New Digital Ink Library to speed up document investigation Analysing ink samples to determine a document's origin can be a lengthy and time consuming process, but a new Digital Ink Library is set to change all that. The Economic Times - Mumbai Mirror - August 8, 2010
Court cases slowed by backlog at crime lab More cases and less funding at the state crime lab are translating into delays for criminal defendants waiting for their chance at trial. Daily Herald - Provo, UT - by Janice Peterson - August 8, 2010
State DNA database to more than double under new law A new law requiring all convicted felons to submit a DNA sample is expected to more than double the size of the state's law enforcement DNA databank. Lincoln Journal Star - Lincoln, NE - by Zach Pluhacek - August 7, 2010
State, FBI agree to partner at forensic lab The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation Forensic Lab and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have signed an agreement that should speed up service at the lab, according to Attorney General Marty Jackley. Rapid City Journal - Rapid City, SD - August 7, 2010
Whiffs of Stiffs Researchers have unearthed a new way to find a buried body. The sensitive method, published online June 23 in Forensic Science International, detected trace compounds emanating from decomposing rats months after death. U.S.News & World Report - Washington, DC - by Laura Sanders - August 6, 2010
Four hours for forensic DNA test Forensic scientists have developed a test that can match a suspect's DNA to crime scene samples in just four hours. BBC News - London, England - by Paul Rincon - August 5, 2010
Shea-Porter, police unveil evidence vehicle An $80,000 effort to improve evidence collection during local crime scene investigations was unveiled Tuesday night during National Night Out activities in Portsmouth. Portsmouth Herald - Portsmouth, NH - by Charles McMahon - August 4, 2010
DNA evidence vital in investigations DNA evidence has been a large part of many high-profile Placer criminal convictions, but the process of gathering evidence and using it to solve a case is nothing like you see on television. Auburn Journal - Auburn, CA - by Bridget Jones - August 3, 2010
Crime scene cops told to look for jobs Police crime-scene examiners are looking for jobs rather than evidence after being told they would be replaced by civilians. Herald Sun - Australia - by Geoff Wilkinson - August 2, 2010
Police Want to Get Hands on Fingerprint Registry Police want access to a registry of fingerprints taken during the passport application process. Police say the registry would help them solve crimes. Within ten years, every person who applies for a passport in Finland will have their prints in the registry. YLE - Yleisradio - August 2, 2010
Can you believe your eyes in the digital world? Whether it's Obama on the beach or the impossibly flawless skin of this month's glossy cover girl, any picture can now be digitally altered to tell an entirely different story. In the age of the airbrush, can we ever really believe our eyes? BBC News - by Zoe Kleinman - August 2, 2010
New technique to quickly detect buried bodies Finding bodies buried by someone who wanted them to stay undiscovered may not be difficult any more thanks to a new technique developed by scientists that can reliably detect biochemical changes in a decomposing cadaver. sify news - India - August 1, 2010
Lauderdale police consider using private labs to test DNA evidence Fort Lauderdale police commanders are convinced they can make a major dent in property crime by collecting and testing DNA evidence. But they say they've been stymied by lengthy delays at Broward Sheriff's Office crime lab. They want to farm out work to private companies instead. Sun Sentinel - Fort Lauderdale, FL - by Scott Wyman - July 31, 2010
New Jersey Considering New, Stricter DNA Collection Law, but Concerns Remain Any person arrested on suspicion he or she committed a violent crime in New Jersey would be required to provide a sample of their DNA to the police, under a proposal currently being considered in Trenton. Under the bill, which is being sponsored by three local legislators, refusal would be considered a felony punishable by up to 18 months of incarceration. The Jersey City Independent - Jersey City, NJ - by Colin Asher - July 30, 2010
Sheriff puts DNA comparison to work in January In a presentation before the civic roundtable last week, St. Johns County Sheriff David B. Shoar gave an overview of a new tool available from DNA:SI Laboratories in Burlington, NC which will be put to a field test locally to measure the value of using DNA evidence in in high-volume crime situations. Historic City News and Media - St. Augustine, FL - July 30, 2010
DNA testing for crime suspects sparks ethics debate Starting next February, all law enforcement officers will be required to collect DNA from people arrested for certain crimes. Smoky Mountain News - Waynesville, NC - by Bibeka Shrestha - July 27, 2010
County casts wide net for CSI job A national job search has been launched to replace former Douglas County crime lab manager David Kofoed. Omaha World-Herald - Omaha, NE - by John Ferak - July 26, 2010
Civilians take on police work in SFPD program Change under a pioneering and controversial test program included in the city's new budget that will use civilian investigators to respond to nonviolent crimes like burglaries or car break-ins, freeing up police officers to focus on crimes in progress or dangerous offenders. SF Gate - San Francisco, CA - by John Cote - July 25, 2010
Marines learn special skills from Coroner's Office As an investigator with the department for the past 26 years, Lt. Corral oversees a two-week program which immerses Marines attached to Personnel Retrieval and Recovery Units in the disturbing and unpleasant world of death investigation. Whittier Daily News - Whittier, CA - by Brandon Ferguson - July 24, 2010
Arsons Can Take Years To Investigate Manchester and Berlin, N.H., have been the site of several arsons over the past few years, and investigators said it can take months or years to find the culprit. WMUR-TV Broadcast Center - Manchester, NH - July 23, 2010
Forensic science braces for change FBI laboratory chief is optimistic despite severe criticism and challenges ahead. NPG - Washington, DC - by Laura Spinney - July 22, 2010
V.I. Police unveil new evidence facilities The V.I. Police Department on Wednesday unveiled new evidence-handling facilities, equipment and procedures that officials say will finally rectify pervasive deficiencies the department had left unaddressed for more than 20 years. V.I. Daily News - St. Thomas, V.I. - by Joy Blackburn - July 22, 2010
Utica forensics lab may get federal funds A major hurdle was cleared this week in the push for a half-million dollar grant, which could be used to cover operations and outreach at the Utica Police Department's forensic laboratory on the Utica College campus. The Observer-Dispatch - Utica, NY - by Dan Miner - July 22, 2010
Touch DNA forensics kits streamlining prison investigations When an offender says "It's not mine" or "I didn't touch it" regarding illegal drugs, weapons or other contraband found at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility, a new investigative tool can reveal the truth. The Tribune-Star - The Tribune-Star - by Lisa Trigg - July 22, 2010
To avoid ID, more are mutilating fingerprints So desperate was one man to conceal his identity that he began biting his fingers and drawing blood while being booked. Boston Globe - Boston, MA - by David Abel - July 21, 2010
Blood spatter 3D model to make crime scene investigation easier Reconstructing the course of events leading up to a murder could become easier and more accurate, thanks to a new system for making a high-resolution 3D map of a crime scene. Sify.com - India - July 21, 2010
iPhone is a great snitch for police When criminals carry smart phones, officers often can reconstruct where they went, what text messages they sent and a lot more. Star Tribune - Minneapolis, MN - by Amber Hunt - July 20, 2010
Use of familial DNA searches in Va. debated Forensic scientists working on unsolved Virginia crimes are not using a proven -- if still controversial -- investigative tool that can crack the toughest and deadliest of cases. Richmond Times-Dispatch - Richmond, VA - by Frank Green - July 18, 2010
ACLU wants to halt key part of California DNA crime program As state forensic scientists savor their success in using DNA to nab a suspect in the Grim Sleeper case, a federal court is considering shutting down a DNA collection program the state says has helped solve several violent crimes. Los Angeles Times - Los Angeles, CA - by Maura Dolan - July 18, 2010
Backlog prompts Lykos to call for emergency DNA lab Despite spending millions rebuilding the Houston Police Department's troubled DNA lab, the department still cannot keep up with daily requests to test evidence gathered at crime scenes. Houston Chronicle - Houston, TX - by James Pinkerton - July 18, 2010
Laser scanning reconstructs the gory details of murder Blood ballistics model improves crime scene investigation Computer software could improve the speed and accuracy of blood spatter interpretation at a crime scene RECONSTRUCTING the sequence of events leading up to a murder could become easier and more precise thanks to a new system for producing a high-resolution 3D map of a crime scene. Technology Marketing Corporation - Norwalk, CT - July 17, 2010
Govt to seek uniform forensic standards The federal government is to spend just over $450,000 to develop national forensic testing standards. The Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney, NSW - July 17, 2010
SPSA plans to speed up forensic support for police The Scottish Police Services Authority (SPSA) has launched a six-week consultation period on ways to speed up forensic support for Scottish police. Police Professional - Aylesbury - by Paul Lander - July 15, 2010
New laser tech helps police investigations Technology has increased the speed and accuracy of completing countless tasks, and it is doing the same for criminal investigations. The News Herald - Panama City, FL - by Felicia Kitzmiller - July 15, 2010
L.A. County Coroner's lab gets $1.6M upgrade The Los Angeles County Coroner is receiving $1.6 million to upgrade its forensic laboratory. Part of that money will be used to upgrade the department's DNA testing facility. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved the funding. ABC7 Broadcast Center - Glendale, CA - July 14, 2010
Inside Springfield Forensic Science Lab The Springfield Forensic Science Laboratories opened its doors to the media to give you a glimpse into the everyday work that goes on there. KHQA-TV - Quincy, IL - by Jarod Wells - July 14, 2010
DPS to take over state's DNA center The Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory will be assuming control of the State DNA Administrative Center starting in October. The move will save weeks when inputting felon DNA information into the statewide database and will also see an annual cost savings of approximately $400,000. Cibola Beacon - Grants, NM - July 12, 2010
In Grim Sleeper case, a new tack in DNA searching Frustrated by their inability to find the notorious killer known as the Grim Sleeper, whose DNA was not in a law enforcement database, Los Angeles police this spring asked the state to look for a DNA profile similar enough to be a possible relative of the killer. Los Angeles Times - Los Angeles, CA - by Maura Dolan - July 10, 2010
County's forensic center progressing Retrofit of Montgomery County's forensic center should begin within a week, Director of Infrastructure Mark Bosma said. The Courier - Montgomery, TX - by Howard Roden - July 10, 2010
Legislators pass DNA database expansion bill The North Carolina General Assembly on Saturday approved a bill letting investigators collect DNA samples from suspects when they are charged with certain crimes. WRAL.com - Raleigh, NC - by Beau Minnick - July 10, 2010
Police crime lab supervisor retires after seeing revolutionary changes When Cathy Kibbey began working in the Bakersfield Police Department crime lab 29 years ago, she couldn't lift a fingerprint from a golf ball. The Bakersfield Californian - Bakersfield, CA - By Steve E. Swenson - July 9, 2010
Look inside the lab that analyzes DNA rape kits One day after a report claimed that a high number of rape kits in Illinois are not being tested, we get a first-hand look inside the state facility that conducts DNA testing. WLS-TV - Chicago, IL - by Leah Hope - July 8, 2010
Crime lab may return, but under the State Police A plan announced in June to convert the old MGM Grand Detroit casino into a new police headquarters includes plans to build a state-of-the-art crime lab there. Detroit Free Press - Detroit, MI - by Amber Hunt - July 6, 2010
County purchases six-acre tract for forensic center Montgomery County officials hope to have a forensic center in operation within 90 days, now that they've purchased a six-acre site near the county's Criminal Justice Complex in Conroe.
The Courier - Huston, TX - by Howard Roden - July 3, 2010
VCC adds cybersecurity, digital forensics
Valencia Community College will offer a new cybersecurity and digital forensics program starting this fall. Orlando Business Journal - Orlando, FL - by Melanie Stawicki Azam - July 2, 2010
Cellphone Crime Solvers Inside a cellphone clutched in a murder victim's hand may be the clues that lead to her killer. Discovery Communications - Silver Spring, MD - by Richard P. Mislan - July 2, 2010
In real crime-solving, lab work can take some time Key evidence isn't revealed and crimes aren't solved between commercial breaks. Belleville News-Democrat - Belleville, IL - by Jennifer A. Bowen - July 1, 2010
Nicotine and pigs' trotters: the latest CSI toolkit An unlikely new toolkit of pigs' trotters and nicotine is helping forensic scientists to pinpoint the time of death in suspicious cases. New Scientist - Waltham, MA - by Catherine de Lange - July 1, 2010
Solving crime using the bleeding obvious Forensic experts are helping to solve crime with equipment that they always carry with them and that doesn't rely on expensive gadgetry - their eyes. PhysOrg.com - Douglas, Isle Of Man, UK - by Flinders University - July 1, 2010
MSU will study time needed to clear backlog of unprocessed rape test kits A Michigan State University study may hold the key to processing 10,500 rape evidence kits never analyzed by the now-defunct Detroit Police crime laboratory and could lead to prosecution of hundreds, possibly thousands, of rapists. The Detroit News - Detroit, MI - by Mike Martindale - July 1, 2010
Area Law Enforcement officers brush up on CSI skills Linda Davis of the Attorney General’s office, who facilitated the training, explained that the training aimed at making the officers more attentive at crime scenes and to be more comfortable in the courtroom settings. Winston County Journal - Louisville, MS - July 1, 2010
Police upgrade their on-scene processing The Moultrie Police Department recently purchased a new crime scene vehicle to assist in on-scene investigations. A police spokesman said the improvement will allow better processing of evidence collected. The Moultrie Observer - Moultrie, GA - by John Oxford - July 1, 2010
State Police investigate forensic scientist working at Fairview crime lab A forensic scientist employed at the Metro-East Forensic Science Laboratory in Fairview Heights is under investigation by the Illinois State Police after concerns were raised about a drug case. Belleville News-Democrat - Belleville, IL - June 30, 2010
Mobile fingerprint technology new tool for officers Upgrades to Montgomery County's Automated Fingerprint Identification System will enable law enforcement to rapidly identify and create digital records of suspects in the field using new mobile technology. Dayton Daily News - Dayton, OH - by Joanne Huist Smith - June 30, 2010
Forensic laboratory can revolutionise investigation system: CJ Lahore High Court Chief Justice Khawaja Muhammad Sharif has said development of forensic and DNA testing laboratories in Punjab can revolutionise the investigation system and dispensation of justice in criminal cases with availability of evidence against culprits. The Nation Newspaper - LAHORE (Pakistan) - June 30, 2010
New fingerprint database already a success story for Saskatoon Police Service Having access to a larger database of fingerprints from known criminals and crime scenes across Canada is proving a boon to Saskatoon police investigators. The Saskatoon StarPhoenix - Saskatoon, SK, Canada - by Lori Coolican - June 30, 2010
Abilene forensics lab remains busy The Abilene Police Department’s forensic crime lab processes thousands of pieces of evidence a year, and thanks to a larger lab and new state-of-the-art equipment, the job is being done more efficiently. Abilene Reporter News - Abilene, TX - June 29, 2010
Ottawa urged to change DNA rules The federal government is being pushed to put its national DNA database to new uses, to help victims of crime and to help identify missing persons. The Toronto Sun - Toronto, Ontario - by David Akin - June 29, 2010
Gifts to benefit forensics program, library at Guilford College Recent gifts to Guilford College totaling $300,000 will fund equipment for the forensic biology program, a collaborative learning center in Hege Library and other initiatives. news-record.com - Greensboro, NC - June 29, 2010
Binghamton University develops online forensic health program Binghamton University's Decker School of Nursing and the school's Office of Continuing Education and Outreach have created an online forensic health certificate program, the school announced Monday. The Central New York Business Journal - Syracuse, NY - by Eric Reinhardt - June 29, 2010
BU Develops Online Forensic Health Certificate Program The Decker School of Nursing has joined with Continuing Education and Outreach at Binghamton University to develop an online forensic health certificate program. It will provide training to healthcare professionals, who are often the 'front-line' in violence management, in how to serve as liaisons between law and medical science. FOX 40 WICZ TV - Vestal, NY - June 27, 2010
Program partners nurses police advocates in sexual assault cases One in six American women and one in 33 men has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime, though up to 60 percent of such crimes go unreported, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. The Joplin Globe - Joplin, MO - by Emily Younker - June 26, 2010
Neighbors not concerned about college body farm Several of the residents closest to Mesa State College's proposed Forensic Anthropology Research Center said Friday they're not fazed by the prospect of human bodies decomposing in the vicinity. They said they doubt the facility will present any problems for them. The Daily Sentinel - Grand Junction, CO - by Mike Wiggins - June 25, 2010
DNA database has 100,000 names The DNA database operated by the Dutch forensic institute NFI has over 100,000 names, the organisation said on Tuesday. DutchNews.nl - Netherlands - June 25, 2010
New Technology Aids Police In Child Porn Investigations It took Kenton County Police four years to issue a warrant for 35-year-old Christopher Applegate, who was just indicted on more than 20 counts of child pornography. WLWT-TV - Cincinnati, OH - June 25, 2010
Say goodbye to film When the State of Wisconsin finally made the move to convert its state crime laboratories from conventional film to digital photography, it signaled an end to the use of a form of crime scene documentation and evidence photography that had been used in criminal investigations for over 136 years across the United States. Officer.com - by Aric Dutelle - June 20, 2010
Raleigh County sheriff unveils state-of-the-art crime scene van Congressman Nick Rahall and law enforcement officials from several counties gathered at the Raleigh County sheriff's office Saturday to tour a new, state-of-the-art crime scene van. The Register-Herald - Beckley, WV - by Andrea Lannom - June 20, 2010
California Crime Lab Task Force decides to disband In a time of trouble for some California crime labs, a state panel that oversees the scientific investigators who can make or break a court case convened this month and voted itself out of existence. The Sacramento Bee - Sacramento, CA - by Andy Furillo - June 18, 2010
Judge rules color photos OK in Memphis murder case A Memphis judge has denied a request to ban color photographs of the crime scene in the trial of a man charged with killing four adults and two children and attempting to kill three other children. WAAY-TV - Huntsville, AL - June 17, 2010
Indianapolis Lab to Add Up to 160 Jobs An Indianapolis laboratory will add up to 160 jobs over the next four years with the opening of a new headquarters. WIBC - Indianapolis, IN - by Eric Berman - June 17, 2010
Crook caught by pic of prints A bungling crook was caught after he took a picture of a haul of stolen watches strapped to his hand -- because forensic experts were able to match the photo to his fingerprint record. The Sun - London - June 17, 2010
Nationally known forensic investigator honored with Alumni Award Herbert L. MacDonell of Corning received a 2010 Alfred University Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement during the 124th Annual Alumni Association Awards Picnic earlier this month. Alfred University - Alfred, NY - AU Press Releases - June 17, 2010
Work on crime lab Work has started on a state-of-the-art police crime lab at Wakefield's Calder Park. Wakefield Express - Wakefield - June 17, 2010
The CSI effect: juries are 'too ready to believe' DNA evidence New research has revealed that Australian juries are often overwhelmed by DNA evidence presented in criminal cases and rarely question its reliability. The National - Abu Dhabi - by Phil Mercer - June 16, 2010
DNA Collected Helps Solve Murders, Other Violent Crimes California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Wednesday, released a detailed forensic analysis showing that DNA collected at arrests -- even for non-violent offenses -- is "cracking cold cases" by providing positive identification of suspects in violent crimes such as rape, murder and robbery. KERO-TV 23 - Bakersfield, CA - June 16, 2010
New Woodlands crime lab should help ease evidence logjam Local law enforcement agencies that have had to wait six months or longer for forensic test results from overworked crime labs will soon be able to turn to a new crime lab in The Woodlands for help solving cases. Houston Chronicle - Houston, TX - by Renee C. Lee - June 16, 2010
Botched fingerprint analysis raises questions The Houston Police Department says it hasn't found any suspects wrongly identified by its troubled fingerprint analysis unit in a review of fingerprint evidence from 2004 to 2009. Houston Chronicle - Houston, TX - by Moises Mendoza & James Pinkerton - June 15, 2010
CSI: Dog-Fighting DNA Database Helps Crack Down on Animal Cruelty Successful prosecutions of animal cruelty cases rely on any number of things: credible witnesses, expert testimony, photographs, and other evidence. Often times, however, it's the evidence that we can't see--DNA--that is just as important as what we can see. The Huffington Post - Ed Sayres - June 15, 2010
County to explore forensic center with SETC pulling up stakes Montgomery County leaders are looking into creating a medical examiner's office now that the current forensic center is shutting its doors. Houston Community Newspapers - Houston, TX - by Howard Roden - June 14, 2010
SANE nurses 'invaluable' in St. Joseph County sex assault cases The medical center has a team of 14 SANE nurses, each of whom has gone through a 40-hour course at the Fort Wayne Sexual Assault Treatment Center and completed 30 to 40 hours of additional requirements, such as observing law enforcement officials as they investigate sexual assault cases, Berger said. The WSBT Stations - Mishawaka, IN - by Kim Kilbride - June 14, 2010
New fingerprint technology may tell about a suspect's medication, diet, even lifestyle A fingermark left at a crime scene may now provide investigators with details about a suspect's medications, their diet and even their lifestyle. Thanks to a new technique developed by scientists from Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, the ability to catch a criminal just got a whole lot easier. Nanowerk LLC - Honolulu, HI - by European Commission - June 14, 2010
Sheriff collecting fewer fingerprints because of budget cuts The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is collecting less fingerprint evidence because of budget cuts. Los Angeles Times - Los Angeles, CA - by Robert Faturechi - June 13, 2010
Forensics degree approved The University Of Wisconsin Board Of Regents on Friday unanimously approved UW-Platteville's request to offer a bachelor's degree in forensic investigation. Telegraph Herald - Dubuque, IA - June 12, 2010
Budget slice leads to GBI lab cuts dispute The two highest-ranking government executive officers in Georgia stand on opposite sides of a law-enforcement issue. Albany Herald - Albany, GA - by Pete Skiba - June 12, 2010
Behind the scene of the crime While most of the officers at the Bartow Police Department are visible and accessible in the community, Sohn works behind the scenes, collecting, photographing, tagging and storing evidence and analyzing crime scenes. She also routes DNA to the AFIS lab and fingerprints to the FDLE for analysis. The Polk County Democrat - Bartow, FL - by Mary Cannaday - June 12, 2010
DNA Analysis Overtakes Fingerprints in Crime Investigation The importance of biological identification in the investigation of crimes is on the increase. The crime laboratory of the National Bureau of Investigation is examining DNA samples about twice as often as it resorts to fingerprint analysis. YLE - June 9, 2010
CSI Dundee gets 23m laboratory Crime scene investigators in Scotland have received a major boost with the opening of a £23 million forensic laboratory. News International Limited - London - by Peter Laing - June 7, 2010
What is Forensic Psychology? Forensic psychology is the interaction of the practice or study of psychology and the law. Psychology Today - New York, NY - by Marisa Mauro, Psy.D. - June 7, 2010
Work starts on region's 'CSI' base The site at Calder Park is to be turned into a state-of-the-art forensic investigation support centre of excellence which will be home to the forces imaging unit, scenes of crime and forensics specialists such as the fingerprint bureau and the DNA bureau. Yorkshire Post Newspapers Ltd - Leeds - by Robert Sutcliffe - June 4, 2010
Lawyers want color crime scene photos banned Lawyers for a man charged with killing six people in Memphis argue that jurors shouldn't see color photographs of the crime scene at trial. WRCB TV - Chattanooga, TN - by Associated Press - June 3, 2010
CSI leader gets up to 4 years in prison Douglas County’s top crime scene investigator got fired from his job. He lost his house and his vehicle. Tuesday, a Cass County district judge ruled that David Kofoed also should lose his freedom. Kearneyhub.com - Kearney, NE - by World-Herald News Service - June 2, 2010
Governor pushes for DNA crime database expansion In a move supported by prosecutors, police chiefs and crime victims' advocates, Gov. David Paterson Tuesday proposed expanding the state DNA database by requiring samples from everyone who has committed a misdemeanor under the state's Penal Law. Times Herald-Record - Middletown, NY - by Heather Yakin - June 2, 2010
Warren volunteers take crime scene course Since the volunteers arrive at a crime scene before investigators, their actions are key in preserving evidence and helping investigators. Republican-American - Waterbury, CT - by John McKenna - June 2, 2010
Crime tech thrilled with new facility Back in the day, Kanawha County Sheriff's Department crime technician Richard Ingram had to spread out his lab in the middle of the hall. The Charleston Gazette - Charleston, WV - by Rusty Marks - May 31, 2010
Body of evidence: A radical new approach to forensic pathology Virtual cadavers, needle-wielding robots - and not a scalpel in sight. Laura Spinney meets the research team behind the 'virtopsy', a radical new approach to forensic pathology. Independent Print Limited - London, UK - by Laura Spinney - May 31, 2010
A look inside OH's 'CSI' labs yields answers to tardiness claims For the first time, the Ohio Attorney General opened up the London lab location and allowed WTOL an in-depth look at the facilities that perform tests on crime scene evidence. WTOL News 11 - Toledo, OH - by Jonathan Walsh - May 30, 2010
Durham, N.C., doubles its rate of solving homicides The nation's most dramatic improvement, according to the Scripps study, was in Durham, N.C., where clearances averaged only 39 percent in the 1990s following a dramatic increase in drug-related crime. But the solution rate shot up to 78 percent for the city's 215 killings since 2000. Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago, IL - by Scripps Howard News - May 29, 2010
New forensic equipment will help track child predators A Northern Kentucky police department has new equipment to help keep children safe from online predators. KyPost.com - Cincinnati, OH - by Kentucky Post - May 28, 2010
Ohio Takes Action Against the "CSI Effect" on Juries There have been warnings over the years of a possible "CSI Effect" on juries in criminal cases The Wall Street Journal - New York, NY - by Nathan Koppel - May 28, 2010
Court: Enlargement of gory photos at trial OK A Washington County circuit judge did not err when he allowed prosecutors to enlarge gruesome crime-scene and autopsy photos on a projection screen during a Fayetteville man's capital murder trial, the state Supreme Court ruled today. Arkansas News Bureau - Little Rock, AR - by John Lyon - May 27, 2010
Cell Phones Become New Tool for Crime Scene Investigators Crime scene investigators use a number of techniques to recover clues and now, they're even turning to cell phones. CBS7 - Odessa, TX - by Shelley Childers - May 25, 2010
Lab backlog keeps people in jail People are being held in jail for months without getting the chance to argue their cases in court because of long delays in the State's forensic laboratories. The Northern Star - NSW - by Alex Easton - May 25, 2010
DNA Evidence Solving Break-ins and Burglaries Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said his office has been using DNA to catch burglars and other property criminals since the start of 2009. Monday, he said there's evidence to show it is working. KIAH-TV - Houston, TX - by Jason Volentine - May 24, 2010
Changes in technology help Crime Scene Unit Changes in technology have helped give those who work in the crime scene unit of the Midland Police Department an easier task at obtaining and verifying evidence that's now collected. Mywesttexas.com - by Audrie Palmer - May 24, 2010
Regional crime lab considered by city, county From a backlog of cases, to evidence sending the wrong person going to jail, for years, we've been telling you about problems at Houston's crime lab. KTRK-TV - Houston, TX - by Adela Uchida - May 24, 2010
CSI, W.Va.: Director looks to forensic advances McClung has been director at the state lab since 2007. In her time at the helm, she has secured more than $700,000 in stimulus funds, in addition to grants, that have helped purchase state-of-the-art equipment to keep the lab up to date with the ever-advancing forensic technology. The Charleston Gazette - Charleston, WV - by Kathryn Gregory - May 23, 2010
Payout for former policeman shattered by constant exposure to gore As part of his work, Barry Doherty would identify the dead, collect body parts, and sometimes find himself on his hands and knees searching for evidence in coagulated pools of blood. The Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney NSW - by Bellinda Kontominas Courts - May 22, 2010
Police add new crime scene van to their arsenal The Calgary Police Service has taken delivery of a high tech mobile crime scene van. CTV Television Calgary - Calgary, Alberta, Canada - May 20, 2010
Delayed Justice: DNA Backlog at the KBI From murders and rapes to car break-ins and burglaries, hundreds of DNA samples from Kansas crimes sit in a KBI laboratory in Great Bend. The test tubes and blood splatters hold the fate of suspects, their trials, and their alleged victims. KWCH - Wichita, KS - by Cliff Judy - May 20, 2010
Death investigation school You see it on TV, and it's the same way in real life.
WFRV-TV - Green Bay, WI - May 20, 2010
House votes to expand national DNA arrest database Millions of Americans arrested for but not convicted of crimes will likely have their DNA forcibly extracted and added to a national database, according to a bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. CNET News - New York, NY - by Declan McCullagh - May 19, 2010
The 'Csi Effect' in Nodine Case Recent public speculation and doubts about the investigation into the death of Angela "Angel" Downs isn't surprising to one longtime veteran of detective work. Lagniappe Magazine - Mobile, AL - by Kevin Lee - May 19, 2010
ISP Offers Rare Glimpse at Crime Lab Illinois State Police crime scene investigators held an open house at their lab in Carbondale Thursday to remind the public that what they do in their labs is much different than what you see on TV. wsiltv.com - Carterville, IL - by Dana Jay - May 17, 2010
Forensic nurses help solve brutal crimes More than three a day -- that's how many sexual assaults were investigated in Houston and Harris County just last year. One key to solving them is Houston's forensic nurses team. It's the first in the state. KTRK - Huston, TX - by Christi Myers - May 17, 2010
What goes on inside the Florence Police Department's Crime Scene Unit and Evidence Division Below the main level of the Florence City-County Complex and isolated from the everyday hustle of government business is a room that breaks and makes criminal cases, exonerates and imprisons suspects and assures and casts doubt for jurors. SCnow.com - Pee Dee, SC - by Jamie Rogers - May 17, 2010
Coroner system ancient, but not universal in U.S. It was born during England's Middle Ages and still thrives in many parts of the United States, but the coroner's office in Sangamon County may die and come back to life in another form. The State Journal-Register - Springfield, IL - by Dean Olsen - May 15, 2010
C.S.I. Buenos Aires: Un-disappearing the Disappeared For years the nonprofit team of bone hunters and forensic investigators, with offices in Buenos Aires, the western Argentine city of Cordoba, and New York, have been working with human rights activists and judicial authorities in Argentina and around the world on a project that should give war criminals everywhere pause - they help undisappear the disappeared. The Huffington Post - by Joseph Huff-Hannon - May 14, 2010
Regional crime lab speeds up forensic evidence processing With the Tri-County Regional Crime Lab, forensic evidence is being processed faster, which could mean getting criminals off the streets and behind bars sooner. Star News - Elk River, MN - by Elizabeth Nelson - May 14, 2010
Are gunshot residue tests reliable? Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb said gunshot residue tests were not performed on Commissioner Nodine when he was questioned Sunday night in the death of Angel Downs. Newcomb says the test is not done in Alabama because it's unreliable. But officials at the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences beg to differ. WALA FOX10 - Mobile, AL - by Riccardo Montgomery - May 14, 2010
Scots Course For New Breed Of 'Cyber-CSIS' A Scottish university is to launch the first degree course in digital forensics to help tackle the growing menace of cyber crime and terrorism. Express.co.uk - London, UK - by Rod Mills - May 14, 2010
New Forensics Research Will Help Identify Remains Of Children New research from North Carolina State University is now giving forensic scientists a tool that can be used to help identify the remains of children, and may contribute to resolving missing-persons cases, among other uses. Identifying skeletal remains can be a key step in solving crimes, but traditionally it has been exceptionally difficult to identify the skeletal remains of children. MyNC.com - Wake County, NC - by David Hunt - May 13, 2010
The CSI Effect Since the debut of CSI, the TV show, in 2000, people have flooded real CSI classrooms and the job market. NewsChannel 10 - Amarillo, TX - by Megan Moore - May 13, 2010
Coating approach clears up fingerprints CSI notwithstanding, forensics experts cannot always retrieve fingerprints from objects, but a conformal coating process developed by Penn State professors can reveal hard-to-develop fingerprints on nonporous surfaces without altering the chemistry of the print. Live - University Park, PA - May 11, 2010
New Fingermark Analysis Technique Can Give Extra Suspect Details A new technique to analyse fingermarks from crime scenes has the potential to give crucial additional details about a suspect such their medications, diet and the time at which they accidentally left the fingermark. ScienceDaily - Rockville, MD - Adapted from materials provided by Sheffield Hallam University - May 11, 2010
Forensic cops on the cutting edge LISMORE'S crime scene officers aren't your traditional cops. Some still carry guns but it's their high-tech equipment and training that carries the real punch. The Northern Star
- Goonellabah, NSW - by Dominic Feain - May 10, 2010
DNA markers discourage theft Burglaries in the Manurewa suburb of Randwick Park were reduced by more than 60 percent during a recently completed trial of the theft deterrent product SelectaDNA. Science Alert - Australia & New Zealand - Press Release: SelectaDNA - May 10, 2010
State medical investigators prepare to move to new facility The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator is getting ready to move into a brand new facility that will change the way New Mexico does autopsies. KOB Eyewitness News 4
- Albuquerque, NM - by Antoinette Antonio - May 6, 2010
State Government to overhaul DNA after wrong rape conviction A scathing report has highlighted major flaws by Victoria Police and the Director of Prosecution in the use of DNA to convict the 22-year old man.The police and prosecutors were blinded by the CSI effect of DNA evidence, according to the report. Herald Sun - Australia - by Stephen McMahon - May 6, 2010
Unsolved mysteries in the CSPD's crime lab Three days earlier, Colorado Springs police had tried to put "closure" on a screwup that rocked their crime lab and cast doubt on the blood tests used to prove drunken driving. The Colorado Springs Independent - Colorado Springs, CO - by Anthony Lane - May 6, 2010
It is Crime Scene Investigating 101: someone broke into a home and you have to figure out how they got in and what they took. "We focus on the window why? Because the window is partially open, we also have a footwear impression," said Scott Campbell, an instructor, pointing to the window leading into the home. It's all a part of the National Forensic Science Technology Center in Largo. Law enforcement officers from around the U.S. come to the Bay Area to learn the basics of CSI. My Fox Tampa Bay - Tampa Bay, FL - by Alcides Segui - May 6, 2010
San Manuels donate vehicles to Sheriff's Department The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians on Tuesday donated a crime-scene investigation truck and a command center trailer to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, a contribution worth $255,000. San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops said with the state of the economy and budget cuts, the donation is much needed. San Bernardino Sun - San Bernardino, CA - by Melissa Pinion-Whitt - May 5, 2010
'CSI' house helping teach real-life techniques UW-Platteville students have built a real house to study fake crime scenes to learn how to gather evidence. The Forensic Investigation Crime House is the first such academic setting in Wisconsin. Rivertowns.net, Riverfalls, WI - by Shamane Mills, Wisconsin Public Radio - May 5, 2010
Beaufort County gets its own DNA lab, only the second in the state
The Sheriff's Office opened the doors Tuesday to its new forensics lab, an $894,000 facility that Sheriff P.J. Tanner said is needed to reduce the time investigators spend waiting for DNA evidence to be processed by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. SLED's lab in Columbia analyzes DNA evidence submitted by every law enforcement agency in the state. Beaufort Gazette - Beaufort, SC - by Patrick Donohue - May 4, 2010
Lab Fights Animal Crime The Humane Society of the United States showed off it’s Mobile Animal Crime Lab in Montgomery today. The vehicle is a veterinary clinic on wheels, equipped with the latest forensic tools to help officials investigate and prosecute dogfighters and animal abusers. ABC32 - WNCF TV - Montgomery, AL - by Lisa Blackwell - May 4, 2010
Mold found on IMPD DNA test swabs in gun investigations Program was once touted with 70% success rate, swabs growing mold spores make them virtually useless in court. The 20-month program just wrapped in March. 183 guns were swabbed with the new prototype DNA swabs. The guns were part of 161 criminal cases. 141 cases came back with mold.Indianapolis-Marion County forensic lab director Mike Medler says this is a large number to come back with mold.
WXIN-TV - Indianapolis, IN - by Kimberly King - April 29 , 2010
APD intensifies efforts on burglaries As part of a new crackdown on property crime, field investigators are now the first responders to burglary calls. They're specialized teams, who know the best ways to pull prints and collect other evidence. Eyewitness News 4 - Albuquerque, NM - Kayla Anderson - April 29, 2010
State crime lab deals sees increased cases, decreased funding The Utah State Crime Lab is dealing with a spike in cases submitted for analysis, while trying to grapple with a decreased budget. Over the past few months, state crime lab officials said they have seen a 50-percent increase in case work. Among those are cold cases. The state crime lab says it's seen not only more evidence come in, but new technology has led to a second look for many cold cases. Fox 13 News - Salt Lake City, UT - by Ben Winslow - April 28, 2010
Ripon crime lab faces probe A state-run crime lab in Ripon that serves law enforcement agencies in five Central Valley counties is under investigation after a discrepancy between recorded weights of methamphetamine evidence samples was discovered earlier this month. recordnet.com - Stockton, CA - by Christian Burkin - April 23, 2010
Recycled waste toner powder to aid police investigations A United Kingdom recycling expert has finally solved one of the recycling industries biggest mysteries: how can waste toner powder be recycled? While empty printer and photocopier cartridges can be reused or broken down to recover the metals and plastics, currently all forms of toner powder are land filled or incinerated. This is estimated globally at around 2700 metric tonnes per month. Angus Carnie of 300 Recycling recently noted that he has had a fantastic response from all over the world for his solution to reuse the toner powder as forensic finger print powder. Solid Waste & Recycling - Canada - April 19, 2010
Work of real-life CSI vital but less exciting than on TV Watching one of several CSI programs on TV, one might think crime scene investigation is a glamorous career filled with quickly solved cases, fast cars, stiletto heels and gunfire. Reality is much slower and less glitzy, say real-life crime scene technicians Ann Schramm and Leggie Boone of the Winter Haven Police Department, but the job is rewarding and important, nonetheless. NewsChief.com - Winter Haven, FL - by Donna Kelly - April 18, 2010
DNA caseload backs up as Michigan State Police Crime Lab turnaround stretches six months or longer "It's not like the TV show 'CSI' ," said Saginaw Police Detective Jim Vondette in reference to the CBS' Crime Scene Investigation, "one hour and we have DNA back." The wait for DNA analysis is closer to 8,760 hours, a year or longer, Vondette said. The Saginaw News - Saginaw, MI - by Gus Burns - April 18, 2010
Mandatory rape kit tests pushed; AG says DNA evidence is sitting on shelves statewide But in the view of Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the failure to submit a rape kit to the crime lab for testing represents a lost opportunity for justice -- whether it's a chance to bust a rapist still at large, or to exonerate an innocent person who's been wrongfully accused. As many as 4,000 rape kits containing DNA evidence from victims of sex crimes are sitting on police department shelves statewide, but still have not gone to a crime lab for testing, Madigan said. The failure of police departments to test so many rape kits "is such an indictment against law enforcement in how they treat crimes in which children and women are the victims," Madigan said. Belleville News-Democrat - Belleville, IL - by MIike Fitzgerald - April 18, 2010
Board backs plan for crime lab The Douglas County Board remains committed to a multimillion-dollar renovation and relocation project for the county's crime lab, despite continuing challenges to the lab's reputation. Douglas County Sheriff Tim Dunning recently received the board's approval to use up to $2.5 million of forfeited drug funds to relocate the lab and the county's K-9 units. Both units will be moved from the Sheriff's Office at 156th Street and West Maple Road to the former Thomas Fitzgerald Veterans Home, a few blocks to the east. The Omaha World Herald - Omaha, NE - by John Ferak - April 17, 2010
Coroner's office changes its procedure Beginning Monday, the Mahoning County coroner's office will no longer send investigators to death scenes. It will send a body-removal service, and its investigation will begin the next business day, Dr. David M. Kennedy, county coroner, announced Friday. Youngstown Vindicator - Youngstown, OH -by Peter H. Milliken - April 17, 2010
Aerial images in forensic studies "Hyperspectral imaging" analyses visible and infrared images taken by aircraft and detects changes in vegetation caused by nutrients released from decomposing bodies. Forensic archaeologists from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, tested the technique at a Quebec safari park and detected differences in chlorophyll content of plants growing on known burial sites. The findings, presented at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences annual meeting in February, were reported in New Scientist. Horticulture Week - London - April 16, 2010
Police lab improvements to help decrease property crime The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Crime Lab has used a $1.1 million federal stimulus grant to fund a new property crime investigation effort that includes laboratory improvements. The new program, called the DNA Property Crime Initiative, will nearly double the number of employees assigned to DNA testing at the Sheriff's Office Crime Lab, police said. KSTP-TV - Minneapolis, MN - by Colleen Mahoney and Jake Kittilstad - April 15, 2010
Forensic sciences embrace the digital age Imagine carrying out a post-mortem where you never have to cut into the human body - forensic scientists are making this a reality with the introduction of the virtopsy. laboratorynews.co.uk - April 14, 2010
Iredell Sheriff's Office obtains a new tool for CSI The Iredell County Sheriff's Office just obtained a DeltaSphere-3000 3D SceneVision program that produces a 360-degree view of any scene. The $51,000 price tag was paid for through seized drug monies, said Iredell Sheriff Phil Redmond. Statesville Record and Landmark - Statesville, NC - by Donna Swicegood - April 13, 2010
Crime scene cleanup: A dirty job, but they do it "We suit up, wear respirators -- we're covered head to toe," said Morris, who expanded his Cambridge-based cleaning business to fill a void in the domestic services industry. "We don't do windows; we are not a house-cleaning company." Delmarva Daily Times - Salisbury, MD - by Deborah Gates - April 11, 2010
Fighting the 'CSI' effect Every week for nearly 10 years, millions of viewers have tuned in to "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," TV's most popular police procedural show. Since the first airing, police and prosecutors have laughed about the show's over-the-top crime-solving methods and fictional high-tech gadgetry. But with more and more juries demanding fingerprints, DNA and other forensic evidence before they'll find a suspect guilty, those in law enforcement say they have to take the so-called "CSI effect" seriously, and fight against it. Bucks County Courier Times - PA - by Laurie Mason Schroeder and Ben Finley - April 11, 2010
California DNA Data Bank Has Linked Thousands of Crimes to Violent Criminals The DNA Data Bank's 12,000th match was made at the state DNA database facility in Richmond. On average, the DNA Data Bank receives 300 hits per month. In March, the Data Bank had 405 DNA matches, the most ever in a single month. Imperial Valley News - Yuma, AZ - April 10, 2010
S.F. crime lab's new woes - army of feral cats
San Francisco's police crime lab, already plagued by a drug-skimming scandal, is quietly dealing with another pesky problem - cats. A multiplying army of feral felines has moved into a lab hangar at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard where the Police Department stores evidence from old crimes. The cats have been sleeping, eating rodents and going to the bathroom around evidence items and police files, some of them boxed up, some out in the open. San Francisco Chronicle - San Francisco, CA - by Jaxon Van Derbeken - April 4, 2010
Twins' DNA foils police Police found a DNA sample at a crime scene only for their investigation to stall when they discovering it belongs to one of a pair of identical twins. telegraph.co.uk - April 3, 2010
Pocono Medical Center nurses specialize in sex assault forensic examination Sexual Assault Forensic Examination nurses play a unique role in caring for patients who have been sexually abused. Their training prepares them for physical examination, verification of injuries, forensic evidence collection and preservation and documentation of the incident.
Pocono Record - Stroudsburg, PA - April 2, 2010
Sheriff's Office gets new fingerprint machine The Henderson County Sheriff's Office unveiled a new piece of technology Thursday that will speed up identifying and eventually prosecuting criminals. Thanks to a grant, the Sheriff's Office has bought a forensic fingerprint station that allows deputies to identify fingerprints in-house, decreasing the turnaround time from the State Bureau of Investigation by up to two years.
Times-News - Hendersonville, NC - by John Harbin - April 2, 2010
Convicted Neb. CSI chief fired by county sheriff Douglas County fired its chief crime scene investigator Wednesday, just over a week after he was convicted of planting evidence during a 2006 murder investigation. Fremonttribune.com - Fremont, NE - by Josh Funk - March 31, 2010
Cutting-edge laser technology for crime labs developed by FIU research team Determining the precise composition of a substance with LIBS can provide important evidence in legal proceedings. Trace elemental analysis for comparisons of glass, paint chips, soils, paper, ink on paper and metal fragments has been shown to be highly effective. However, the instrumentation required for this kind of analysis in forensic comparisons has been beyond the reach of many forensic laboratories. PhysOrg.com - by Susan Feinberg - March 29, 2010
US judge urges skepticism on forensic evidence In a move that some legal scholars said may be the first by a federal judge, Gertner has ordered defense lawyers and prosecutors not to assume that evidence routinely accepted in the courts for decades is reliable. Defense lawyers, she wrote, should vigorously challenge fingerprints, bullet identification, handwriting, and other trace evidence, and prosecutors should be prepared to show it is valid. The Boston Globe - Boston, MA - by Jonathan Saltzman - March 29, 2010
Jurors fail to question DNA evidence The Australian Institute of Criminology research also found that the less jurors know about the science of DNA, the more likely they are to reach a guilty verdict. Professor Jane Goodman-Delahunty from the Charles Sturt University says jurors are placing too much confidence in DNA evidence without really understanding the technology. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation - by Lindy Kerin - March 29, 2010
Two bills seek more DNA tests On the theory that more is better, a pair of bills have been introduced in the General Assembly that would significantly expand the number of people the state genetically profiles. Supporters say more profiles mean more chances to catch the guilty and clear the innocent. But civil liberties advocates say the changes would lead to a "monumental" expansion of the number of people profiled, threaten the privacy of the innocent and clog a DNA testing system that is already having trouble keeping up with convict DNA testing. The Providence Journal - Providence, RI - by John Hill - March 28, 2010
Morris College Turns CSI with New Forensics Center A new forensics lab on the Morris College campus will provide students with hands-on experience and the sheriff's department with local labs, organizers say. wltx.com - Columbia, SC - by Ashley Yore - March 26, 2010
Vernon cop's suspension is upheld for sending crime-scene photo to friend An appeals court has upheld the 30-day suspension of a Vernon Township policeman who transmitted a photo of a murder-suicide investigation to a woman whose brother later distributed it to others via a cell phone. The Star-Ledger - by Joe Moszczynski - March 24, 2010
Swiss robot performs virtual autopsies, preserves bodies digitally The University of Bern in Switzerland is using a robot known as the Virtobot to not only study dead bodies virtually, but create a digital copy of the cadaver so that it might be studied years down the line. The Virtobot uses MRI technology and computer topography software to get a complete look at a body without having to open it up. DVICE - New York, NY - by Kevin Hall - March 22, 2010
Brianna Denison Murder: Will Son's DNA Convict Father? Accused killer and rapist James Biela refused to give police a DNA sample, so they took DNA from his son instead. Now a Washoe County, Nev. judge has ruled the son's DNA can indeed be used by prosecutors to try to tie Biela to the January, 2008 murder of 19-year-old Brianna Denison, who vanished while sleeping on a friend's couch near the University of Nevada-Reno campus. CBSNews.com - by Carlin DeGuerin Miller - March 22, 2010
Breaking the code Hidden within our cells is a mark no criminal can mask. It's coiled in saliva. In strands of hair. In sweat. It is our DNA. Advances in technology have provided a way to connect even microscopic traces of DNA at a crime scene to a suspect. That is what makes DNA such a powerful tool for law enforcement. Napa Valley Register - Napa, CA - by Alisha Wyman - March 22, 2010
CSI: Felines! Cat fur DNA busts criminals Cat fur sticks to everything, including criminals, and DNA obtained from that fur can place a perp at the scene of a crime. Fido may keep criminals away in the first place, but Fluffy can help the police bust them. As any cat owner knows, felines shed a lot of fur, and that fur - which clings to the skin, clothing and shoes of visitors - can be used as forensic evidence. Mother Nature Network - by Stephanie Rogers - March 20, 2010
Hand bacteria may help solve criminal cases Forensic scientists have so far traced criminal through their finger prints left on the stuff they touched. Soon the investigators will also be able to use the bacteria left behind after touching a surface to catch criminals, a new study states. TheMoneyTimes - by Jaspreet Virk - March 16, 2010
Television crime dramas distort our view of the real thing Researchers at Purdue University have found that people who watch crime dramas on TV are much more likely to have a distorted perception of the criminal justice system. The problem is that shows such as CSI, Law & Order and so on have a vivid air of reality to them. These popular shows portray the work of crime scene investigators and forensic experts in a way that seems realistic and educational. DailyGleaner.com - by Chris McCormick - March 15, 2010
Backlog of DNA testing stalls lab More than a year after an internal audit highlighted widespread deficiencies within the Baltimore Police Department's crime lab, the division has a backlog of thousands of analysis requests. The problem has forced city prosecutors to drop or postpone cases Baltimore Sun - Baltimore, MD - by Tricia Bishop - March 14, 2010
Crime scene photos request sparks privacy debate Using the Georgia Open Records Act, a Hustler magazine writer recently requested crime-scene photos of Meredith Emerson, the Buford hiker who was stripped naked and decapitated in the North Georgia woods in 2008. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Atlanta, GA - by Bill Rankin - March 14, 2010
Sheriff's Office gets crime scene van to help with investigations Thanks to the generosity of some local entities, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office now boasts a fully-outfitted crime scene van which will allow the agency to more easily work major investigations. Palestine Herald-Press - Palestine, TX - by Paul Stone - March 13, 2010
Police Forensic Evidence Found in Trash Container Police chiefs in Helsinki have been taken aback by investigation evidence recovered from a trash container outside their headquarters. Passers-by found forensic evidence such as emergency centre tapes, suspect interview data, hair and blood stained clothes. YLE News - March 10, 2010
New crime scene vehicle aiding state police in Bowling Green
Kentucky State Police Post 3 is able to fit its investigative capabilities into the bed of a truck, with the arrival of a new Crime Scene Response Vehicle. The Daily News - Bowling Green, KY - by Justin Story - March 10, 2010
Madison Police to ask for another mobile crime scene unit Madison's Police Chief, Larry Muncey, is presenting a request to the city council Monday night to buy another truck and equipment to be used at crime scenes. Local drug dealers will be supporting this vehicle and not taxpayers. WAFF48NEWS - Huntsville, AL - by Eric Sollman - March 8, 2010
Mitochondrial DNA's Surprising Variability Could Complicate Forensic and Genealogical Analyses The implications for forensic science are clear. Right now if the mitochondrial DNA from a crime scene sperm sample does not match the mitochondrial DNA from a suspect's cheek swab, the suspect is ruled out as the perpetrator. But Vogelstein’s work shows that even if the mitochondrial DNA from two tissues doesn't precisely match, it might still be from the same individual. "Forensic scientists should be cautious when excluding suspects on the basis of mitochondrial DNA evidence," says Vogelstein. HealthNewsDigest.com - March 8, 2010
UHV unveils new forensic psychology graduate program The University of Houston-Victoria will begin offering a new master of arts degree in forensic psychology this fall after recent approval by the University of Houston System Board of Regents. Victoria Advocate - Victoria, TX - March 6, 2010
Other body farms struggled with location The four places in the United States that serve as scientific repositories for decomposing human bodies are all guarded by 8- or 10-foot-high chain-link fences topped with razor or barbed wire to discourage would-be vandals and limit scavenger activity. Grand Junction Sentinel - Grand Junction, CO - by Mike Wiggins - March 6, 2010
Tissue differences within us track cancer, hinder forensics A new study of mitochondrial DNA indicates that significant differences between tissues can be associated with diseases like cancer, and may have implications for forensics. Ars Technica - by John Timmer - March 4, 2010
The real CSI Although the OPP Forensic Identification Services facility has a bomb suit like the one Jeremy Renner sports in the Oscar-winning film The Hurt Locker, and a blood spatter room similar to what Showtime's Dexter works in, art doesn't always imitate life when it comes to solving crimes. tbnewswatch.com - Thunder Bay, Canada - by Jodi Lundmark - March 3, 2010
3D laser scanner technology gives Glynn County police 360 degree view of crime scenes This new form of forensic technology is a first for Georgia Glynn County jurors can soon climb stairs at murder scenes, examine the evidence from several angles and trace the steps of a suspect, all in the relaxed comfort of the chairs in the jury box. Glynn County police have the cutting-edge forensic technology to take jurors on virtual tours of the scenes of homicides and other crimes. The Florida Times-Union - Jacksonville, FL - by Teresa Stepzinski - March 1, 2010
Missouri Senate bill would expand DNA sampling The Missouri Senate advanced a provision to a bill last week that would let police take deoxyribonucleic acid samples, also known as DNA, from robbery suspects. Police are already required by Missouri law to collect DNA samples from adults arrested for burglary, sex offenses and other violent crimes. St. Joseph News-Press - St. Joseph, MO - by Nadia Thacker - March 1, 2010
Sheriff Ortiz introduces next generation technology in crime scene investigations to Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz introduced some of the latest technology in crime fighting and investigations to Bexar County law enforcement and District Attorney departments this month. A new 3D laser scanner can be used for crime scene investigations, vulnerability and threat assessments, post-blast investigations, police action inquiries, accident investigations and more. San Antonio Headlines Examiner - San Antonio, TX - by Jack Dennis - February 27, 2010
CBI getting forensics help The Colorado Bureau of Investigations office in Grand Junction is getting help dealing with a backlog of forensic cases. The office is getting four new positions as the agency reorganizes staff. Some of the new staffers are retiring from other CBI offices. The Mesa County Sheriff's Office also has a new DNA analyst to help the CBI with its backlog, and the CBI is getting a machine that can test 60 DNA samples at once. The Denver Post - Denver, CO - February 23, 2010
Forensic Center to Begin Autopsy Services 2/22/10 The Permian Basin Forensic Center is gearing up to offer new services, bringing business closer to home. The center is an extension of Southeast Texas Forensic Center. Today, representatives for the Permian Basin center gave a presentation to commissioners showing the benefits of using their facility to perform autopsies, instead of sending bodies to Tarrant County. CBS 7 News - Odessa, TX - by Lindsay Martin - February 22, 2010
Commissioners hope to expand medical examiner office Lubbock County Commissioners ready to solicit other counties as clients for what they hope will become a regional medical examiner's office. Contract proposals are now approved for prospective clients. myfoxlubbock.com - Lubbock, TX - February 22, 2010
Protecting DNA evidence Law enforcement officers often get DNA evidence at a crime scene but they can't connect it to a specific suspect. The senate is moving to preserve their ability to finally prosecute someone because the statute of limitations runs out before a suspect is identified. The situation has led to a strange procedure in which prosecutors have filed charges against the DNA, calling it "John Doe." The step keeps the case alive indefinitely missourinet.com - by Bob Priddy - February 22, 2010
State's DNA database helps fight crime Since 2000, DNA samples from South Dakota's database entered into CODIS have scored 86 hits. Of those hits, 36 were related to crimes in other states, and 50 involved crimes in South Dakota, according to Attorney General Marty Jackley. The evolution of DNA's use in criminal investigations in South Dakota has kept pace with advances in technology and state law, but it has taken time, according to Craig Price, a supervisory special agent for the Division of Criminal Investigation. Rapid City Journal - Rapid City, SD - by Andrea J. Cook - February 20, 2010
Forensic 'body farm' location upsets Mesa State-area residents A college's plan to place a so-called "body farm" of decomposing human corpses for study near a growing residential neighborhood is irking residents who fear they'll be close to odors and disease. Officials at Mesa State College in western Colorado say they understand residents' concerns, and they're trying to reassure them they have nothing to worry about. College officials say the facility would help forensics students prepare for criminal investigations by studying donated bodies to see how they decompose. It would be the first "body farm" in the region and one of a handful in the country
The Durango Herald - Durango, CO - February 12, 2010
DNA inspires career in forensics An urge to make sense of deoxyribonucleic acid, better known as DNA, compelled Shelley-Anne Laffin to become a real-life crime scene investigator. But the 27-year-old says the job and the qualifications required to do it are not as glamorous as those depicted in the hit US television series CSI. Sydney Morning Herald - Sidney, AU - by Tanya Ryan-Segger - February 10, 2010
Kansas City Police Get New Forensic Lab - Facility Will Allow Cops To Process Vehicles Kansas City police unveiled a new state-of-the-art garage during a ceremony on Tuesday. The garage isn't for fixing cars, but for solving crimes. Police will use the 7,100-square-foot forensic lab on Front Street to analyze forensic evidence that is left on cars and trucks that are involved in crimes. KCTV - Kansas City, MO - February 9, 2010
The CSI Effect CSI is a hit along with its spin offs CSI: Miami and CSI: New York, but that successful formula of mixing drama with high tech crime fighting creates a problem for real life prosecutors. Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls says jurors may have no experience with the criminal justice system other than what they see on television. That can lead to unrealistic expectations about how a real prosecution proceeds. CBS42.com - by Mike McClanahan - February 9, 2010
New crime lab puts science in hands of police Two roads, one path. Claflin University wants to offer its students the best. The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety wants to make the community safer. Together, the two unlikely partners, an educational institution and a law enforcement agency, have teamed up to achieve that goal together. "We are really approaching the culmination of what was really started years ago," Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Chief Wendell Davis said. "We are six months from that now, because we are ready to complement the molecular science building with a free-standing forensic lab." The Times and Democrat - Orangeburg, SC - by Richard Walker - February 7, 2010
Keeping the evidence safe, orderly Deep inside the Tinley Park police station is a room filled with items that one day may break the Lane Bryant mass murder case. Evidence from the store, from victims and items collected throughout the two-year investigation are safely stored in a separate, locked evidence vault - even the police chief doesn't step foot inside. One woman is charged with keeping the crucial pieces of the investigation safe and organized. Southtown Star - Chicago, IL - by Becky Schlikerman - January 31, 2010
Western Pennsylvania schools turn to forensics to interest students in science Sam Maslaney and Raquel Malago work on a spatter test during the class. Franklin Regional senior Deanna Pulice is looking forward to an internship this spring at the Westmoreland County coroner's office. Her tasks will consist primarily of answering phones and filing paperwork, Pulice said, but she will get the opportunity to go to crime scenes and see an autopsy.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Pittsburgh, PA - by Amy Crawford - January 31, 2010
Policing the crime labs The incident raises the question: Who polices the labs the police use? No governmental body, no state or federal agency oversees the forensic labs that run tests on DNA, fingerprints, ballistics, even on the blood of drunken driving suspects. North County Times - San Diego, CA - by Teri Figueroa - January 30, 2010
Woodbury County investigator appointed to forensics post A local crime scene investigator has been appointed to a prominent post in an international forensics organization, officials say. The Woodbury County Sheriff's Office announced Deputy Scott R. Lanagan was recently appointed to the five-member Crime Scene Certification Board of the International Association for Identification. Sioux City Journal - Sioux City, IA - by Molly Montag - January 30, 2010
Evidence On Hold - DNA Samples, Fingerprints, Rape Kits Wait Months As State Crime Lab Struggles With Backlog DNA analysis has revolutionized crime-solving. But heavy backlogs have become the norm at Connecticut's once-renowned forensic laboratory, leading to long delays that critics say put the public at risk. The laboratory now has a backlog of 10,600 DNA samples from convicted offenders that haven't been processed and entered into the databank. The Hartford Courant - Hartford CT -By Dave Altimari and Matthew Kauffman - January 30, 2010
California forensics expert named to head Monroe County's crime lab A veteran forensic scientist from California, Janet Anderson-Seaquist, has been named administrator of the Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory. Anderson-Seaquist, who previously headed the crime lab for the Ventura County, California sheriff's department, was lured to Monroe County in part by the state-of-the-art lab now being built in downtown Rochester. Democrat and Chronicle.com - by Steve Orr - January 28, 2010
Backlog woes continue at HPD lab The Houston Police Department has developed a backlog of more than 300 cases in which firearm forensics have not been performed, the third major area of evidence awaiting analysis to build up as the crime lab works to achieve full legitimacy after being engulfed in scandal for years. Despite years of effort aimed at cleaning up the problems that led to the wrongful convictions of at least four men, backlogs for thousands of cases also have developed in rape kits and fingerprint analysis.
Houston Chronicle - Houston, TX - by Bradley Olson - January 26, 2010
New Rule Allows Use of Partial DNA Matches New York has become the latest of a handful of jurisdictions to permit a controversial use of DNA evidence that gives law enforcement authorities a sophisticated means to track down criminals. Under a state rule approved in December, DNA found at a crime scene that does not exactly match that of someone in the state's DNA database can still be used to pursue suspects if the DNA closely resembles that of someone on file. The New York Times - by Jeremy W. Peters - January 24, 2010
Forensic Science Center solves crimes Marshall University's Forensic Science Center is working with three metropolitan areas testing DNA evidence found at crime scenes. The work of Marshall University has helped lead to multiple arrests. West Virginia Public Broadcasting - by Clark Davis - January 20, 2010
Stand down Grissom; new $85 million 'CSI San Diego' unveiled If you are a fan of the popular crime scene investigation programs on television like "CSI: Las Vegas," "CSI: Miami" or "CSI: New York," you should know that the facilities depicted in those award-winning shows are nothing like the new real-life forensic center that serves San Diego County. The opening of San Diego County's new $85 million Medical Examiner & Forensic Center on Overland Drive in Kearney Mesa makes all those Hollywood wannabes pale in comparison. The Fallbrook Village News - Fallbrook, CA -by Debbie Ramsey - January 14, 2010
Assault: Evidence collection improving with time Forensic nursing became a recognized specialization in 1995, when the American Nurses Association saw the need, according to forensic nursing pioneer Cari Caruso. Since then, the specialization has taken off, improving how trace evidence is retrieved from patients. Herald Bulletin Staff Writer - Anderson, IN - by Christina M. Wright - January 9, 2010
DNA solves just one in 150 crimes Of the 4.9 million crimes recorded by the police each year, just 33,000 - or 0.67 per cent - are solved directly as a result of a DNA match, according to Chris Sims, who speaks for chief constables on the issue. The figures will further fuel concerns over the expansion of the national DNA database, the largest of its kind in the world, and its true effectiveness. Telegraph.co.uk - by Tom Whitehead - January 5, 2010
Permian Basin Forensic Center Close to Opening Their Doors The Permian Basin Forensics Center is getting closer to opening up for business in Odessa. They have also been interviewing potential employees and have already hired a Chief Pathologist and Office Manager.
NewsWest 9 - Odessa, TX - December 31, 2009
GBI Crime Lab set to close in Columbus The economy is taking a toll on local crime-fighting efforts. Columbus Police Chief Ricky Boren confirms to News Leader 9 that the GBI Crime Lab located in the city is now scheduled to close in the spring. WTVM, Columbus GA - by Lindsey Connell - December 31, 2009
Lake County task force gets 360 view of crime scene The device, manufactured by 3rdTech Inc., of Durham, N.C., takes up to 9 million measurements in a 360-degree panorama of an area in 12 minutes. Those measurements are fed into a computer, which creates a 3D model of the area, viewable from any angle and completely interactive for courtroom use. Daily Herald, Chicago, IL - by Tony Gordon - December 28, 2009
SANE nurses get forensic equipment Central Texas Medical Center (CTMC) recently received forensic camera equipment, presented to CTMC,s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) on Dec. 17 at the Hays Caldwell Women's Center. The gift was made possible by Grande Communications employees, the Hays District Attorney's office, the San Marcos Police Department, the Hays County Sheriff's Office and Hays-Caldwell Women's Center staff, volunteers and board members. San Marcos Local News, Texas - by Hap - December 22, 2009
Justices Revisit Rule Requiring Lab Testimony But now, in an unusual move, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on Jan. 11 in a new case that raises questions about how lower courts may carry out its six-month-old precedent. Many state attorneys general and prosecutors are hoping the court will overrule its decision in the earlier case, Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts, before it can take root, saying it is a costly, disruptive and dangerous misstep. The New York Times - by Adam Liptak - December 19, 2009
Report Condemns Police Lab Oversight The New York State Police's supervision of a major crime laboratory was so poor that it overlooked evidence of pervasively shoddy forensics work, allowing an analyst to go undetected for 15 years as he falsified test results and compromised nearly one-third of his cases, an investigation by the state's inspector general has found. The New York Times - by Jeremy W. Peters - December 17, 2009
Hackers Brew Self-Destruct Code to Counter Police Forensics Hackers have released an application designed to thwart a Microsoft-packaged forensic toolkit used by law enforcement agencies to examine a suspect’s hard drive during a raid. WIRED - by Kim Zetter - December 14, 2009
Lufkin Police train on forensic mapping equipment Forensic mapping sounds like something from your favorite crime drama on TV - but its actually a new tool at the Lufkin Police Department's disposal. KTRE 9 - Lufkin, TX - by Morgan Thomas - December 4, 2009
HPD fingerprint unit is focus of criminal probe A Houston Police Department official confirmed Wednesday that a criminal investigation is under way into alleged wrongdoing at HPD's fingerprinting comparison unit, which is under scrutiny following an audit accusing it of shoddy work. Houston Chronicle - Houston, TX - by Moises Mendoza and Bradley Olson - December 2, 2009
Crime Scene Measurements Can Be Taken from a Single Image Two researchers from the University of Salamanca have developed a procedure to enable forensic police to extract metric data from crime scenes using just a single photograph. Their proposal, published this month in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, makes it possible to reconstruct a crime scene in 3D. ScienceDaily.com - December 2, 2009
CSI classroom: Humber College unveils forensic lab On Monday, Humber College unveiled its Centre for Justice Leadership, featuring a state-of-the-art forensic lab and classroom capable of housing a mock crime scene for student analysis. TheStar.com - Toronto, Canada - by Emily Mathieu - December 1, 2009
Solving crimes in the lab Chula Vista's police crime lab has received national accreditation from the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. The San Diego Union-Tribune - November 28, 2009
A forensic study of human death through the life of insects A Cleveland entomologist is studying insects collected from the bodies found in Anthony Sowell's duplex. 'I follow where the bugs lead me. Their lives tell a story about death.' Los Angeles Times - by P.J. Huffstutter - November 28, 2009
Videogames find ways to help real CSI solve crimes Soon, real criminal investigation teams will be using videogame technology to help forensic scientists collaborate virtually to re-create what happened at the scene of the crime. Reuters - by John Gaudiosi - November 27, 2009
State lab still behind on DNA testing - but is no longer focused on reducing backlog Two years ago, the State Police Crime Lab came under scrutiny after a state-ordered investigation revealed that more than 16,000 DNA samples, some dating back to the 1980s, were stacked in cold storage and had not been analyzed. That backlog, characterized by the state to be of "crisis proportions," led to the firing or resignation of three lab employees, including the administrator and director. In a shift, the lab, located in Maynard, no longer is focused on reducing that backlog to zero, officials said.
The Boston Globe - by Brian R. Ballou - November 27, 2009
Police nab bad guys just like CSI The recovered firearm was then test-fired by firearms technicians. The markings made by the firearm on cartridges were digitized, entered into a ballistics imaging system provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and compared to the markings of the cartridges found at the crime scene. The Orange County Register - Santa Ana, CA - by Denisse Salazar - November 26, 2009
Police department's evidence policy lacks money guidelines The policy used for evidence storage and property management by the Lynn Haven Police Department is much shorter and lacks details on several provisions found in other departments' evidence storage policies, a News Herald analysis has found. News Herald - Panama City, FL -by Matt Dixon - November 26, 2009
Crime scene investigator says he 'borrowed' drug bust money The former DuPage County chief crime scene investigator has been sentenced to 30 days in the jail after agreeing to repay almost $10,000 in confiscated drug bust money he claimed he had "borrowed." Chicago Breaking News - Tribune - Chicago, IL - by Art Barnum - November 26, 2009
The reality of rape kit testing in southern Illinois It is a concern nationwide, the growing number of untested rape kits in storage. Some date back more than 20 years. A spokesperson for the Illinois State Police Forensic Lab says more than 540 DNA cases are backlogged in their system right now, some of which are rape kits. KFVS Channel 12 Heartland News - by Julia Bruck - November 19, 2009
University of Wisconsin-Platteville building new crime lab UW-P has received a grant for a new digital forensic analysis laboratory. UW-P police officer Jason Williams and criminal justice professor Joe Lefevre say the lab will be used for the recovery and analysis of digital data in criminal investigations. Exponent Online - by Ross McAbee - November 19, 2009
Somerset County's CSI lab -- bad news for the bad guys The county's lab is a far cry from the lab bathed in blue-tinted lighting featured on the TV show. But while it may not have all the technology that exists on TV, it does have the equipment and manpower to process crime scenes and help make Somerset a place where criminals intentionally avoid, Forrest said. nj.com - by Amanda Peterka - November 18, 2009
Using relative's DNA cracks crime, but privacy questions raised Using DNA to catch criminals has become common, but police in Denver, Colorado, this year demonstrated how the practice can be taken to a new level: They tracked down a suspect not through his DNA, but through that of his brother. CNN - by Jim Spellman - November 18, 2009
CSI Unit To Move Into 15,000-Sq.-Foot Facility Drug seizure money will be used to pay for renovations and new equipment at the new Douglas County CSI lab, according to Sheriff Tim Dunning. The new facility, which was approved Tuesday by the Douglas County Board, is 10 times larger than the current one. KETV - Omaha, NE - November 17, 2009
Rape cases sit idle Forensic evidence in rape cases is piling up in police departments across the country without being tested, according to a new study. Working for the Justice Department, a group of North Carolina researchers found that evidence had not been analyzed in nearly 20 percent of unsolved rape cases that have forensic evidence. That totals tens of thousands of cases. Las Vegas Sun - November 15, 2009
Thousands of Rape Kits Wait to be Test A five month CBS News Investigation of 24 cities and states has found that more than 6,000 rape kits from active investigations are waiting months, even years, to be tested. CBS News - by Laura Strickler - November 10, 2009
Teachers condemned for staging mock crime scene The lifelike mock-up of a crime scene, which was sectioned off with police tape, was maintained for four days without pupils knowing it was fake, as part of a "problem-solving week" about policing at Foxhill Primary School in Sheffield. The apparently injured teacher wore a plaster and at an assembly the children were told there had been a break-in and that she was struck over the head. Telegraph.co.uk - November 10, 2009
Microsoft Forensics Tool For Law Enforcement Leaked Online A forensics tool built by Microsoft exclusively for law enforcement officials worldwide was posted to a file-sharing site, leaving the USB-based tool at risk of falling into the wrong hands. DarkReading - By Kelly Jackson Higgins - November 9, 2009
Forensic Nurses Week - Debut Year While many people think the solution to violence occurs in police stations and courtrooms, there is a dedicated group of nurses who understand "Violence is a Health Care Problem". During the week of November 9-13, 2009 the International Association of Forensic Nurses will celebrate Forensic Nurses Week. Forensic Nurses are on the front line making sure victims of crime receive compassionate health care, while vital forensic evidence is collected and preserved.
Earthtimes.org - November 4, 2009
Digital Forensics Magazine Launched 1st November Digital Forensics Magazine, new online resource for the digital forensics specialist, supporting the professional computer security industry, launched its premier edition, 1st November 2009. Its publishers, TR Media, welcome readers to the new online magazine which can be found at http://content.yudu.com/A1gr30/Issue1/
PR.com - November 3, 2009
Crime Fighting Is Getting A New Take On Crime Scene Cleaning His Cardigan based company Ultima Cleaning already offers an extensive range of services covering pest control, commercial kitchen cleaning, carpet cleaning, fire and flood damage cleaning, hypodermic needle collection and office cleaning.
But crime scene cleaning is providing Ben with a niche market opportunity enabling him to expand the business considerably after winning contracts from police authorities around the UK. This service can range from clearing up after road traffic accidents or murder scenes, to extensive cleaning and sanitising operations following natural deaths when the body may have decomposed.
The Gov Monitor - November 1, 2009
Mercyhurst College unveils human anatomy and forensics lab in North East Mercyhurst College opened a new anatomy and forensics laboratory, including the college's first cadaver lab, on Friday. Pennsylvania's only board-certified forensic anthropologists are on staff at Mercyhurst and teach undergraduate- and graduate-level programs in forensic anthropology, the scientific collection, processing and analysis of human remains. Dennis Dirkmaat and Steven Symes, with help from students, handle an average of 100 forensic cases each year, including high-profile murder investigations. They recovered victims from the crash of Continental Connections Flight 3407 near Buffalo in February.
GoErie.com - by Valerie Myers - October 31, 2009
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Could Start Charging For Crime Lab Use State budget cuts have reached law enforcement. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation wants to start charging local police departments to test crime scene evidence. It could cost local governments tens of thousands of dollars.
NewsChannel5.com - October 30, 2009
Texas Department of Public Safety to hire more workers for computer forensics The Texas Department of Public Safety will hire more employees to help trim a backlog of computer-related investigations. A statement today from DPS says the goal is to decrease the time it takes to conduct forensic computer examinations, especially involving alleged child pornography.
The Houston Chronicle - Houston, TX - October 28, 2009
Solving crimes with simply the snap of a finger Investigators called Alexandria police, who had a gadget straight out of a "CSI" spinoff: a mobile fingerprint reader. Officers got to the cemetery with the device, scanned the dead man's fingers and identified him within three minutes. Washington Post - Washington, DC - by Allison Klein - October 25, 2009
Kansas Bureau of Investigations fights backlog of DNA tests A cramped basement laboratory below a former Topeka school is a far cry from the Hollywood image of forensic crime labs portrayed on television. In fact, the Kansas Bureau of Investigations' crime lab where Carey Sisson processes DNA samples looks more like a high school biology lab than something out of one of the latest "CSI" shows. Combine the quarters with less than competitive wages and an insurmountable workload, and it is clear why Kansas is having trouble retaining cutting-edge scientists. The Topeka Capital-Journal - Topeka, KS, by Kevin Elliott - October 25, 2009
Seminole County crime lab helps Florida Department of Law Enforcement reduce wait on DNA tests Crime-scene technicians in Seminole County used to collect evidence, send it to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab, and then sit back and wait for results of DNA testing. On average, it took 234 days--almost eight months--to get the results. But aggressive steps taken by the FDLE to speed up the process and an experiment by Seminole and three other counties are putting the DNA results in the hands of investigators in an average of 53 days. Orlando Sentinel - Orlando, FL, by Gary Taylor - October 23, 2009
Boulder County to search for new forensic pathologist Forensic pathologists -- doctors specialized in determining the manner and cause of death, particularly in cases of homicides, suicides, and sudden or suspicious deaths -- are in short supply, and the competition among cities and counties to attract one can be fierce. Daily Camera Online - Boulder, CO, by Laura Snider - October 23, 2009
New "Rape Kit" Training Video Unveiled Survivors of sexual assault and advocates joined New York State Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Denise E. O'Donnell and medical experts Thursday in unveiling a new "rape kit" training video, "A Body of Evidence: Using the NYS Sexual Offense Evidence Collection Kit", designed for medical professionals to ensure that the inherently intrusive sexual assault evidence exam is less traumatic for victims and more productive for law enforcement. North Country Gazette -- New York -- October 22, 2009
Coroner gets $400,000 grant to set up program to solve missing persons cases with DNA testing The Clark County coroner's office received a $400,000 federal grant to create a program for using DNA testing to help solve missing persons cases. The county will use the Department of Justice grant to set up an 18-month program to exhume, sample and test DNA in about 50 missing persons cases. Samples will be culled from more than 160 unidentified bodies. The first exhumation will be in about 60 days.
Las Vegas Review-Journal -- Las Vegas, NV -- October 21, 2009
FBI Analyst Accidentally Contaminates Chandra Levy Case DNA An FBI forensic analyst mistakenly got some of her own DNA on evidence recovered from the site where Chandra Levy's body was found, attorneys said Friday during a hearing in D.C. Superior Court. The mishap surfaced as the FBI analyst, since fired, was reviewing pieces of evidence that included the former federal intern's bra, tights, underwear and shoes found in Rock Creek Park near where her body was discovered. Washington Post, by Keith L. Alexander -- October 17, 2009
Microsoft gives forensics tool to U.S. police through NW3C Microsoft has teamed up with the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) to distribute a computer-forensics tool to U.S. police for free. The Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor (COFEE) makes it easy for any officer, not just digital forensics specialists, to record the current processes of a suspect's computer. An officer can plug in a COFEE-formatted USB thumb drive, run COFEE and download data that would have been lost if the computer were turned off for transit to the police station. Seattle Post Intelligencer -- Seattle, WA -- October 14, 2009
Walton sheriff gets largest grant yet The Walton County Sheriff's Office has received a Combating Crime in a Rural Community grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The nearly $819,000 grant is the largest the department has received, according to a news release announcing the award. The bulk of the grant will be used to purchase and equip the Sheriff's Office's first crime scene vehicle. The News Herald -- Panama City, FL, by Kim White -- October 12, 2009
Texas Company Breaks Ground on New Forensic Center in Odessa A Texas company is breaking ground in Odessa on a new building that could be a big help to local law enforcement and citizens for years to come. KFDA TV Newschannel 10 -- Amarillo, TX -- October 11, 2009
Hi-tech crime unit moves to Halesworth (UK) A unit that puts Suffolk police at the forefront of tackling 21st-century crime opened yesterday. The unit, which includes one of the country's most powerful forensic computer servers, has moved from its old home at Felixstowe to Halesworth police station. Formed in 2001, it does the forensic examination and retrie-val of evidence and intelligence from computers, mobile phones and digital cameras. EDP24 -- UK, by Victoria Nicholls -- October 10, 2009
University of CA Davis forensic science program gets $2.2M to study bullets and duct tape The three grants, which aim to put forensic science on a sound statistical footing, were awarded in late September, and work began on the projects last week. One grant of $1.4 million over three years will be spent on developing a bullet-matching database, a news release said Wednesday. Another grant of $700,000 over two years is for studying the impressions left on cartridge cases by firearms. The third grant of $150,000 over two years is for determining whether torn pieces of duct-tape can be reliably matched. Sacramento Business Journal -- Sacramento, CA, by Kelly Johnson -- October 7, 2009
LAPD cuts backlog of untested DNA cases in half The Los Angeles Police Department has cut in half a backlog of untested DNA evidence from rapes and sexual assaults, according to police figures. In late 2008, amid increasing pressure from victims' rights groups and elected officials, LAPD officials acknowledged that nearly 7,500 evidence kits collected from rape and sexual-assault victims were languishing in storage freezers, never having been analyzed. Los Angeles Times -- Los Angeles, CA, by Joel Rubin -- October 5, 2009
Thousands of cases in Houston await DNA tests Nearly 4,000 Houston rape kits and other evidence have not undergone DNA testing -- about seven years after major problems at the police lab came to light. Dallas Morning News -- Dalas, TX -- October 2, 2009
State money dries up for DNA testing of sex offenders Elected officials were alarmed enough this week when they learned that each month 100 more sexual predators are registering in Clark County and filing their DNA. They were even more taken aback, though, when the head of the Metro Police Forensic Lab told them the state is paying for only a very small portion of the testing on that DNA, which the Legislature ordered. Las Vegas Sun -- Las Vegas, NV, by Joe Schoenmann -- October 1, 2009
