All of our webinars, reports, podcast episodes, and other educational resources are available to the public at no cost.
Funding for the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence has been provided by the National Institute of Justice.
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A Landscape Study of Computed Tomography Scanners for Postmortem Applications
Date December 2023 Overview Advanced imaging technologies help medicolegal death investigation (MDI) personnel assess cause of death (COD) and manner of death (MOD). The Medical Examiner and Coroner (MEC) community utilize postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) to obtain imaging data to…
Expert Forensic Communication: Best Practices and Common Pitfalls
← Back to Webinar Series Page Tuesday, November 28, 2023 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern Duration: 1 hour Overview As global events, from the pandemic to the fentanyl crisis and climate disasters, increasingly focus attention on the work…
Transient Workforce in Forensic Pathology: Challenges, Rewards, and Best Practices
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on November 16, 2023 Duration: 1 hour Overview A roadmap to successfully utilizing contract forensic pathologists, also known as locum tenens, will be presented by a Chief Medical Examiner and…
Advancing Research and Collaborative Research Partnerships in Forensic Science
← FTCOE ASCLD All Resources Page This webinar originally occurred on November 14, 2023 Duration: 1 hour Overview With the ever-increasing volume of evidence being submitted to forensic laboratories coupled with the growing demand for new capabilities to provide additional…
Validation of a Confirmatory Proteomic Mass Spectrometry Body Fluid Assay
← Back to Webinar Series Page Thursday, December 7, 2023 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern Duration: 1 hour Overview With increasingly sensitive forensic methods for DNA detection, the source from which a DNA profile is obtained becomes increasingly…
Virtual Workshop Series: Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals
Overview North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) hosted a two-part virtual workshop series on the Qualifications of an Expert Witness for Legal Professionals. This workshop series discussed topics surrounding qualifications of expert witnesses…
Implementation Workshop: TOF/QTOF Mass Spectrometry for Identification, Screening, and Confirmation in Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry
Overview This event originally occurred on October 18, 2023 Duration 5.5 hours This virtual workshop aims to provide guidance to forensic science service providers (FSSPs) involved in the planning, purchase, use, or quality assurance surrounding TOF/QTOF-MS instrumentation. The speakers for…
FLN-TWG: A Roadmap to Improve Research and Technology Transition in Forensic Science
← Back to FLN-TWG Main Page Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group (FLN-TWG) The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in partnership with the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International, formed the Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle DNA Examination Wordsearch
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers click…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Murder Mystery Event
← Back to Main Page Overview As part of National Forensic Science Week 2023 (September 18-22, 2023), the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) is offering a murder mystery event! For this year’s murder mystery, we will be reopening a…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle DNA Examination Crossword
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers select…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle Fingerprint Examination Wordsearch
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers click…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle Fingerprint Examination Crossword
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers select…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Spot the Differences
← Back to Main Page Overview Attention to detail is an essential skill across forensic disciplines. Can you spot the differences between the original and altered images below? How many differences can you find? Game Instructions How to Play (Online): …
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle In the Courtroom Wordsearch
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers click…
2023 Graduate Research Symposium and Poster Session
← Back to Main Page Overview This event originally occurred on September 20, 2023 Welcome to the 2023 Forensic Science Graduate Research Symposium and Poster Session hosted by the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE)! In 2022, the FTCOE hosted…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle In the Courtroom Crossword
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers select…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle Crime Scene Examination Crossword
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers select…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle Crime Scene Examination Wordsearch
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers click…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle Firearms Examination Crossword
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers select…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Interview Montage
← Back to Main Page Overview In the past, the FTCOE has released written interviews with forensic practitioners in various stages of their career and working in various forensic disciplines. This year, we created a video comprised of multiple interviews with forensic practitioners from seasoned subject matter experts to young professionals early…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzle Firearms Examination Wordsearch
← Back to Main Page ← Back to All Puzzles Page Puzzle Instruction To view and complete the puzzle in a separate window, click the expanding arrows in the tool bar above the puzzle title. To input your answers click…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Puzzles
← Back to Main Page Overview Each day, the FTCOE will release a crossword and wordsearch puzzle with fun forensic science themes that incorporate some terminology trivia and stress relieving activities for all ages. Find the Terms wordsearches offer a…
2023 National Forensic Science Week Teacher How-To Guides
← Back to Main Page Overview Calling all science teachers! Are you looking for fun, forensic activities and experiments that you can use with your class or share with fellow forensic science enthusiasts? This year for National Forensic Science Week,…
2023 National Forensic Science Week
Overview National Forensic Science Week (September 18-22, 2023) recognizes the contribution that forensic science makes to the criminal justice system. It is an opportunity to celebrate academic programs, forensic professionals, and scientific research in the various forensic disciplines. Throughout the…
Just Embracing Imperfection in Forensic Science
Original Release Date: June 23, 2023 In episode 3 of our Resilient Leadership mini season, Just Science sat down with Jody Wolf, Crime Lab Administrator for the Phoenix Police Department; Tim Scanlan, President of Forensic Analysis, Consulting, and Training, LLC;…
Just Collaboration in Forensic Research
Original Release Date: June 16, 2023 In episode 2 of our Resilient Leadership mini season, Just Science sat down with Henry Maynard to discuss the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) Forensic Research Committee (FRC). As researchers work to…
Just Thriving in a Forensic Workplace
Original Release Date: June 9, 2023 In episode one of our Resilient Leadership mini season, Just Science sat down with Jamilla Dick-Quashie, Director of Health and Safety, and Meredith Rosenberg, the Department of Forensic Biology Deputy Director, with the New…
Just Workplace Stress and Its Impact on Decision-Making in Forensics
Original Release Date: May 12, 2023 In this Special Release episode, Just Science sat down with Dr. Mohammed Almazrouei, a forensic practitioner with the Abu Dhabi Police, to discuss his dissertation work, which examines how workplace stressors may affect decision-making…
Research Clues to Appreciating a New Era of Cannabinoid Conundrums Webinar Series
Overview Use and abuse of various cannabinoids has seen significant growth over the past several years due to the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, also known as the Farm Bill. Proliferation of new cannabinoid products derived from cannabidiol has resulted…
Stress, Trauma, and Burnout in Forensic Scientists
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on March 28, 2023 Duration: 1 hour Overview The world of forensic science and death investigation is always unpredictable and demanding. Large caseloads, hazardous materials, traumatic evidence, and other complexities…
Bridging Generational Gaps in the Laboratory
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on March 21, 2023 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar will address a common cross-cultural issue experienced every day in the crime laboratory and within the greater criminal justice community,…
How to Recruit and Retain Quality Employees
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on March 14, 2023 Duration: 1 hour Overview One of the biggest challenges that forensic laboratories face is hiring and retaining great employees. The loss of one person has a…
ASCLD All Resources
Overview Through a partnership with the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD), the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence has provided a variety of webinars, podcasts, reports, and tools covering a wide array of topics. Webinars ASCLD Train the Director…
2023 Sexual Assault Awareness Month Webinar Series: Novel Research on Sexual Assault
Overview This April, in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence will be releasing a series of webinars covering topics related to novel research on various sexual assault topics. Tune in as our presenters discuss…
2023 NIJ Forensic Science R&D Symposium
Overview The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) assisted the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in hosting the annual NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development (R&D) Symposium on February 14, 2023 at the 75th Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)…
2023 ASCLD Emerging Issues Webinar Series
Overview Through a partnership with the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD), the FTCOE is pleased to present the three-part webinar series titled, ASCLD Emerging Issues. Our subject matter experts will cover a variety of challenges that forensic laboratories…
Going All In – Laboratories With Completely Digital Systems
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on February 2, 2023 Duration: 1 hour Overview Change can be intimidating and making a transition to a paperless system can be daunting task. This presentation will discuss two perspectives…
Triaging Cases – Case Management and All That Means
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on January 31, 2023 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar will present laboratory managers with a discussion on case management in forensic science laboratories. All forensic science laboratories struggle with…
Maintaining a Positive Quality Culture During Change
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on January 24, 2023 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar will share insight into why it is important to have a positive quality culture within a laboratory. Attendees will see…
The State of Standard Development & Tools for Assessing and Implementing Standards
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on January 17, 2023 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview This webinar will introduce attendees to the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC) Registry of Standards, the International Organization…
2022 Year in Review
A Message from the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence Another year in the books, and so much has happened! In 2022, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) hosted various virtual events and delivered numerous online resources – including 6…
Data Exchange Practices of Medicolegal Death Investigation
Date December 2022 Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ)-in partnership with its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International and the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-convened a virtual Medicolegal Death…
ASCLD Train the Director Webinar Series
Related Resource FTCOE ASCLD All Resources Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence webinar has been provided by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in…
The NIJ Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group – Progress to Date and Future Plans
Date November 2022 Overview Recognizing the many challenges associated with adopting new technologies and other innovations in forensic science organizations, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) formed the Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group (FLN-TWG) in 2018. FLN-TWG provides a…
Audio Forensic Analysis Procedures for User Generated Audio Recordings
This webinar originally occurred on November 29, 2022 Duration: 1 hour Overview The widespread use of handheld smartphones and other devices capable of recording audio and video means that user generated recordings (UGRs) are increasingly presented as evidence in criminal…
Just Leveraging Databases for Human Identification
Original Release Date: September 23, 2022 In episode three of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification season, Just Science sat down with Lori Bruski and Amy Jenkinson, two Research Public Health Analysts at RTI International, to discuss interagency…
2022 National Forensic Science Week
Overview National Forensic Science Week (September 18-24, 2022) recognizes the contribution that forensic science makes to the criminal justice system. It is an opportunity to celebrate academic programs, forensic professionals, and scientific research in the various forensic disciplines. Throughout the…
Cost-Benefit Analysis Tool for Labor Expenditure Associated With Sexual Assault Kit Processing Workflows
Overview Laboratories can use different workflows to process sexual assault kit (SAK) evidence, and the workflow is often selected based on available resources. In an era of constrained local and state budgets, this cost-benefit analysis (CBA) tool provides a critical…
2022 Update: 3D Imaging Technologies and Virtual Comparison Microscopy for Firearms Examination, A Landscape Study
Date August 2022 Overview The National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE), led by RTI International, provides resources that promote the use of technologies in the forensic community. This report is an update to a 2016…
FLN-TWG: Updating Data Collection for Digital Evidence Casework in Project FORESIGHT
← Back to FLN-TWG Main Page Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group (FLN-TWG) The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in partnership with the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International, formed the Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group…
Guidance Document on Considerations for Photographic Documentation in Sexual Assault Cases
Date August 2022 Overview Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) are medical professionals with specialized training and expertise in medicine, psychology, and forensic science and are qualified to conduct sexual assault forensic examinations. During the sexual assault forensic examination, SANEs may…
Developing Critical Thinking Skills via Table-Top Exercises
← Back to Risk Management for Forensic Laboratories Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on August 23, 2022 Duration: 1 hour Overview Good decision-making in times of crisis and high stress can be the difference between success and failure. It’s…
The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Accreditation Initiative: Successes, Challenges, and Future Directions
Date August 2022 Overview In 2019, the American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD) launched the ASCLD Accreditation Initiative (AAI) in collaboration with the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ’s) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International. The AAI…
Just a Curious Case of Print Persistence
Original Release Date: August 5, 2022 In episode one of our Case Studies: Part 1 mini season, Just Science sat down with Michael Fagert, a certified latent print examiner at the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, to discuss a latent print…
Risk Management for Forensic Laboratories Webinar Series
Overview This webinar series explores the benefits of using risk-based thinking and risk management principles to assist in managing forensic laboratories. By employing a risk-based approach, laboratory managers better understand their decisions’ effects and impact on laboratory activities. From evaluating…
What Keeps You Awake at Night: Risk, Leading Change, and Challenging Decisions
← Back to Risk Management for Forensic Laboratories Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on July 26, 2022 Duration: 1 hour Overview In a recent conversation, the Colonel of the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) asked the presenter, the Director…
Transparency in Crisis Management
Date July 2022 Overview This brief is designed to provide crime laboratory leaders and others who may find themselves at the forefront of a crisis response with a better understanding of how to be transparent. It provides an overview of…
Just the Forensic Laboratory Workforce Part 2
Original Release Date: July 1, 2022 In part-two of the final episode of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science continued the conversation with Dr. Peter Stout, Dr. Ray Wickenheiser, and Matthew Gamette discussing the future of the forensic…
Using Risk Management to Optimize Forensic Laboratory Operations
← Back to Risk Management for Forensic Laboratories Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on June 30, 2022Duration: 1 hour Overview The use of risk management has been historically absent from the management of forensic science laboratories. While ISO 31000…
Just the Forensic Laboratory Workforce Part 1
Original Release Date: June 24, 2022 In the eighth episode of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Peter Stout, President of the Houston Forensic Science Center, Dr. Ray Wickenheiser, Director of the New York…
Human Factors in Forensic Science Practice
This webinar originally occurred on June 21, 2022Duration: 1 hour Overview Human factors may encompass any way in which people’s psychological or physiological attributes affect a system or process. Physiological considerations include things like the ergonomics of laboratory workstations or…
Just Forensic Toxicology and Professional Partnerships
Original Release Date: June 17, 2022 In episode seven of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Karen Scott, an Associate Professor, Forensic Toxicology Consultant, and Director of the Master of Science in Forensic Science…
Just Trace Evidence from Classroom to Courtroom
Original Release Date: June 10, 2022 In episode six of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Brooke Kammrath, a Professor of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven and Assistant Director of the…
Forensic Science State Commissions and Oversight Bodies – 2022 Update
Date June 2022 Overview In the United States, many states have established forensic science oversight bodies, which take many forms and have myriad roles and responsibilities. In all cases, however, these forensic science oversight bodies help ensure complete, accurate, and…
Just the Components of Forensic Biology and DNA
Original Release Date: June 3, 2022 In episode five of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Robin Cotton, Director of the Master of Science Program in Biomedical Forensic Sciences at Boston University School of…
Just the Analysis of Impressions and Patterns
Original Release Date: May 27, 2022 In episode four of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Assistant Professor Jessica Zarate and 5th year student Kristen Szabelski at Madonna University in Michigan, as well as Dr.…
Narcotic Concealment Methods in U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Emergence of Counterfeit Tablets Containing Fentanyl in the United States
← Back to Unseen Threats Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on May 26, 2022Duration: 1 hour Overview With nearly 6,000 miles of border to patrol and screening passengers and cargo at over 130 airports, seaports, and land border crossings,…
A Landscape Study Examining Technologies and Automation for Differential Extraction and Sperm Separation for Sexual Assault Investigations
Date May 2022 Overview The National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE), led by RTI International, provides valuable resources that promote the use of technologies in the forensic community. Differential extraction is a technique that allows…
Just Digital Forensics Program Development and Outlook
Original Release Date: May 20, 2022 In episode three of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Mark McCoy, Professor and Administrator of the Digital Evidence and Cyber Security Program at the University of Central…
Just Higher Education and the CSI Effect
Original Release Date: May 13, 2022 In episode two of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Sarah Williams, a Research Associate Professor in Forensic Science at Virginia Commonwealth University, and Dr. Keith Morris, a…
Reports of Adverse Events Associated with Use of Novel Psychoactive Substances, 2017–2020: A Review
Publication Journal of Analytical Toxicology, April 2022 Authors Amanda L A Mohr | Center for Forensic Science Research and Education Barry K Logan | Center for Forensic Science Research and EducationMelissa F Fogarty | Center for Forensic Science Research and…
Just FEPAC Accreditation and Forensic Chemistry Programs
Original Release Date: May 6, 2022 In episode one of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. José Almirall, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Director of the National…
Unseen Threats: A Webinar Series from the AAFS Opioids and Emerging Drugs Ad-Hoc Committee
Overview This webinar series is based on the one-day workshop (“Unseen Threats”) that was sponsored by the Opioids and Emerging Drugs Ad-Hoc Committee at the 2022 American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Annual Meeting. To follow up on this workshop,…
FORESIGHT Digital Evidence
Overview Since the initial efforts to collect data via Project FORESIGHT, receiving responses from forensic laboratories that examine digital evidence has been difficult. A small percentage of forensic laboratories reported areas of investigation for computer analysis or analysis of multimedia…
Strangulation in Sexual Assault Cases: Considerations for Evidence Collection and Supporting Healing
← Back to 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on April 14, 2022Duration: 1 hour Overview In addition to providing medical care and support to victims of sexual assault, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) collect…
Pandemic Impacts in the Workplace: Employee Wellness, Returning to the Office, & Remote Testimony
← Back to ASCLD Train the Director Series This webinar originally occurred on April 12, 2022Duration: 1 hour Overview Employers have endured many operational changes due to the pandemic. During the pandemic, employers have faced numerous challenges, such as how…
Sexual Assault Kit Evidence Tracking: The Idaho State Police Forensic Services Experience
← Back to 2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on April 7, 2022Duration: 1 hour Overview The Idaho State Police Forensic Services agency has designed a sexual assault kit evidence tracking system to effectively track…
Application of the OSAC Registry of Standards to Forensic Science Service Providers’ Quality Systems
← Back to ASCLD Train the Director Series This webinar originally occurred on March 31, 2022Duration: 1 hour Overview Since its official inception in 2014, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for…
BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Award Management
← Back to ASCLD Train the Director Series This webinar originally occurred on March 24, 2022Duration: 1 hour Overview The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and…
BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Grant Application and Award Acceptance
← Back to ASCLD Train the Director Series This event originally occurred on March 17, 2022.Duration: 1 hour Overview The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and…
Human Factors in Forensic Science Practice Sourcebook
Publication Forensic Science International: Synergy, March 2022 Editors Heidi Eldridge, PhD | RTI International Barbara A. Spellman, JD, PhD | University of Virginia School of Law Thomas Busey, PhD | Indiana University, Psychological and Brain Sciences Working Group Members Paul…
BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Forensic Grant Opportunities
← Back to ASCLD Train the Director Series This webinar originally occurred on March 10, 2022 Duration: 1 hour Overview The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Justice Programs (OJP)…
2022 Sexual Assault Awareness Month Webinar Series: Exploring Current Trends in Sexual Assault Response
Overview This April, in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence will be releasing a series of webinars covering topics related to sexual assault response reform. Tune in as our presenters discuss sexual assault kit…
Just a Trauma-Informed Response to At-Home Sexual Assault Kits
Original Release Date: February 25, 2022 In the final episode of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Natasha Alexenko, Lieutenant Jordan Satinsky, and Marya Simmons to discuss at-home sexual assault kits through a victim-centered…
Just a Prosecutor’s Perspective on At-Home Kits
Original Release Date: February 18, 2022 In episode seven of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Patti Powers, an attorney advisor at AEquitas and a former senior deputy prosecuting attorney in Washington state,…
Virtual Workshop: Understanding Sexual Assault Trauma and Considerations for Conducting a Trauma-Informed Interview
Overview Due to the successful response and engagement received from the Just Science podcast episode titled “Just Trauma-Informed Victim-Centered Interviewing” from the 2021 Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Forensic…
A Landscape Study of Electronic Case Management Systems for Medical Examiners and Coroners
Date February 2022 Overview Medical examiner and coroner (ME/C) offices sit at the nexus of forensic sciences and public health. These offices play a key role in the investigation of suspicious, unexplained, or unexpected deaths, dissemination of important data to…
U.S. National Footwear Database System Feasibility Study
This webinar originally occurred on February 15, 2022. Duration: 1 hour Overview Shoeprints at crime scenes, along with suspects’ footwear, are routinely collected and analyzed by qualified examiners in crime laboratories and forensic units to identify, include, or exclude suspects’…
Just Analyzing At-Home Kits
Original Release Date: February 11, 2022 In episode six of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Jay Henry, the former Crime Laboratory Director of the Utah Department of Public Safety. Mr. Henry, an…
A Unique Approach to a Crime Gun Intelligence Center with the Inclusion and Support of 3D Virtual Comparison Technologies
This webinar originally occurred on February 10, 2022. Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Any effective Crime Gun Intelligence Program relies on the expeditious processing of firearms-related evidence to achieve the goal of intelligence led firearms-based investigations. The possible intelligence gained through…
Just Key Considerations for Investigations of Sexual Assault Cases
Original Release Date: February 4, 2022 In episode five of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Scott Mourtgos, a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Utah, a National Institute of Justice (NIJ) LEADS…
Medical Examiner and Coroner Outsourcing Study – A Qualitative Study and Cost-Benefit Analysis
Date January 2022 Overview Medical examiners and coroners (MECs) are often at the center of highly stressful and emotional situations as a part of their daily job duties. Those events are compounded by continued and escalating high caseloads and inadequate…
Just Addressing Child Sexual Violence
Original Release Date: January 28, 2022 In episode four of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Laurieann Thorpe, the Executive Director at Prevent Child Abuse Utah, to continue our discussion on at-home sexual…
Virtual Workshop: A Discussion on Research and a Multidisciplinary Response to Sexual Assault
Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) delivered a two-day Virtual Workshop: A Discussion on Research and a Multidisciplinary Response to Sexual Assault on January 26-27, 2022. The Virtual Workshop: A Discussion on Research…
Just A Pediatric Viewpoint on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits
Original Release Date: January 21, 2022 In episode three of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Toni Laskey, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine and the…
Just the Intersection of At-Home Kits and Healing
Original Release Date: January 14, 2022 In episode two of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Monica Gardner, an advocate, a former rape crisis center team advocate, and a survivor of sexual abuse as a child and…
2022 Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum
Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) delivered a four-day, no-cost, virtual Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum on January 11-14, 2022. It is a pivotal time for the forensic pattern…
Just Supporting Evidence Collection in Sexual Assault Cases
Original Release Date: January 7, 2022 In episode one of our Perspectives on At-Home Sexual Assault Kits season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Julie Valentine, a researcher, sexual assault nurse examiner, and the Associate Dean of Brigham Young University’s…
2021 Year in Review
A Message from the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence Another year in-the-books and so much has happened! In 2021, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) hosted a wide range of virtual events and offered online resources amidst an ongoing pandemic. With…
Just Diversity & Inclusion in Forensic Science
Original Release Date: November 19, 2021 In this special release episode, Just Diversity & Inclusion in Forensic Science, Just Science sat down with Donia Slack, the Director of the Research, Technology, and Evaluation Program in RTI’s Center for Forensic Sciences,…
Just Literature on Stress & Resiliency in Forensic Science
Original Release Date: November 12, 2021 In episode four of our Workforce Resiliency mini season, Just Science sat down with Donia Slack, the Director of the Research, Technology, and Evaluation Program in RTI’s Center for Forensic Sciences, to discuss the…
Two-Pronged Study of Bullets Fired by Consecutively Rifled Barrels
← Back to Firearm and Toolmarks Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on December 16, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview The 2016 President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) Report brought forensics, and specifically firearms identification, into the…
Just Workforce Resiliency for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Part 2
Original Release Date: November 5, 2021 In episode three of our Workforce Resiliency mini season, Just Science continues our conversation with Dr. Cara Berg Raunick, a women’s health nurse practitioner and the Director of Clinical Quality and Advancement at Health…
Just Workforce Resiliency for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Part 1
Original Release Date: October 29, 2021 In episode two of our Workforce Resiliency mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Cara Berg Raunick, a women’s health nurse practitioner and the Director of Clinical Quality and Advancement at Health Care Education and Training,…
Just Workforce Resiliency for MDIs
Original Release Date: October 22, 2021 In the first episode of our Workforce Resiliency season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Jennifer Rineer, a program manager and research psychologist in RTI International’s Center for Policing Research and Investigative Science, and Kelly Keyes, a research…
2021 Forensic Science Research Federal Stakeholders Public Meeting
Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in partnership with the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE), held a Forensic Science Research Federal Stakeholders meeting on November 8, 2021 from 9:00AM…
Death Certification by the Medical Examiner/Coroner in Drug-Related Deaths
← Back to MDI Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on November 30, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview Considering the steadily rising number of overdose deaths in recent years, public health systems rely on the vital role of medicolegal death…
The Importance of Data to the MDI Community and Stakeholders
← Back to MDI Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on November 2, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview Many stakeholders rely on medicolegal death investigation (MDI) data to support efforts that help save lives and promote justice. These stakeholders include…
2021 National Forensic Science Week
Overview National Forensic Science Week (September 19-25, 2021) recognizes the contribution that forensic science makes to the criminal justice system. It is an opportunity to celebrate academic programs, forensic professionals, and scientific research in the various forensic disciplines. Throughout the…
Just Partially Tested Sexual Assault Kits
Original Release Date: August 27, 2021 In episode seven of our 2021 Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Rachel Lovell and Mary Weston to discuss resolving partially tested sexual assault kits. Partially…
Just Supporting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault
Original Release Date: August 20, 2021 In episode six of our 2021 Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Patricia Powers, an attorney adviser with AEquitas, to discuss supporting male victims of sexual assault through…
Just Advocacy for Male Survivors of Sexual Assault
Original Release Date: August 13, 2021 In episode five of our 2021 Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Marya Simmons, founder and CEO of Shift in Notion Consulting, to discuss advocacy for male…
Just a Cost Benefit Analysis of Sexual Assault Investigation
Original Release Date: August 6, 2021 In episode four of our 2021 Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Rachel Lovell, Research Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University, and Mary Weston, Assistant…
AFDAA 2021 Summer Meeting
Overview The Association of Forensic DNA Analysts and Administrators (AFDAA), RTI International, and NIJ’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) partnered to host the AFDAA summer meeting virtually on July 28th and 29th, 2021. This virtual conference allowed the continued…
Just Trauma-Informed Victim-centered Interviewing
Original Release Date: July 30, 2021 In episode three of our 2021 Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Natasha Alexenko, Jordan Satinsky, and Marya Simmons to discuss trauma informed, victim-centered interviewing for sexual assault cases. A sexual…
Just Touch DNA and Sexual Assault Groping Cases
Original Release Date: July 23, 2021 In episode two of our 2021 Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Julie L. Valentine, Associate Dean and Associate Professor at Brigham Young University in the College…
Federal Forensic Science Research and Development Programs – A 2021 Update
Date June 2021 Overview In response to the 2009 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, the federal government accelerated its investment in forensic science in recent years. The NAS report…
ASCLD Train the Director – Best Practices for Engaging Participants in Video Conferences
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on July 7, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview In this webinar, attendees learned a variety of strategies to keep participants engaged in an online meeting environment. First, attendees learned about the importance…
Just the Impression and Pattern/Trace Evidence Portfolio
Original Release Date: June 11, 2021 In episode two of our 2021 NIJ R&D and Beyond mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Gregory Dutton, a physical scientist in the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences at the National Institute of Justice, to discuss NIJ’s Impression, Pattern, and Trace…
ASCLD Train the Director – Successful Onboarding in Crime Laboratories
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on June 16, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview Onboarding involves integrating a new employee into your organization. Also known as organizational socialization, onboarding is an important process that sometimes becomes an afterthought…
ASCLD Train the Director – Firearms 3D Technology: Advantages and Value for Implementing 3D Technologies
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on June 2, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview This presentation demonstrated the effectiveness of integrating 3D technology into the forensic firearms/toolmarks discipline and the decision analysis used for selecting samples for virtual…
ASCLD Train the Director – Developing an Unbiased Culture in Your Laboratory
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on May 26, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar facilitated a discussion about bias in a crime laboratory. Questions discussed included: what is bias in forensics? How can it impact your…
Perspectives on Addressing the Collection, Tracking, and Processing of Lawfully Owed DNA Samples
Date April 2021 Overview The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) is a powerful tool that supports the criminal justice system by generating investigative leads, identifying perpetrators, and linking cases together. DNA profiles obtained from convicted…
ASCLD Emerging Issues: COVID-19 Webinar Series
Overview The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immeasurable impact on workplaces around the world. Organizations have had to rapidly implement operational changes in order to ensure the safety of workers and the continued timely delivery of products and services. Through…
ASCLD Emerging Issues: COVID-19 – Wellness and Operations
← Back to ASCLD COVID-19 Series ← Back to Forensic Workforce Resiliency Series This webinar originally occurred on March 29, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview COVID-19 has had an enormous effect on the workforce, and not just in the areas…
ASCLD Emerging Issues: COVID-19 – Remote Testimony
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on March 24, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immeasurable impact on workplaces around the world. Organizations have had to rapidly implement operational changes in order to…
Just the DEA National Forensic Laboratory Information System
Original Release Date: March 12, 2021 In episode eight of the 2021 Illicit Substance Use Response season, Just Science interviews DeMia Pressley from the DEA’s Diversion Control Division to discuss the importance of information sharing across law enforcement and public health agencies through…
Lessons Learned from Proficiency Test Results in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
This webinar originally occurred on April 15th, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview The Daubert ruling by the Supreme Court established “the known or potential rate of error” as one of several factors to be used when assessing the scientific reliability…
Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group (FLN-TWG)
Supporting NIJ’s Mission to Improve Knowledge and Understanding The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in partnership with the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International, formed the Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group (FLN-TWG). The FLN-TWG supports NIJ’s…
The ROI from Reducing Turnaround Time for Processing DUI: Drug Cases
Date February 2021 Overview From the opioid crisis to legalization of marijuana to the continuing evolution in the abuse of drugs, the societal costs from substance abuse is extensive. This includes societal costs from treatment, healthcare, lost productivity, death, and…
ASCLD Emerging Issues: COVID-19 – Remote Work in the Forensic Lab
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on March 17, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immeasurable impact on workplaces around the world. Organizations have had to rapidly implement operational changes in order to…
Leveraging Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) to Maintain Continuity of Operations: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Date January 2021 Overview In response to 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic, forensic crime laboratories have changed their business operations to ensure responsiveness to their customers’ needs while protecting staff welfare and data security. This balance has challenged laboratory management to address…
Sexual Assault Response Fact Sheets
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) is leading an effort to organize and transfer knowledge and best practices of sexual assault response to the criminal justice community. Whether through webinars, podcast episodes, reports, or conferences, the FTCOE is working…
Preemptive Approach to Combatting and Characterizing Emerging Synthetic Opioids
This webinar originally occurred on February 8, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar described how preemptive synthesis and characterization of potent psychoactive substances from the literature can aid forensic scientists in the identification of unknowns appearing in samples emerging…
Utility of Microbes in Forensic Science
This webinar originally occurred on January 20, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview The presenter discussed the definition of forensic microbiology, a timeline of when it first became popular, and how it differs from molecular epidemiology. The webinar then covered differences…
2020 Year in Review
A Message from the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence 2020 was a big year for the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence. With five podcast seasons, a full research and development symposium, our first virtual conference, eight reports, and over thirty…
Just Off The Shelf Forensics
Original Release Date: December 25, 2020 In the eighth and final episode of the 2020 Case Studies season, Just Science sat down with Tim Schade and Brian Cochran to discuss off-the-shelf crime scene processing products. Budgetary concerns often plague smaller forensic labs…
Trauma and Coping Mechanisms Exhibited by Forensic Science Practitioners: A Literature Review
Publication Forensic Science International: Synergy, October 2020 Author Donia P. Slack | RTI International Abstract Vicarious trauma (VT) has been studied in mental health experts for over 30 years due to their engagement with victims of trauma and exposure to…
Just the Impact of Disturbing Media
Original Release Date: September 3, 2020 In episode eight of our 2020 Digital Evidence season, Just Science interviews Dr. Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar from Purdue University about the impact of disturbing media on forensic professionals. Repeated exposure to violent and graphic media can have long-term negative effects on…
Just NIST’s Digital Forensics Black Box Study
Original Release Date: August 20, 2020 In episode six of our 2020 Digital Evidence season, Just Science interviews Barbara Guttman from the National Institute of Standards and Technology about the first large-scale black box study to test the accuracy of…
2020 SWAFS Virtual Conference
Overview In October 2020, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) helped the Southwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (SWAFS) host their first virtual conference. This event, which saw over 1,400 unique attendees across three days, covered a multitude of topics…
A Landscape Study of Laboratory Information Management Systems for Forensic Crime Laboratories
Date August 2020 Overview As a key stakeholder in the criminal justice system, forensic laboratories must track, analyze, and report on evidence related to each request for service they receive. This is no easy task for laboratories: according to a…
PACE™: Rapid and Automated Artifact Identification and Number of Contributor Prediction
This webinar originally occurred on July 28, 2020 Duration: 1 hour Overview The PACE™ software introduces a fully continuous, machine learning tool to the forensic DNA community that enables fast and accurate artifact management and predicts the number of contributors…
ASCLD Emerging Issues: Employee Wellness Webinar Series
Overview Providing training and education to our membership is a core mission for ASCLD. Despite the unfortunate cancellation of our annual symposium this year, the Symposium Planning and Training and Education Committees found a way to bring timely and relevant…
ASCLD Emerging Issues: Employee Wellness – Tackling Employee Wellness: The Phoenix Police Department’s Crime Lab Approach
← Back to ASCLD Employee Wellness Series ← Back to Forensic Workforce Resiliency Series This webinar originally occurred on June 18th, 2020 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Organizations often struggle with building supportive organizational cultures, employee morale, and interpersonal relationships. The…
ASCLD Emerging Issues: Employee Wellness – Drug Exposures in the Forensic Laboratory: What We Know, What We Can Learn
← Back to ASCLD Employee Wellness Series This webinar originally occurred on June 25, 2020 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview The recent rise in the illicit trade of highly toxic, synthetic drugs such as fentanyl has introduced a new set of…
ASCLD Emerging Issues: Employee Wellness – Stress, Vicarious Trauma, and Resiliency for Forensic Science Professionals
← Back to ASCLD Employee Wellness Series ← Back to Forensic Workforce Resiliency Series This webinar originally occurred on June 11, 2020 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview The phenomena of vicarious traumatization, compassion fatigue, and burnout have been described since the…
Just a Statistical Approach to Glass Evidence
Original Release Date: May 1, 2020 In episode six of the 2020 R&D Season, Just Science interviews Dr. José R. Almirall, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University, about a statistical approach for the interpretation of glass evidence.…
Success Story: Revolutionizing Laboratory Efficiency Assessments Through Project FORESIGHT
National Institute of Justice and West Virginia University Date March 2020 Overview Crime laboratories are expected to provide consistent and high quality services across multiple domains to criminal justice stakeholders, even though these laboratories may have limited resources and constrained budgets.…
The Researcher’s Role in Technology Transition
Date March 2020 Overview Research and development (R&D) plays a key role in improving the practice of forensic science. The knowledge, tools, and methods developed by researchers can help improve the objective collection, analysis, and interpretation of evidence. Adoption into…
The Sequel – Marijuana or Hemp: From Farm Bill to Forensic Analysis
← View the Previous Marijuana or Hemp Webinar This webinar originally occurred on March 25, 2020 Duration: 2 hours Overview Due to the overwhelming attendance and interaction for the first Marijuana or Hemp: From Farm Bill to Forensic Analysis webinar that was…
Just the Innocence Project
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: February 7, 2020 In episode four of our 2020 Improving the System season, Just Science interviews Sarah Chu, Senior Adviser on Forensic Science Policy at the Innocence Project, about their work…
ASCLD Accreditation Initiative
Overview The FTCOE has worked with the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) to promote and support universal accreditation and to promote the value of forensic science accreditation, continuous improvement, succession planning and technical certifications. In furtherance of these…
Just the Organization of Scientific Area Committees
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: January 30, 2020 In episode three of our 2020 Improving the System season, Just Science interviews John Paul Jones and Mark Stolorow of NIST about the Organization of Scientific Area Committees for…
The hidden costs of the opioid crisis and the implications for financial management in the public sector
Publication Forensic Science International: Synergy, September 2019 Authors Jeri D. Ropero-Miller | RTI International Paul J. Speaker | John Chambers College of Business & Economics Abstract The November 2017 release of the Council of Economic Advisers’ White House report on…
Just a Profile in Forensic R&D Innovations
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: January 23, 2020 In episode two of our 2020 Improving the System season, Just Science met with Gerry LaPorte, former Director of the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences at NIJ,…
Just the NIJ Needs Assessment of Forensic Laboratories and Medical Examiner/Coroner Offices
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: January 13, 2020 In episode one of our 2020 Improving the System season, Just Science interviews Dr. Jonathan McGrath, Senior Policy Analyst in the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences at the…
ASCLD Train the Director – Toxicology: Instrumentation, Methodology, and Workflows
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on February 6, 2020 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Legacy workflows in toxicology generally involve a drug class screen followed by a gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC/MS-MS) confirmation…
2019 National Institute of Justice Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium
Date February 2019 Overview The 2019 National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Forensic Science Research and Development (R&D) Symposium is intended to promote collaboration and enhance knowledge transfer of NIJ-funded research. The NIJ Forensic Science R&D Program funds both basic or…
Innovation in Forensics: A Community Effort
Innovation in Forensics: A Community Effort Date January 2020 Overview Innovation in forensic science advances new technologies and techniques to improve the scientific foundation of the field as well as the objective collection, analysis, and interpretation of evidence. These advancements…
Just Building Workforce Resiliency
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: December 17, 2019 Over the last few years, the National Institute of Justice has placed an increasingly large emphasis on the influence of work-related stress on mental health. In this special…
ASCLD Train the Director – Investigative Genetic Genealogy: Background and Crime Lab Strategy
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on January 23, 2020 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Investigative Genetic Genealogy is a recently developed technique that generates new leads on previously unsolved cases where DNA from the suspect is present at…
ASCLD Train the Director – Quality Assurance: Beyond Accreditation
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on January 9, 2020 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Accreditation and quality assurance are two terms that are commonly used within the forensic science community. Many forensic laboratory mission statements incorporate the word…
Marijuana or Hemp: From Farm Bill to Forensic Analysis
This webinar originally occurred on January 15, 2020 Duration: 2 hours Overview Attendees heard from experts in agricultural policy, hemp industry analytical testing, and the DEA Special Testing and Research laboratory to obtain a better understanding of the issues that…
Communicating Conclusions in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
This webinar originally occurred on December 11, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview The results of a bloodstain pattern analysis are communicated through written reports and courtroom testimony. Principles of communication science will be discussed and explained to develop the audience’s…
UNODC Early Warning Alert System: Forensic Tools for New Psychoactive Substances
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on December 3, 2019 Duration: 1 hour Overview The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Early Warning Advisory (EWA) on new psychoactive substances (NPS) was launched in June 2013 as…
Forensic Epidemiology: Monitoring Fatal Drug Overdose Trends
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on February 11, 2020 Duration: 1 hour Overview Given the vital role of medical examiners and coroners (ME/C) in recognizing emerging trends in drug overdose deaths, partnering epidemiologists with ME/C offices can…
Handling Difficult and Disturbing Forensic Cases for Coroners and Medical Examiners
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on October 17, 2019 Duration: 1 hour Overview There are over 2000 medical examiner and coroner offices throughout the United States. All are involved in determining the cause and manner of death…
Workforce Calculator Project
Overview The workforce calculator project follows a two-year timeline to produce a workforce calculator for metropolitan, regional, and state forensic crime laboratories or laboratory systems. The calculator permits laboratories to identify the personnel required to support a given level of…
Juror comprehension of forensic expert testimony: A literature review and gap analysis
Publication Forensic Science International: Synergy, March 2019 Author Heidi Eldridge | RTI International Abstract Forensic scientists and commentators including academics and statisticians have been embroiled in a debate over the best way to present evidence in the courtroom. Various forms…
Digital and Multimedia Forensics: The Impact of Disturbing Media
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on August 28, 2019 Duration: 1 hour Overview Within the law enforcement and digital forensics communities, people will say, “What do they expect? It’s part of the job – they should be…
HHRRC – Building Forensic Capacity Post-Conflict: Lessons from Uganda
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on March 28, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview This presentation introduces research conducted in Uganda at the nexus of forensic science and transitional justice, highlighting a large-scale forensic investigation and human identification…
ASCLD Train the Director – Quality Assurance in the Forensic Laboratory
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on February 21, 2019 Duration: 1 hour Overview This course explains transitioning from 17025:2005 to 17025:2017 and the lessons learned. This is the fifth webinar in the ASCLD Train the Director Webinar…
Lean Facility Design and Forensic Laboratories
Report Series Update January 2019 Report Series Summary Over the past decade, several tools have been developed to increase organizational efficiency and reduce backlogs, including process mapping and Lean Six Sigma (LSS). In 2011, a variation of LSS, named Lean Design…
Forensic Advancement: Just Mass Casualty Events
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: January 21, 2019 In episode eleven of our Forensic Advancement season, Just Science interviews Special Agent Richard Marx, the supervisory agent for the FBI’s Evidence Response Team Unit, to discuss what…
Forensic Advancement: Just Blind Proficiency Testing
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: January 14, 2019 In episode ten of our Forensic Advancement season, Just Science interviews Dr. Peter Stout, CEO of the Houston Forensic Science Center, as he discusses the current state of…
ASCLD Train the Director – NIBIN Challenges and Opportunities
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on January 24, 2019 Duration: 1 hour Overview This is the first webinar in the ASCLD Train the Director Webinar Series. Crime Gun Intelligence utilizes evidence-based technology to provide law enforcement a…
ASCLD Train the Director – Digital Forensics: An Overview for the Laboratory Manager
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on January 31, 2019 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar will provide an overview of the field of digital forensics for the laboratory administrator. This is part of the ASCLD Train the…
Just ASCLD Rapid DNA Committee
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: December 3, 2018 In episode five of our Forensic Advancement season, Just Science interviews Katie Fetherston, Brian Hoey, and Jeremy Triplett, the Laboratory Supervisor for Kentucky State Police to discuss the…
Psychological Survival in a Violent Career
← Back to Series Part One of this webinar originally occurred in 2018 Duration: 1.5 hours Part Two (Follow-Up) of this webinar originally occurred on May 30, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Dr. David Christiansen discussed some of the relevant…
Just Psychological Resiliency
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: November 26, 2018 In episode four of our Forensic Advancement season, Just Science interviews Dr. David Christiansen, a licensed psychologist in the State of Colorado, about psychological survival in a violent…
Process and Outcome Evaluation of Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement Program
Date November 2018 Overview A 2009 National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Forensic DNA Unit Efficiency Improvement (EIP) Program solicitation provided crime laboratories’ DNA testing services with a funding opportunity to meet the increasingly numerous requests from the criminal justice community.…
Just Cognitive Bias Awareness
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: November 13, 2018 In episode two of our Forensic Advancement season, Just Science interviews Dr. Cecelia Crouse, formerly the Crime Laboratory Director of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, about the…
Just the Soul of the Profession
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: November 5, 2018 In episode one of our Forensic Advancement season, Just Science interviews John Collins, an instructor and consultant from Critical Victories, and Jay Henry, the laboratory director of the Utah…
A Landscape Study of SOPs to Collect and Process Arrestee and Convicted Offender DNA Samples
Date September 2018 Overview The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) is conducting a landscape study and root cause analysis which seeks to (1) identify factors that may result in potential barriers related to the collection, testing, and uploading of…
Advancing Research Initiatives and Combatting the Human Trafficking Epidemic
This webinar originally occurred on November 1, 2018 Duration: 1 hour Overview Trafficking in persons is a multi-faceted global epidemic which has seen a significant increase in public awareness. However, there is a substantial need to expand capacities and technologies…
Just Being Vocal about Vicarious Trauma
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: October 1, 2018 In episode one of our 2018 Medicolegal Death Investigation Special Release Season, Just Science interviews Kelly Keyes, the supervising deputy coroner of Orange County, California to give an…
Forensic Workforce Resiliency: Vicarious Trauma & Workplace Stress Webinar Series
Overview Professionals throughout the criminal justice system are exposed to the aftermath of violent crime and its victims. These individuals may include forensic nurses, crime scene investigators, forensic practitioners, medicolegal death investigators, and other professionals in related fields. Research has…
The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit – an Evidence-informed Resource for Organizations
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on September 13, 2018 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Vicarious trauma is an occupational challenge for forensic science professionals whose work entails continuous contact with victims of crime and violence, and the analysis…
Conference Proceedings: 2018 Impression Pattern and Trace Evidence Symposium
Date May 2018 Overview From January 22 to 25, 2018, RTI International, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) held the 2018 Impression, Pattern and Trace Evidence Symposium (IPTES) in Arlington, VA, to…
Leadership Series
Overview Every forensic science professional is a leader. Our society relies on the credibility and fairness of the criminal justice system. Forensic scientists play an important and fundamental role in the criminal justice community and are key to keeping our…
Just Talking Testimony
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: April 9, 2018 In this special episode ten of our 2018 IPTES Season, recorded live in Crystal City, Just Science covers the panel titled, “Statistics and Testimony from the Practitioner and…
Just Bayesian Brawl
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: April 2, 2018 In episode nine of our 2018 IPTES Season, Just Science is covering the Statistical Approaches to Forensic Interpretation panel, recorded live at IPTES. Moderators for the panel was…
Just Handwriting Statistics
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: March 26, 2018 In episode eight of our 2018 IPTES Season, Just Science interviews Cami Fuglsby, from South Dakota State University, to discuss Sufficiency and Complexity Factors in Handwriting Examination. Did…
Just A Juror’s Perception
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: February 19, 2018 In episode three of our 2018 IPTES Season, Just Science interviews Dr. Alicia Wilcox from Husson University and Heidi Eldridge from RTI International. Our guests discuss how visual…
Just Hairy Isotopes
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: June 26, 2017 In episode ten of Just Science, we spoke with Dr. Gwyneth Gordon, from Arizona State University. Dr. Gordon and her team have developed methods to use the isotopic abundance…
Just Blood Spatter
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: June 19, 2017 In episode nine of Just Science, we spoke with Dr. Marc K. Smith, from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Smith’s NIJ funded research in blood spatter has connected…
Just the Facts About Campus Sexual Assault
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: June 12, 2017 In episode eight of Just Science, we spoke with Dr. Christopher Krebs, a Senior Research Social Scientist at RTI International. Dr. Krebs’ research has shed light on the problem of…
Just Budgets
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: May 29, 2017 In the sixth episode of Just Science, guest speaker Dr. Paul Speaker discusses the FORESIGHT program. Dr. Speaker, an Associate Professor at West Virginia University, will describe how The FORESIGHT program helps crime…
Just DNA Mixture Interpretation
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: May 22, 2017 In the fifth episode of Just Science, guest speaker Dr. Catherine Grgicak discusses DNA Mixture interpretation,currently a hot topic in forensic science. Dr. Grgicak and her colleagues at Boston University…
Just Subjective Probability
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: May 15, 2017 For episode four of Just Science we will be diving into the world of statistics and how it applies forensic case work with Dr. Christophe Champod and Dr.…
Conference Proceedings: 2015 Impression, Pattern, and Trace Evidence Symposium
Date December 2015 Overview This report was published in RTI Press, a global publisher of peer-reviewed, open-access publications on a broad range of topics. The areas of focus reflect RTI’s multidisciplinary research, our expertise in social and laboratory sciences, and our…
Just 3D Optical Topography
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: May 8, 2017 Episode Three of Just Science features Dr. Ryan Lilien, from Cadre Forensics and Todd Weller, from the Oakland Police Department, talking about their groundbreaking research in optical topography…
2016 TechBeat Articles Featuring the FTCOE
Sexual Assault Policy Symposium Issue: Nov/Dec 2016 Page: 16 Click here to read the article Forensics Training Tool Takes “Real World” Approach to Using New Technology Issue: Nov/Dec 2016 Pages: 13-15 Click here to read the article Road Map Leads to Increased Efficiency, Improved Function…
In-Brief: Applying Internal Validation Guidelines for Expanded STR Loci Kits
Date January 2017 Overview The familiar ’13 Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) core loci’ expanded to ’20 CODIS core loci’ as mandated by the FBI on January 1, 2017. Because of this FBI mandate, participating CODIS laboratories will need to internally…
A Landscape Study of Federal Investment in Forensic Science R&D
Date December 2016 Overview Federal government involvement in forensic science improvement has accelerated in recent years. Federal investments have transformed DNA capacity and demonstrated the power of scientific advances to address criminal justice challenges. In its 2009 report, Strengthening Forensic Science…
2016 NIJ Crime Laboratory Directors Meeting
Date November 2016 Overview On August 29-30, 2016, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) convened a meeting with forensic Laboratory Directors from various regions of the United States. The purpose of the meeting was to (1) gather information and feedback on…
2014 NIJ Crime Laboratory Directors Meeting
Date October 2014 Overview On September 11-12, 2014, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) convened a meeting with crime laboratory directors from various regions of the United States to gather information on strengthening the DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (DNA)…
A Landscape Study of Mobile ID Fingerprint Devices
Date January 2014 Overview This report provides a “landscape” view of the issues and products associated with mobile devices for fingerprint identification, with a focus on forensic applications. The document is intended to furnish laboratory managers and investigators with a survey…
ASCLD Data Collection on Forensic Science Providers
Date September 2014 Overview In 2010, the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) began the Data Collection on Forensic Service Providers project to determine the full scope of forensic science services provided in the United States beyond those offered in…
R&D 2014 – Fundamental Forensic Science Research-Part II
Overview This archival portion of the 2014 R&D Seminar Series covers the following presentations: Quantitative Metrics of Friction Ridge Detail Derived from Information Theory by Thomas Busey Definition of the Concept of Sufficiency in Latent Print Examination by Cedric Neumann…
New Paradigm for Fingerprint Reporting
Overview In November 2015, the Defense Forensic Science Center (DFSC) issued an Information Paper announcing the decision to cease the use of the terms “individualization” and “identification” in latent print technical reports and expert witness testimony. This webinar provided an…
2016 NSAPS Panel 2 – Victim-Centered Approaches
Overview The National Institute of Justice, through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted “Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium” on September 8-9, 2016, in Washington D.C. The audience learned how first responders such as medical staff, victims’…
2016 NSAPS Panel 1 – Immediate Aftermath of Sexual Assault
Overview The National Institute of Justice, through its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted “Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium” on September 8-9, 2016, in Washington D.C. This panel provided an overview of how a traumatic event like…
Just Human Factors
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: May 1, 2017 In episode two, Dr. Tom Busey explores the importance of human factors as it relates to fingerprint analysis and interpretation. He, along with RTI International resident fingerprint expert, co-host Heidi Eldridge, will discuss…
Just Lab Management
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: May 1, 2017 The first episode of Just Science will feature guest speaker Barry A.J. Fisher. It will dive into Barry’s legacy, which goes back to the 1960s, and how he…
Success Story: Identifying Ignitable Liquids in Fire Debris and Providing Error Rates for Purposes of Testifying
National Institute of Justice and University of Central Florida Date November 2016 Overview Determining the presence of ignitable liquid residue among the fire debris in an arson investigation is a complicated forensic problem. Most ignitable liquids commonly encountered consist of…