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Thailand Reports First Case of COVID-19 Spreading to Forensic Examiner From Deceased
April 14, 2020
Writing in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, a pathologist from Thailand and one from China say they have observed the first fatal case of COVID-19 transferring from a deceased patient to a medical examiner. read more
ASCLD Recognizes the Top Performing Forensic Labs in the World
April 14, 2020
The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) has announced the recipients of its 2020 Foresight Maximus Award, which recognizes the top performing forensic laboratories in the world. read more
DNA Labs International Says New Genetic Genealogy Tech is Coming
April 13, 2020
DNA Labs International is announcing the introduction of new, advanced testing technologies, available later this year, which will yield more efficient genetic results with more targeted testing. read more
Utica College Awarded Federal Grant for Development of Cybercrime Investigation Training
April 13, 2020
Utica College was awarded a grant for more than $214,000 from the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance to develop an educational opportunities program in cybersecurity. read more
Survey: Majority of Washington State's Heroin Users Want to Reduce Use
April 13, 2020
A new survey of people who inject illicit drugs in the state of Washington yields positive and important findings for policy makers as the world struggles to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. read more
Deep Dive: Scott Hopkins and the Invisible Semen Case of 1979
April 10, 2020
The appellate court has now ruled that the prosecution's "topographic distribution" theory of old semen stains "shall not be admissible" at the new trial. read more
Grant Funds First College-in-Prison Program for Women
April 10, 2020
The Northwestern Prison Education Program has received a $1 million grant to support the expansion of educational opportunities for incarcerated people. read more
Minnesota Forensic Lab Validates THC in Cannabis Test Method
April 10, 2020
Forensic scientists have validated a method to determine the THC quantity of a plant or liquid sample, allowing them to differentiate between hemp and marijuana. read more
Sheila Denton Freed After 15 Years of Wrongful Imprisonment Based on Bite Mark Evidence
April 10, 2020
On Wednesday, Sheila Denton was released from a Georgia prison after 15 years of wrongful imprisonment based on bite mark evidence. read more
False Memories of Crime Appear Real When Retold to Others
April 09, 2020
People are no better than chance at identifying when someone else is recounting a false or real memory of a crime. read more
Soil Expert Employs Dogs to Help Identify Cadaver Decomposition Islands
April 09, 2020
Environmental scientist Jacqui Aitkenhead-Peterson assists law enforcement by matching soil from crime scenes and suspects and determining evidence of human decomposition products. This year, she added someone special to her team. read more
How Forensic Pathologists Handle the Coronavirus Dead
April 09, 2020
Most scientists and doctors in the coronavirus crisis are working to save the living. Those in the field of forensic pathology, however, focus on the dead. read more
Longtime Criminalist Uses ‘Old-School’ Technique to ID Victim in 50-Year-Old Murder
April 08, 2020
Want to know the key to fingerprinting and identifying human remains buried 51 years ago? Perseverance, Ivory dish soap and old-school techniques. read more
UK’s Largest Forensic Capability Network Officially Launches
April 08, 2020
Called Forensic Capability Network (FCN), the network supports more than 4,000 forensic science specialists with critical technology, advice and services. read more
After Bad Forensic Testimony, Court Grants New Trial to Pennsylvania Man
April 08, 2020
Pathologist Cyril Wecht testified in the 2013 trial that semen linked to Hopkins, 74, was deposited in the sheets of the victim at the time of her killing. It is impossible to determine when DNA is deposited on any surface. read more
Indiana State Police Name 2019 Forensic Scientist of the Year
April 08, 2020
The recipient of the 2019 Indiana State Police Forensic Scientist of the Year is Stacey R. Hartman, whose accomplishments during that year are worthy of such recognition and have earned her this award. read more
Forensic Anthropologists Provide Fire Investigation Training to Federal, State, Local Agencies
April 07, 2020
The processing of human remains in a fire scene is one of the most complex investigations an investigator can conduct, yet little forensic training on methodology is available. read more
Othram Establishes Academic Program to Train Forensic Genomics Scientists
April 06, 2020
Recent technological advances have revolutionized the ability to solve previously intractable cold cases with forensic genomics and genetic genealogy. read more
Prisoners, Police and the Pandemic
April 06, 2020
Reality is leading many jurisdictions in the United States to take the unprecedented step of releasing large numbers of inmates to prevent coronavirus outbreaks. read more
Maryland Sheriff’s Office Adopts Therapy Dog as Part of Comfort K9 Program
April 06, 2020
This program, which has been in the planning phase for several months, will be aimed at providing emotional support to victims of crime, particularly children. read more