Author Profile

Crime is Down During COVID-19 Pandemic, But Experts are Cautious
April 02, 2020
Serious felonies dropped 17 percent in New York City from March 16 to March 22 compared to last year. Chicago homicides dropped 29 percent the week of March 21, the day an Illinois stay-at-home order went into effect. read more
TrueAllele Finds Match for DNA Mixture in 12-Year-Old Murder of College Student
April 02, 2020
The accused, David Kahl, has been a suspect from the very beginning but lab tests have been inconclusive, until now. Cybergenetics and TrueAllele have finally matched DNA from the victim's jeans to Kahl. read more
Genetic Genealogy Leads Florida Police to Arrest in 35-Year-Old Murder of Young Mother
April 01, 2020
A few weeks ago, Mallett called McKinley’s now-adult son, Tim—who he has never met—to let him know they arrested a man for the alleged murder of his mother 35 years ago. read more
33 Years After Dubious Evidence Helped Convict Him, Joe Bryan Has Been Released on Parole
April 01, 2020
His murder conviction rested largely on bloodstain-pattern analysis, a technique still in use throughout the criminal justice system, despite concerns about its reliability. read more
Some Mobile Phone Apps May Contain Hidden Behaviors That Users Never See
March 31, 2020
A team of cybersecurity researchers has discovered that a large number of cell phone applications contain hardcoded secrets allowing others to access private data or block content provided by users. read more
Missing Persons Database Helps ID 2 Women Found Dead Decades Ago
March 31, 2020
Authorities say they've identified two women who were found dead in separate cases in central Ohio more than two decades ago. read more
Researchers Aid Child Witnesses With Tele-Forensic Interviewing
March 30, 2020
As co-directors of the Talking Lab, Dickinson and Lytle have been working to finish a three-year study on tele-forensic interviewing– a process that involves eliciting eyewitness testimony from children using tele-technology. read more
New Algorithm Examines Crime-Scene Bullets Segment by Segment
March 30, 2020
Researchers, for the first time, employed the CMPS method to examine deformed bullets. The team fired 57 bullets with varying degrees of fragmentation from the same 9 mm pistol into a water tank. read more
South Korean University Debuts Policing Algorithm Named 'Googi'
March 30, 2020
A team of scientists at Dongguk University has developed an innovative policing system named "Googi" by integrating three main areas of their research. read more
Are Gun Shops Essential Businesses? Gun Groups Sue LA Sheriff Over Shutdown Order
March 30, 2020
Gun-owner rights organizations have asked the federal government to end the debate nationwide over whether gun shops can remain open despite growing stay-at-home orders aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus. read more
NYPD Publishes First Facial Recognition Policy Amid Clearview AI Controversy
March 30, 2020
The NYPD has used a variation of facial recognition technology for almost a decade, but there has been increasing opposition in the last few years, especially recently after a report was published linking Clearview AI, a controversial, startup facial recognition company, with members of the NYPD. read more
Federal Union Calls on Bureau of Prisons to Cease Inmate Transport Amid Pandemic
March 27, 2020
The American Federation of Government Employees is calling on BOP Director Michael Carvajal to stop the transport of untested inmates during the coronavirus pandemic. read more
Lab Focuses on Body Armor for Women in Law Enforcement
March 27, 2020
As the number of women entering the field rises, so too has the demand for PPE that is designed for the female physique to ensure women are as safe, efficient, and comfortable as men while on the job. read more
Teeth Show Signs of Impactful Events in a Person’s Life
March 27, 2020
Researchers at NYU have shown that teeth can do even more—they can reveal impactful events that occurred during a person’s life. read more
Analytical Method IDs Maggot Species to Better Pinpoint Time of Death
March 26, 2020
Researchers have developed an alternative using advanced machine learning and direct analysis in real time-high resolution mass spectrometry, or DART-HRMS for short. read more
Coronavirus-related Crimes Capitalize on Global Fear, Panic
March 26, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, so too do the crimes related to it— and add to the burden on law enforcement agencies trying to protect vulnerable citizens. read more
Forensic Science Institute Donates Medical Supplies to Local Hospital
March 26, 2020
As much-needed medical supplies dwindle in hospitals due to the current COVID-19 virus pandemic, the University of Central Oklahoma Forensic Science Institute responded to an urgent call for supplies. read more
2020 Report Reveals Top Digital Trends Redefining Law Enforcement
March 25, 2020
“Detectives have told me they will step over a dead body to get to the computer, the mobile phone, the Fitbit, the Alexa,” Louis Quijas, former Assistant Director of the FBI, told Forensic. read more
Europe Eyes Smartphone Location Data to Stem Virus Spread
March 25, 2020
The Czech Republic has become the first European country to announce plans to deploy a powerful but potentially intrusive location-tracking tool for fighting the coronavirus pandemic. read more
Detroit Police Captain Dies from COVID-19 Complications
March 25, 2020
A Detroit police captain has become the second member of the department to die of complications from the coronavirus. read more