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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- Missing & Unidentified Persons (48)
- Overdose Fatality (29)
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- Postmortem Interval (26)
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Touch DNA Evidence Collection in Sexual Assault Cases: Knowledge to Inform Practice
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on April 18, 2023Duration: 1 hour Overview Touch DNA was a revolutionary concept when introduced in 1997. The application of touch DNA in sexual assault cases was tested in 2011…
Landscape Study of Next Generation Sequencing Technologies for Forensic Applications
Date April 2023 Overview The National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ’s) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE), led by RTI International, provides valuable resources that promote the use of novel and innovative technologies in the forensic community. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)…
Just Certification for Death Investigation
Original Release Date: March 17, 2023 In episode four of our Supporting Medicolegal Death Investigators mini season, Just Science sat down with Bridget Kinnier and Bethany Smith, the President and Executive Director of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators…
Just Family Support During Death Investigations
Original Release Date: March 10, 2023 In episode three of our Supporting Medicolegal Death Investigators mini season, Just Science sat down with Rebecca Reid, Laramie County Coroner in Wyoming, and Meghan Clarke, Family Advocate Coordinator at the Denver Office of…
Just Lending a Hand During Autopsy Exams
Original Release Date: March 3, 2023 In episode two of our Supporting Medicolegal Death Investigators mini season, Just Science sat down with Lindsey McNaughton, founder of the National Association of Forensic Autopsy Technicians, to discuss the importance of forensic autopsy…
Just Internships for Death Investigation
Original Release Date: February 24, 2023 In episode one of our Supporting Medicolegal Death Investigators mini season, Just Science sat down with Cory Russo, Medical Examiner Investigator at the Utah State Office of the Medical Examiner, and Chelsea Brown, Senior…
Just Managing Mass Fatality Incidents
Original Release Date: February 17, 2023 In episode four of our Unidentified Human Remains mini season, Just Science sat down with Katharine Pope, a Research Public Health Analyst at RTI International, and Elissia Conlon, a Special Advisor to the New…
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)…
Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center Virtual Library 2023
← Back to the HHRRC Special Initiative The Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center (HHRRC), an organization within the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) supported by the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ’s) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE), hosted…
Just Investigative Support for Indigenous Communities
Original Release Date: February 10, 2023 In episode three of our Unidentified Human Remains mini season, Just Science sat down with Mark Pooley, founder of Native Search Solutions, and Dustin Driscoll, Research Public Health Analyst at RTI International, to discuss…
Just DNA Results in Rapid Time
Original Release Date: February 3, 2023 In episode two of our Unidentified Human Remains mini season, Just Science sat down with Neal Parsons, a Research Forensic Scientist at RTI International, to discuss how rapid DNA analysis has become an important…
Scene Investigation Video Vignettes
Overview In partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP), FTCOE and its partners produced a series of short videos on how law enforcement officers, first responders, and other stakeholders can gain…
Just Teeth and Technology
Original Release Date: January 27, 2023 In episode one of our Unidentified Human Remains mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Kenneth Aschheim, Assistant Chief Forensic Odontologist for the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, to discuss…
Investigation & Certification of Drug Toxicity Death Training
Overview Continuing Education Credits Available 3.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ 0.4 IACET Continuing Education Units 3.75 ABMDI Continuing Education Credits The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) engaged the CDC’s federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) –…
Age Estimation from the Pubic Symphysis: Back to Basics
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on January 11, 2023 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Estimating age at death is a critical step in the creation of the biological profile of unidentified remains. While anthropologists use a…
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…
Just Identifying Lake Erie John Doe
Original Release Date: December 16, 2022 In the final episode of our Case Studies: Part 2 mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Thomas Gilson, Dr. Harmeet Kaur, and Hristina Lekova with the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office, to…
Case Study Guides for Select NMDID Cases
Date December 2022 Overview The New Mexico Decedent Image Database provides access to whole body postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) images of more than 15,000 decedents, and a rich body of associated metadata, in support of research and education. There are…
Just Identifying Gacy’s Victims Part 2
Original Release Date: December 9, 2022 In episode three of our Case Studies: Part 2 mini season, Just Science sat down again with Jason Moran, Commander of Police at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, to continue discussing how his Forensic…
Transition Analysis 3 Age-at-Death Estimation: Past, Present, and Future
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on December 7, 2022Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Whether the goal is to estimate the age of a single individual or those in a larger skeletal assemblage, accurate and precise estimates…
Just Identifying Gacy’s Victims Part 1
Original Release Date: December 2, 2022 In episode two of our Case Studies: Part 2 mini season, Just Science sat down with Jason Moran, Commander of Police at the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, to discuss how he and his colleagues…
Just Autopsy Results and Crime Scene Reconstruction
Original Release Date: November 25, 2022 In episode one of our Case Studies: Part 2 mini season, Just Science sat down with Kelly Ayers, an International Association for Identification certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst, to discuss how preliminary autopsy results…
Forensic Fractography of Bone: A New Model for Skeletal Trauma Analysis
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on November 2, 2022 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Fractography is a tool for studying material failure. Analysis of cracks and fractures can reveal information about how, why, and where a…
Skeletal Sex Estimation and Practitioner Use of MorphoPASSE
← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on October 5, 2022 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Skeletal sex estimation is one of the most important aspects of the biological profile as it narrows the population essentially by half…
Just Using Forensic Art and Anthropology for Identification
Original Release Date: September 30, 2022 In episode four of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification season, Just Science sat down with Katharine Pope, a Research Public Health Analyst at RTI International, Dr. Bruce Anderson, a Forensic Anthropologist…
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 NIJ Forensic Science Graduate Research Symposium
← Back to Main Page Overview This event originally occurred on September 20, 2022 Duration: 2 hours The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has long hosted an annual Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium in which NIJ grantees present their…
2022 National Forensic Science Week Murder Mystery Event
← Back to Main Page Overview As a part of National Forensic Science Week 2022 (September 18-24, 2022), the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) is offering a murder mystery event! Each day of the week, a new evidence-based clue…
2022 National Forensic Science Week Ask an Expert
← Back to Main Page Overview The FTCOE has conducted a variety of written interviews with forensic professionals in various forensic science disciplines. From digital evidence to trace analysis and medicolegal death investigation to DNA analysis, the FTCOE showcases real-world…
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…
Society of Forensic Anthropologists Webinar Series
Overview The Society of Forensic Anthropologists (SOFA) is a non-profit organization comprised of active American Academy of Forensic Science members who are forensic anthropology practitioners. SOFA promotes communication and cooperation among forensic anthropologists and is committed to professional growth and…
Just Identifying Decedents through Postmortem Prints
Original Release Date: September 16, 2022 In episode two of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification season, Just Science sat down with Bryan Johnson, the Major Incident Program Manager in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Latent Print Unit,…
Just Identifying Individuals with Forensic Genetic Genealogy
Original Release Date: September 9, 2022 In episode one of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Heather McKiernan, a Research Forensic Scientist at RTI International, and Ashley Rodriguez, a Research Public…
Just Forensic Archaeology and Body Dump Sites
Original Release Date: August 19, 2022 In episode three of our Case Studies: Part 1 mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Sharon Moses, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Northern Arizona University, to discuss forensic archaeology and locating…
Medicolegal Death Investigation Partnerships on Overdose Fatality Reviews
Date July 2022 Overview The main purpose of Overdose Fatality Reviews (OFRs) is to review overdose fatalities and find gaps in services to help save lives. They rely on a multi-agency approach to information sharing to accomplish this goal. Upon…
Project ECHO: Applications for the Medicolegal Death Investigation Community and Other Forensic Disciplines
Date October 2022 Overview Similar to the foundational ECHO model designed for primary care providers, ECHO: Overdose Fatality Investigation Techniques (OD-FIT) is designed to promote the rapid dissemination of medicolegal death investigation-specific knowledge for immediate application to overdose casework.1 The ECHO…
Developing a Postmortem CT Service: Practical Considerations for Death Investigation Agencies
Date May 2022 Overview This guide will help medicolegal death investigation agencies that are considering adopting postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) make informed decisions. First, the basic questions are outlined that must be considered before approaching architects or gathering information about…
Currently Applied Naming Conventions for Various Subclassifications of Novel Psychoactive Substances
Date May 2022 Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in partnership with its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, convened a virtual Medicolegal Death Investigation Data Exchange Working…
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, 2022 Duration: 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…
Electronic Cigarettes: A Tangle of Regulation, Public Health, and Public Safety Issues
← Back to Unseen Threats Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on May 24, 2022 Duration: 1 hour Overview While modern electronic cigarettes (ECIG) were invented as an effective alternate method for nicotine delivery, the unregulated cannabis industry and recreational…
2022 Law Enforcement Drug Response Summit Archive
Overview This Arnold Ventures-supported study aimed to develop a better understanding of law enforcement drug response programs in the United States. As a part of that project, the study team fielded the 2021 National Law Enforcement Drug Response Survey, to…
Things Are Not What They Seem: A Collection of Interesting Case Studies from the Medical Examiner Scene Queens
← Back to Unseen Threats Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on May 19, 2022Duration: 1 hour Overview With the rise of illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, synthetic cathinones, xylazine, and other substances adulterating many traditional street drugs, users often have…
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…
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,…
2021 IACME Annual Symposium – Education Modules
Overview The National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence has partnered with the International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners (IACME) to bring the community free, continuing education modules recorded at the 2021 IACME annual symposium held in-person…
Advanced Imaging Technologies for Death Investigation
Overview In the last several years, the application of Advanced Imaging Technologies for Death Investigation has grown dramatically and the National Institute of Justice began research in this area in 2012. Advanced technologies used for postmortem imaging (PMI) can include…
2022 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 March 1st & 2nd, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern.…
2022 Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center Virtual Library
← Back to the HHRRC Special Initiative The Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center (HHRRC), an organization within the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) supported by the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE), hosted…
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…
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…
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…
Use of Rapid Toxicology Screening Tools in Medical Examiner/Coroner Offices
Date November 2021 Overview All medical examiner/coroner (ME/C) offices must make difficult decisions when allocating resources for timely, complete medicolegal death investigations. In some cases, toxicological analysis of a decedent’s biological specimens (e.g., blood, urine, tissue) can help determine cause…
Molecular Identification of Insects Relevant to Medicolegal Casework
This webinar originally occurred on December 2, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview Accurate insect identification is critical to their use in estimation of time of colonization (TOC) and post-mortem interval (PMI) during medicolegal death investigations. Insect specimens are currently identified…
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…
Harnessing Data to Implement Real-Time Data-Driven Overdose Response Strategies
← Back to MDI Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on December 7, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview In response to the lack of real-time reporting of both non-fatal and fatal overdoses across the United States, the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity…
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…
Data Systems Imperative in 21st Century Forensic Services
← Back to MDI Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on November 16, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview Forensic science and service providers are, almost universally, experiencing a two-fold challenge to achieve effective results: diminishing resources and increasing demands for…
MDI Considerations for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
← Back to MDI Webinar Series This webinar originally occurred on November 4, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview Medical examiners and coroners use a variety of data sources to complete a medicolegal death investigation (MDI) and make determinations on a…
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…
Medicolegal Death Investigation (MDI) Webinar Series
Overview The medicolegal death investigation (MDI) system, which includes Medical Examiner and Coroner offices, serves a fundamental role for supporting public safety by conducting death scene investigations, performing forensic autopsies, providing cause and manner of death determinations, and completing death…
2021 National Forensic Science Week Murder Mystery Event
← Back to Main Page Overview As a part of National Forensic Science Week 2021 (September 19-25, 2021), the FTCOE is offered a murder mystery event! Each day of the week, a new evidence-based clue was revealed on the website…
2021 National Forensic Science Week Practitioner Interviews
← Back to Main Page Overview The FTCOE has conducted a variety of written interviews with forensic professionals in various stages of their careers. From recent graduates to retired professionals, the FTCOE showcases real-world perspectives on the current state of…
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…
2021 National Forensic Science Week FTCOE Student Research Poster Session
← Back to Main Page Overview As fall semesters are getting back into session and in honor of the upcoming National Forensic Science Week (September 19-25, 2021), the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) would like to highlight student research…
Overdose Fatality Investigation Techniques: Lessons Learned from Project ECHO
This webinar originally occurred on October 7, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview State and territorial public health agencies rely on timely and accurate overdose mortality data to drive effective prevention initiatives. As the number of overdose deaths in the United…
Introduction to the Forensic Anthropology Database for Assessing Methods Accuracy
This webinar originally occurred on August 31, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview Data availability is the cornerstone of progression of any scientific inquiry. For forensic anthropologists, the data sources are limited, as they must be contextually appropriate (temporal, geographical, etc.)…
Criminal Justice and Public Health Response for Emerging Drug Threats
Overview In a joint effort with the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program (COSSAP), FTCOE develops capabilities that meet the needs of forensic science organizations to improve collaborations across the criminal justice and public…
Multiple Perspectives on Overdose Fatality Reviews
This webinar originally occurred on July 27, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar provided an overview of overdose fatality reviews (OFRs) with a specific focus on engaging partnerships with coroners, medical examiners, and medicolegal death investigators. The presenters highlighted…
Working Group on Data Exchange in Medicolegal Death Investigation
Working Group on Data Exchange in Medicolegal Death Investigation The National Institute of Justice and its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence convene the Working Group on Data Exchange in Medicolegal Death Investigation in collaboration with and supported by the Centers…
Just Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Pathology Portfolio
Original Release Date: June 18, 2021 In episode three of our 2021 NIJ R&D and Beyond mini season, Just Science sat down with Danielle McLeod-Henning, a physical scientist and program manager in the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences at NIJ, to discuss Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Pathology. Danielle McLeod-Henning has been the physical…
2021 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 16, 2021 from 10:00 AM Eastern to 5:40 PM Eastern. NIJ…
PMCT Potpourri of Unnatural Deaths
← Back to Series – This webinar originally occurred on May 18, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview In the sixth and final webinar, participants were introduced to the use of PMCT in the investigation of a variety of unnatural deaths…
PMCT of Natural Deaths
← Back to Series – This webinar originally occurred on May 11, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview In the fifth webinar, participants were introduced to the use of PMCT in the investigation of natural deaths. At the New Mexico OMI, a…
PMCT of Blunt Force Trauma
← Back to Series – This webinar originally occurred on May 4, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar introduced participants to the use of PMCT in the diagnosis of blunt force trauma. PMCT scan may be used to diagnose…
PMCT of Gunshot Wounds
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on April 27, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview In the third webinar, participants were introduced to the use of PMCT for examining decedents with gunshot wounds, both homicidal and self-inflicted. At the…
Overview of PMCT for Pathologist Triage
← Back to Series – This webinar originally occurred on April 20, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview In the second webinar, participants were introduced to the use of PMCT as a triage tool in a busy forensic pathology practice. Participants…
Post-Mortem Computed Tomography Webinar Series
Overview Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) is a valuable tool for medicolegal death investigation. PMCT examination may be used to supplement traditional autopsy or anthropological examinations. Further, PMCT combined with external examination may be used as an alternative to full autopsy…
PMCT Basics: Facility and Technical Aspects
← Back to Series – This webinar originally occurred on April 13, 2021 Duration: 1 hour Overview In the first webinar, participants were introduced to x-ray computed tomography (CT) and some key differences between CT and traditional x-ray. The basic…
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…
Just Alternative Crisis Response: One Community’s Experience
Original Release Date: February 26, 2021 In episode six of the 2021 Illicit Substance Use Response season, Just Science interviews Tim Black of the White Bird Clinic in Eugene, Oregon about the CAHOOTS program, a community-based public safety model that provides…
Just Partnerships To Enhance Overdose Fatality Review
Original Release Date: February 19, 2021 In episode five of the 2021 Illicit Substance Use Response season, Just Science interviews Dr. Mallory O’Brien, Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, to discuss how partnerships can enhance Overdose Fatality Reviews. The National Violent Death…
Just The Importance of Identifying Emerging Drug Threats
Original Release Date: February 5, 2021 In episode three of the 2021 Illicit Substance Use Response season, Just Science sat down with Amanda Mohr and Dr. Alex Krotulski from the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education to discuss the analytical and interpretative challenges associated with emerging…
Just the Intersection of Opioids and Illicit Stimulants Part 2
Original Release Date: January 29, 2021 This week, in episode two of our 2021 Illicit Substance Use Response season Just Science continues the conversation with Dr. Jon Zibbell as he discusses the American history of drug epidemics, what we can learn from past stimulant crises, and the…
2020 Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center Virtual Library
← Back to the HHRRC Special Initiative The Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center, an organization within the American Academy of Forensic Science supported by NIJ’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, hosted this Poster Session as an open meeting where…
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…
Deaths in Custody: A Comprehensive Review
← Back to MDI Webinar Series We are thrilled to offer ABMDI Continuing Education Credits for this webinar. See below for details. This webinar originally occurred on December 2, 2020 Duration: 1 hour Overview Join the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner…
Taking 3D Measurements with NMDID Images
← Back to Series – This webinar originally occurred on October 28, 2020 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar will introduce the audience to viewing and collecting data from 3D medical imaging modalities (CT/MRI) using the open source 3D Slicer…
Opening and Viewing NMDID Image Data
← Back to Series – This webinar originally occurred on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 Duration: 1 hour Overview In the third webinar, participants will learn about the image data included in the New Mexico Decedent Image Database. Post-mortem computed tomography…
Accessing and Utilizing Metadata from NMDID
← Back to Series – This webinar originally occurred on October 14, 2020 Duration: 1 hour Overview In the second webinar, participants will explore the types of data included in the New Mexico Decedent Image Database. The Data Dictionary contains…
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…
The New Mexico Decedent Image Database Webinar Series
Overview The New Mexico Decedent Image Database (NMDID) is a new resource for research in any field that can draw on computed tomography scans of humans. The database contains de-identified scans of over 15,000 individuals; all were deceased at the…
The National Institute of Justice and the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence’s National Opioid and Emerging Drug Threats Policy and Practice Forum
Date July 2020 Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and its Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosted the National Opioid and Emerging Drug Threats Policy and Practice Forum on July 18-19, 2019, in Washington, DC. The forum explored ways…
Overview of Accessing the NMDID Database and Searching
← Back to Series – This webinar originally occurred on October 7th, 2020 Duration: 1 hour Overview The New Mexico Decedent Image Database (NMDID) is a new resource for research in any field that can draw on computed tomography scans…
ABMDI Continuing Education Credits
Overview The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence is thrilled to offer American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Continuing Education (CE) credits to those who attend the following virtual events. ABMDI credits will be calculated by total time spent watching.…
Just Blowflies and Extreme Temperatures
Original Release Date: April 17, 2020 In episode five of the 2020 R&D Season, Just Science interviews Dr. Travis Rusch, a postdoctoral research associate at Texas A&M University, about fluctuating temperatures in forensically important blowflies. Forensic entomologists use predictable developmental rates of certain necrophagus insects to estimate time of…
Just Skeletal Remains Identification
Original Release Date: March 27, 2020 In episode two of the 2020 R&D Season, Just Science interviews Dr. Heather Garvin-Elling, Associate Professor of Anatomy at Des Moines University, about her work with OSTEOID, an online resource for species identification of skeletal remains. Approximately 30-40% of cases involving…
Online Workshop: 2019 IAC&ME Training Symposium
In 2019, IAC&ME hosted a combined Basic and Advanced Medicolegal Death Investigation course in addition to its general conference program in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year’s program provided another excellent opportunity to learn from some of the best speakers…
2020 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 18th, 2020 at the 72nd Annual American Academy of Forensic Sciences…
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…
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…
Detection and Visibility of Bruises Using Alternate Light: From Science to Practice
This webinar originally occurred on October 30, 2019 Duration: 1 hour Overview Bruising is one of the most common types of soft tissue injury noted on victims of violence, including those suffering intimate partner violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and…
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…
Just the Census of Medical Examiners and Coroners
Original Release Date: November 20, 2017 In this special release episode, Just Science interviews Dr. Hope Smiley-McDonald and Connor Brooks about the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Census of Medical Examiners and Coroners. The last Census of Medical Examiners and Coroners…
Opioids & Emerging Drug Threats – Integrating Public Safety and Health Data for a Forensic Response Webinar Series
Overview Building on the momentum of the National Opioid and Emerging Drug Threats Policy and Practice Forum held earlier this year in Washington, D.C., the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) will assist the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in…
The Opioid Epidemic: An Update from the Coroner/ME Perspective
This webinar originally occurred on July 24, 2019 Duration: 50 minutes Overview Between 2016 and 2017, overdose deaths increased from 63,632 to 70,237. Of these, 47,600 overdose deaths involved opioids. In 2017, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and the District…
Medicolegal Death Investigation: Locating and Notifying Next of Kin & Donation 101
This webinar originally occurred on July 23, 2019 Duration: 1.75 hours Overview Locating and notifying the next of kin is an important part of medicolegal death investigation. This presentation provided examples of resources at the scene and online to assist…
Just Imaging Flow Cytometry
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: July 22, 2019 In episode ten of our 2019 NIJ R&D season, Just Science interviews Dr. Christopher Ehrhardt, professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, about a method for determining tissue type, age…
Just Flies and Their Artifacts
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: July 12, 2019 In episode nine of our 2019 NIJ R&D season, Just Science interviews Dr. David Rivers, a professor at Loyola University, about the detection of insect stains and the…
Just Putrid Databases
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: June 25, 2019 In episode seven of our 2019 NIJ R&D season, Just Science interviews Dr. Audris Mockus, a Professor in the Tickle College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee,…
Cradle to Cane: Investigation of Crimes Against Vulnerable Victims
This webinar originally occurred on March 21-23, 2017 Duration: 14 hours Overview: In 2017, the National Institute of Justice, Charleston Southern University, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, and the Shaken Baby Alliance worked together to create and host “From Cradle to Cane: Investigation of Crimes…
Just RNA and Bloodstains
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: May 29, 2019 In episode three of our 2019 NIJ R&D season, Just Science interviews Dr. Robert Allen, professor and head of the Forensic Sciences Department at Oklahoma State University, about…
Just Fundamental Mechanics and Infant Skull Fractures
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: May 14, 2019 In episode two of our 2019 NIJ R&D season, Just Science interviews Dr. Brittany Coats, associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Utah, about her efforts…
Online Workshop Series: Probabilistic Genotyping Of Evidentiary DNA Typing Results
Overview The Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory has partnered with the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence to create a series of online workshops aimed at increasing knowledge, understanding, and the reliable application of probabilistic genotyping to…
Rapid DNA’s Role in Disaster Victim Identification
This webinar originally occurred on May 2nd, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Historically DNA technology has been used as a last resort in the identification of disaster victims. Traditional DNA testing can be a lengthy process and can be costly…
Identification: Just Forensic Microanthropology
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: March 22, 2019 In episode seven of our Identification season, Just Science interviews Carlos Gutierrez, a lecturer at Chaminade University of Honolulu, about the new field of Forensic Microanthropology. After finding…
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…
Emerging Research in Medicolegal Death Investigations
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on March 14, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview Forensic science research and development plays a key role in the advancement of the practice of forensic science, as noted by the 2009 National…
HHRRC – Stable Isotope Analysis in a Humanitarian Context
← Back to Series The webinar originally occurred on March 12, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview This webinar will introduce stable isotope analysis and its validity as analytical tool in establishing the geographic origin and life history of unidentified individuals…
HHRRC – Isotopes Aiding Identification of Undocumented Border Crosser Human Remains
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on February 6, 2019 Duration: 1.5 hours Overview This webinar highlights the theory and methods of isotopic analysis to explain how it can be used to assist in the identification of human…
Success Story: Uncovering Key Details of Skeletal Remains through 3D-ID Software
National Institute of Justice and North Carolina State University Date January 2019 Overview When forensic anthropologists investigate unidentified remains, they look for important clues that can help identify the subject. For example, the size and shape of the skull can…
Just Planning For The Aftermath Of A Mass Shooting
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: October 22, 2018 In episode four of our 2018 Medicolegal Death Investigation Special Release Season, Just Science interviews John Fudenberg, the Coroner for Clark County, where he discusses the tragic events of the 2017 concert…
Variability in Blow-Fly Development – Research and Implications for PMI Practice
This webinar originally occurred on November 7, 2018 Duration: 2 hours Overview Dr. Leon Higley’s work to characterize blow-fly species indicates that there is variation within a single population–the bell curve is wide. Dr. Higley will share his research and…
Just Forensic Nurse Coroners
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: October 15, 2018 In episode three of our 2018 Medicolegal Death Investigation Special Release Season, Just Science interviews Bobbi Jo O’Neal, the Chief Deputy Coroner of Charleston, South Carolina, who discusses…
Just Coroners Versus Medical Examiner Systems
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: October 8, 2018 In episode two of our 2018 Medicolegal Death Investigation Special Release Season, Just Science interviews John Fudenberg, the Coroner for Clark County, Nevada. Listen along as Just Science…
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…
Estimating Blow Fly Age and Reducing Error in Postmortem Interval Cases
This webinar originally occurred on October 24, 2018 Duration: 2 hours Overview Insect evidence can provide valuable information during death investigations. Forensic entomologists estimate the ages of the immature insects like blow flies, which can provide useful information regarding timelines…
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…
Strengthening the Medical Examiner–Coroner System Through NIJ-funded Programs: 2018 Medicolegal Death Investigation Stakeholders’ Meeting
Date September 2018 Overview On February 5-6, 2018, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research and evaluation agency of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), convened a diverse group of stakeholders from across the United States to gather…
Just a Whole-Body CT Image Database
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: August 27, 2018 In episode four of our 2018 NIJ R&D Season, Just Science speaks with Dr. Shamsi Berry, from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, about her research with standardizing a…
Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center Webinar Series
Overview The Humanitarian and Human Rights Resource Center (HHRRC) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) with support from the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence provides needed resources and support to apply modern forensic science…
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…
Just Speak into the Microbe-phone
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: August 6, 2018 In episode one of our 2018 NIJ R&D Season, Just Science host Dr. John Morgan speaks with Dr. Bruce Budowle, the Executive Director of the Institute of Applied…
3D-ID-Geometric Morphometric Classification of Crania for Forensic Scientists Software Best Practices
This webinar originally occurred on August 16, 2018 Duration: 1 hour Overview Attendees will be introduced to the new features of the new software release, how to maximize results, and how to best interpret results for forensic casework application. The…
2018 IAC&ME Training Symposium
Overview This year, the IAC&ME hosted a combined Basic and Advanced Medicolegal Death Investigation (MDI) course in addition to its general conference program in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year’s program provided another excellent opportunity to learn from some of the…
Three Part Online Workshop Series: Best Practices Guidance for Advancing Research Initiatives and Combatting the Synthetic Drug Epidemic
Overview The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) is a world-leading center in novel drug identification and interpretation. The CFSRE is working in association with NIJ’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE), led by RTI International, to deliver…
Conference Proceedings: 2018 Research and Development Symposium
Date April 2018 Overview The 2018 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…
Success Story: Establishing a “Microbial Clock” to Improve Time of Death Prediction
National Institute of Justice and Multi-Institute Academic Team Date April 2018 Overview The postmortem interval (PMI) is the time that has elapsed since a person’s death. Determining the PMI at a crime scene may help to recreate the victim’s timeline…
Success Story: Maximizing the Use of Mitochondrial DNA in Identifying Remains and Aiding Missing Persons Casework
National Institute of Justice and the American Registry of Pathology Date April 2018 Overview Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) serves as an important tool in situations where traditional nuclear DNA analysis is unlikely to yield probative information. mtDNA sequencing has traditionally focused…
DNA Kinship Testing Webinar Series
Overview DNA kinship tests are proposed as a method within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for confirming the presence of a biological relationship between two individuals for immigration purposes, preventing human trafficking, and identifying mass disaster victims. This webinar…
2018 NIJ R&D Symposium Series Forensic Anthropology
← Back to Series Overview Morning Session I: Forensic Anthropology The NIJ Research and Development (R&D) Program funds both basic or applied R&D projects that will: (1) increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform forensic science policy and…
Aquatic Death and Homicidal Drowning Investigation
Date February 2018 Overview Drowning is one of the leading causes of “accidental death” in the United States, but it is possible that many of these deaths are, in fact, incidents of foul play. It is important that law enforcement…
The NC Statewide Medical Examiner System Laboratory Approach
← Back to Series Overview This webinar will focus on the North Carolina Medical Examiner System and the toxicology laboratory that serves the system. Included will be information on the changing landscape of death certification and changes to the laboratory…
Opioids and Death Investigation: A “Perfect Storm”
← Back to Series Overview The scope of the opioid epidemic presents unprecedented challenges to the medical examiner and coroner community. This webinar will explore the intersection of the opioid epidemic with the work of America’s medical examiners and coroners.…
Just Postmortem Interval Estimation Research
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: July 24, 2017 In this special release episode of the 2017 NIJ R&D Symposium, Just Science interviews Dr. Jeffrey Wells and Dr. Lynn LaMotte. This is the abstract submitted where Dr.…
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 Dry Bones
← Back to Just Science Podcast Original Release Date: June 5, 2017 In the seventh episode of Just Science, guest speakers Dr. Melissa Connor, Dr. Eriek Hansen, and Christiane Baigent discuss their NIJ funded research. A study was launched in late 2015…
2016 National Institute of Justice Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium
Date July 2016 Overview The 2016 NIJ Research and Development Symposium is intended to promote collaboration and enhance knowledge transfer of NIJ-funded research. The NIJ Research and Development (R&D) Program funds both basic or applied R&D projects that will (1)…
HHRRC – A Review of Forensic Anthropology in Mexico
← Back to Series The webinar originally occurred on June 2nd, 2017 Duration: 1 hour Overview This webinar provided an overview of the development of forensic anthropology worldwide, but above all in Mexico, and how our team has adapted by…
HHRRC – Stable Isotope Forensics & Unknown Persons Investigations
← Back to Series This webinar originally occurred on May 24, 2017 Duration: 2 hours Overview This webinar discussed applications of stable isotope analysis for predicting region of origin of unidentified border crossers found within the United States. Participants will…
HHRRC – Analysis and Conservation of Human Remains in Cambodia
← Back to Series The webinar originally occurred on May 16th, 2017 Duration: 1 hour Overview This presentation provides an introduction to the work conducted in Cambodia to analyze/preserve human remains from violence committed by the Khmer Rouge. Specifically the…
Advanced Radiologic Imaging in Medicolegal Death Investigation
Overview In conjunction with the University of New Mexico, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) hosted a technology transition workshop focusing on advanced radiologic imaging for medicolegal death investigation on November 11-13, 2016. The workshop was held at the…
2015 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 17, 2015 at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) meeting…
HHRRC – Nerve Agent Uptake and Detection in Human Bone
← Back to Series The webinar originally occurred on May 9th, 2017 Duration: 1 hour Overview This presentation discusses experimental tests of a model for drug uptake by human bone and explores how the results may be applied to detect…
2013 R&D: Straight to the Bone: Advances in Forensic Anthropology
Overview This archival portion of the 2013 R&D Seminar Series covers the following presentations: • Improving Sex Estimation from Crania using 3-Dimensional CT Scans – Natalie Shirley • Independent Validation Test of Microscopic Saw Mark Analysis – Jennifer Love • A…
The Crime Scene Is Fluid: Land to Water-Based Scenes
Overview This presentation also transitions into the investigation of deaths that occur in water. Deaths in the water, whether at home or on a lake, etc., are generally thought of as accidents. A major focus of this lecture is to…
2013 R&D: Postmortem Interval and Molecular Autopsy – Part II [Archival]
Overview This archival portion of the 2013 R&D Seminar Series covers the following presentations: Applications of Curvilinear Development Modeling for the Blow Fly Lucilia Sericota – Leon Higley Investigating Unexplained Deaths through Molecular Autopsies – Yingying Tang A certificate of…
2013 R&D: Postmortem Interval and Molecular Autopsy – Part I [Archival]
Overview This archival portion of the 2013 R&D Seminar Series covers the following presentations: Microbial Community Change Associated with Decomposing Corpses – Rob Knight Using Differential RNA Degradation to Estimate an Extended Postmortem Interval – Joshua Moore A certificate of…
R&D 2014 – Models in Forensic DNA & Pathology Part II
Overview This archival portion of the 2014 R&D Seminar Series covers the following presentations: • New Pediatric Head Injury Assessment Tool for Possible Child Abuse Cases Considering Subject-Specific Child Head Anatomy – Dr. Jingwen Hu • Investigation of the Impact…
R&D 2014 – Models in Forensic DNA & Pathology – Part I
Overview This archival portion of the 2014 R&D Seminar Series covers the following presentations: • Modeling 3D Facial Shape from DNA – Dr. Mark Shriver • Pediatric Fracture Printing: Creating a Science of Statistical Fracture Signature Analysis – Dr. Todd…
2017 NIJ R&D Series Anthropology & Microbial Forensics
Overview The NIJ Forensic Science Research and Development Symposium was a free and open meeting where attendees learned about NIJ-funded research across a variety of forensic science areas. Afternoon Session I – Anthropology & Microbial Forensics Speakers & Presentations for…
2016 NIJ R&D Series Anthropology & Microbial Forensics
Overview Afternoon Session I: Anthropology & Microbial Forensics The NIJ Research and Development (R&D) Program funds both basic or applied R&D projects that will: (1) Increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform forensic science policy and practice (2)…
Success Story: Creating an International Databank of Skeletal Biomarkers for Human Identification
National Institute of Justice and University of South Florida Date September 2016 Overview According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Missing Person and Unidentified Person Files, there are approximately 13,500 unidentified individual cases in…
Success Story: Understanding the Ecology of Human Decomposition Methods for Estimating Postmortem Interval
National Institute of Justice and the National Museum of Health and Medicine Date April 2015 Overview Data on the microbiome of decomposing and skeletonized remains are providing an avenue for understanding how microbial communities may be used to augment medicolegal…
Success Story: Improving Identification of Mexican Hispanic Remains
National Institute of Justice and Texas State University Date April 2015 Overview In the United States, the Mexican Hispanic population ranks second in total size, yet Mexican Hispanic individuals often remain unidentified in forensic anthropological cases. The reason? There has…