Author Profile

States Unfairly Burdening Incarcerated People with 'Pay-to-Stay' Fees
November 30, 2020
Pay-to-stay, the practice of charging people to pay for their own jail or prison confinement, is being enforced unfairly by using criminal, civil and administrative law, according to a new study. read more
Forensic Sample Collection: 5 Reasons to Automate Sample Punching
November 26, 2020
With the size of DNA databases increasing, forensic laboratories are faced with a rising number of samples to be processed. Doing more with less means ensuring high-throughput processing, while maintaining a high degree of accuracy. read more
Rare Review of Cases Handled by Judge Forced Into Retirement by Dementia
November 25, 2020
A review of dozens of Judge ShawnDya Simpson’s cases found the decisions to be rational, a disappointment for a man whose claims of innocence had been one of the judge’s last cases. read more
DNA, Witnesses Help Exonerate Jaythan Kendrick After 25 Years in Prison
November 25, 2020
The wrongful conviction, plagued with racial profiling and highly suggestive eyewitness identification procedures, was vacated based on newly discovered DNA evidence. read more
George Mason to Unveil its New Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory
November 25, 2020
With the addition of the new five-acre facility, Mason becomes just the eighth location in the world capable of performing transformative outdoor research in forensic science using human donors. read more
Report: Inmates Killed in Colombia Riot Shot Intentionally
November 25, 2020
New evidence indicates most of the 24 inmates killed during a prison riot in Colombia’s capital earlier this year over fears that crowded, unhygienic conditions would fuel a virus outbreak were shot to death intentionally. read more
Nurse Practitioners Play Key Role in Opioid Addiction Treatment in Rural Areas
November 25, 2020
Giving nurse practitioners the authority to prescribe buprenorphine has brought that gold standard treatment for opioid addiction to people who might not have had access to it before. read more
Government Executes Man Convicted of Killing Texas Teen
November 23, 2020
Hall was put to death for abducting and killing the teenager, Lisa Rene. His was the eighth federal execution this year since the Trump administration revived a process that had been used just three times in the past 56 years. read more
DNA Cracks 1995 Cold Case Murder of California Nurse
November 23, 2020
Christine Munro was attacked while jogging on the south side of the Sacramento River Trail on June 24, 1995. read more
Professor Takes the Lead in Addressing Domestic Violence in Latin@ Communities
November 23, 2020
In her role, Macias collaborates on research that aims to enhance Latin@ communities and organizations, while working as part of a multidisciplinary team to help address the many disparities facing Latin@ and other marginalized communities in the United States. read more
2,500 Cases, Forensic Lab Called into Question After Arrest of Analyst
November 23, 2020
San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin released a spreadsheet of 822 criminal cases that may be impacted by the recent arrest of a veteran forensic analyst with the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME). However, the DA’s office estimates that is only a third of the cases. read more
Mexico Uncovers 10 More Bodies from Mass Grave in Sonora
November 23, 2020
Forensic scientists in the Mexican state of Sonora have recovered 10 more bodies from mass graves near a beach town, raising the total number of bodies and skeletons found in the area since October to 52. read more
AAFS Statement in Response to Diversity Opinion Article
November 20, 2020
The Academy’s BOD voted to dissolve the Anthropology Diversity and Inclusion Committee in order to ensure a broad, coordinated approach to fostering diversity and inclusion. read more
Texas: Arrestee DNA Collection Solved Over 250 Cases in One Year
November 20, 2020
What do a 17-year-old cold case strangulation, a 25-year-old murder and a 4-day crime spree have in common? These cases, in addition to about 250 others, were all solved by Texas investigators this year thanks to the enactment of the Krystal Jean Baker Act in September 2019. read more
DNA Links North Carolina Man to 1992 Rape, Attempted Murder
November 20, 2020
Authorities in North Carolina say that a man has been arrested on charges of attempted murder and rape nearly 30 years after police say the crimes were committed. read more
Idaho Body Found in 1984 to Undergo DNA Analysis
November 20, 2020
Authorities in Idaho have accepted an unresolved case from 1984 as part of a genetic genealogy study that could help police identify a body found 36 years ago. read more
Augmented Reality App Lets Public Explore Famous Crime Scenes
November 20, 2020
For the first time ever, police and detectives can revisit a murder scene without any distractions or time limitations. read more
Missing in Lockdown: New Report Reveals the Vulnerable are More At Risk
November 20, 2020
The number of people who went missing during the first national lockdown in England fell by over a third. However, a new report shows that those who did go missing were deemed more vulnerable and at higher risk. read more
Study: DNA From Romani People Used Inappropriately in Databases
November 18, 2020
In both ethical and scientific respects, Roma population groups are treated inappropriately in DNA databases and in genetic studies – potentially with consequences for investigations that draw on forensic genetic databases. read more
Veterinary Forensic Pathologist Seeks Justice in Animal Abuse Cases
November 18, 2020
Learning what really happened to these animals and bringing justice to possible animal abusers is a focus of Adam Stern. Two new programs Stern started this past year aim to do just that. read more