic evidence on juries means for the integrity of the New Zealand justice system.
When Bad 'Fire Science' Burns Innocent Defendants
May 20, 2013
In the U.S., fire-safety science dates back only to about 1970. Prior to that time, fire technology existed, but not what would today be understood as fire science.
Big Difference in New Orleans Crime Lab Since Katrina
May 20, 2013
Gunfire is commonplace at the New Orleans Police Crime Lab. Sometimes an automatic weapon, sometimes an old pistol, is test fired to recover the bullets for analysis. The prime focus is on firearms because of the violent crimes in this city.
Evaluating the Use of DNA and RNA Degradation for Estimating the Post-mortem Interval
May 20, 2013
Estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) is difficult due to the many factors that influence the decomposition process. Tissues such as nails, teeth and bones are more resilient to environmental factors.
NY Man Pleads Not Guilty in '94 Vermont Death of Wife
May 17, 2013
A suburban New York man released from a life sentence after DNA tests casts doubt on his original conviction for killing his wife in Vermont pleaded not guilty to a new aggravated murder charge in the same case.
Loss of RCMP Firearm Labs Could Hurt Police
May 17, 2013
Critics fear that police could lose timely access to a key technology used to investigate shootings as the RCMP shutters several regional forensic laboratories.
Overview on Trace Evidence for Legal Professionals
May 17, 2013
This webinar will provide an overview of the various forms of trace evidence most commonly encountered in forensic casework, such as hair and fibers, gunshot residue, glass, paint and fire debris.
DNA Links Woman to Slaying of Aspiring Model
May 17, 2013
The killing of an aspiring 21-year-old model and actress found strangled in her Santa Monica apartment was connected to a business negotiation that her father ended with a Marina del Rey doctor just days before her death. Detectives found DNA and fingerprint evidence at her apartment that matched an associate of the physician.
Iowa Governor Signs Expanded DNA Sampling Measure
May 17, 2013
People convicted of certain aggravated misdemeanors in Iowa now will be required to submit DNA samples. Gov. Terry Branstad signed into law a measure that expands the collection of DNA samples beyond felony convictions and sex offenses.
With No Unified Database, Many Murder Victims Remain Nameless
May 17, 2013
A serial killer who committed suicide in an Alaska jail last year confessed to murdering at least 11 people across the country. But Israel Keyes didn't name names, and investigators trying to figure out who he killed are running into a major stumbling block: There is no unified, mandatory national database for missing persons.
Conflict Seen in Review of Detective's Conduct
May 16, 2013
Alvena Jennette spent almost 21 years in prison, writing appeals that pointed out irregularities in his murder case. In each instance, the office of the Brooklyn district attorney fought back against his claims. But now his is one of some 50 murder convictions that the office is reviewing.
State to Handle DNA Tests Instead of County Crime Lab
May 16, 2013
A police officer who finds a trace of blood inside a burglarized shed today could wait more than a year for the local crime lab to process and return the DNA test results. If the officer used Ohio's state crime lab, the results could be back within 20 days.
Inside the Toronto Police Ballistics Lab
May 16, 2013
Advanced technology is helping Toronto police learn more about the history of the guns they seize from city streets, but wary criminals are paying attention and taking steps to thwart that process.
Collecting DNA for Human Rights While Safeguarding Privacy
May 16, 2013
DNA databases might help identify victims of crime and human trafficking, but how do we safeguard the personal privacy of innocent victims and family members? A report identifies a number of key challenges to consider as experts develop such programs.
Lockheed Martin Enhances FBI's Next Generation Identification System
May 16, 2013
The FBI's Next Generation Identification Increment 3 provides improvements in latent fingerprint search accuracy and a new nationwide palm print identification system to help solve cold cases and improve crime-solving capabilities. Latest upgrades are delivered by a Lockheed Martin-led team for the FBI's NGI system.
Tarnished Gold Standard: Limited Quantity and Degraded DNA, Part II
May 16, 2013
This Live Forensic Research Seminar will include presentations by experts within the Forensic community. Presentation topics for the series will include simultaneous detection of mtDNA using mtDNA primer sets and deep sequencing, and genotyping single DNA molecules without PCR.
DNA Evidence May Clear Honduran Man
May 15, 2013
Lawyers seeking to overturn the murder conviction of a Honduran man who has been on Florida's death row since 2006 presented new DNA and blood stain evidence in a Florida court.
