Author Profile

FBI Working to 'Burn Down' Cyber Criminals' Infrastructure
March 09, 2020
To thwart increasingly dangerous cyber criminals, law enforcement agents are working to “burn down their infrastructure” and take out the tools that allow them to carry out their devastating attacks, FBI Director Christopher Wray said. read more
Seeking Trial Delay, Sheriff Makes False COVID-19 Claim
March 09, 2020
With Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely set to go on trial on felony charges, his attorneys told a judge in a court document filed Friday he was hospitalized and being tested for COVID-19. read more
Genetic Genealogy Firm Selects Non-profit Intermountain Forensics as Lab Services Provider
March 09, 2020
This collaboration allows Innovative Forensic DNA to provide law enforcement and victim advocacy groups the highest quality, cutting-edge lab services in a timely, affordable, and transparent way during the course of investigative genetic genealogy cases. read more
DOJ to Publish Final Rule to Comply Fully with DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005
March 09, 2020
The Department of Justice issued a final rule to implement the Attorney General’s authority provided by the bipartisan DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 to authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to collect DNA samples from certain non-United States persons it detains. read more
Time-of-Flight Method Helps Forensic Analysts Halt Trafficking of Rhino Horns
March 09, 2020
Forensic lab analysts examine, identify and compare evidence using traditional instrumentation to link suspect, victim and crime scene with physical evidence. The only caveat here is that the victim is an animal, not a human. read more
Research Program Seeks to Validate Unique Hand Identification
March 06, 2020
Are our hands as unique as our fingerprints? If so, can that be proven beyond a reasonable doubt? A new program led by forensic anthropologist Dame Sue Black is asking 5,000 citizen scientists to help answer that question by uploading photos of their hands. read more
1,000 High School, Community College Students Take Part in Forensic Science Day
March 06, 2020
Event attendees listened to talks about forensic dentistry and crime gun intelligence, toured DNA and cadaver labs, spoke with the Phoenix Police Department’s Special Assignments Unit, analyzed blood spatter patterns and more. read more
Study: No Increase in Crime Under California’s ‘Sanctuary State’ Status
March 06, 2020
The implementation of California Senate Bill 54– which limits, but does not prohibit, state and local police cooperation with federal immigration authorities– did not cause an increase in crime. read more
Cyber Toolkit Allows Detectives to Follow a Criminal’s Digital Footprint
March 05, 2020
A growing number of law enforcement agencies want to use Purdue University technology to help them track down cybercriminals with a toolkit that also can help companies stop insider threats and technology-facilitated abuse. read more
2020’s Best Colleges for Criminal Justice, Criminology
March 04, 2020
Based on more than 100,000 college degree programs and the starting salary data of over 5 million graduates, GradReports has ranked 2020’s best colleges by major, including criminology and criminal justice. read more
FBI Archive of the Month: Gone With The Wind First Edition
March 04, 2020
The FBI’s Artifact of the Month is a rare first edition of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind” used to conceal a .32-caliber pistol. read more
Rising Age of First Drug Use in Teens, Young Adults
March 04, 2020
The average age at which teens and young adults start using drugs has been rising, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. read more
EU Regulator Warns of Unreliable Evidence, Skills Shortage in Forensic Science
March 03, 2020
While recognizing that improvements have been made, Gillian Tully has called for gaps in quality to be resolved to prevent unreliable evidence being used in court. read more
University Students Work to Solve 'Murder'
March 02, 2020
As the day progressed, the simulation became a murder investigation, with students from the university’s Forensic Science department called in to analyze the scene for evidence as policing teams worked to establish what had taken place. read more
Officers Leverage Imposter Detection Training Tech to Maximize Performance
March 02, 2020
Eye-dentify uses eye-tracking technology and training software to teach officers the skills and best practices related to X-ray screening, identity verification/impostor detection and ID validation. read more
Police Warn of Heroin Cut with Research-only Cannabinoid
March 02, 2020
Police in Massachusetts have issued a warning about heroin cut with a synthetic cannabinoid—intended only for research purposes—that may not respond to Narcan. read more
California AG Announces Missing Persons DNA Breakthrough
February 28, 2020
The department is the first accredited state crime lab in North America to begin fully sequencing mitochondrial DNA, which makes it easier to test degraded evidence samples that have been subjected to harsh environmental conditions. read more
Women in Forensics: How a Forensic Artist Uses Instagram to Build Passion for Her Trade
February 28, 2020
Lisa Bailey, a retired FBI forensic artist, is passionate about her work. In terms of educating the next generation, she says she can reach more people on Instagram than she could in a class. read more
Supreme Court Denies Cert Petition in Death Row Case of Rodney Reed
February 27, 2020
The United States Supreme Court denied a cert petition by Rodney Reed asking the Court to review a Texas Court of Criminal Appeals’ rejection of critical evidence of innocence in his 1998 conviction for the murder of Stacey Stites. read more
New Mexico Governor to Sheriffs: Enforce Gun Law or Resign
February 27, 2020
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a red-flag gun bill that will allow state district courts to order the temporary surrender of firearms, and she urged sheriffs to resign if they still refuse to enforce it. read more