Graphic Description – Medicolegal Death Investigation Case Specific Frequently Used Data Elements and Chart

Date April 2024 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…

Navigating Medical Examiner and Coroner Office Accreditation Challenges: A Practical Guide

Date December 2023 Overview The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in partnership with the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE) at RTI International and CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, set out to re-examine common obstacles and barriers that impede…

White Paper – Forensic Community Drug Database Conceptualization

Date February 2024 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…

Technical Note – The Use of Neutral Losses and Common Fragments Screening by QTOF in Forensic Laboratories

Date February 2024 Overview Quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry is an advanced analytical technique that has some capabilities that make it particularly useful in screening in toxicology cases for unknown analytes. The technology combines the power of a quadrupole mass…

DNA Recovery After Sequential Processing of Latent Fingerprints on Black Polyethylene Plastic

Publication Journal of Forensic Sciences, February 2024  Authors Abigail S. Bathrick | Bode Technology Sarah Norsworthy | RTI International Dane T. Plaza | Bode Technology Mallory N. McCormick | United States Secret Service Donia Slack | RTI International Robert S. Ramotowski | United States Secret Service …

Drug Surveillance Initiatives: An FTCOE Repository of Resources

Date Last Updated: September 2024 Published: December 2023 Overview In the realm of drug surveillance, a multitude of data sources originate from diverse funding agencies, including but not limited to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), National Institute on Drug Abuse…

Discussion of the FTCOE’s Guidance Document on Considerations for Photographic Documentation in Sexual Assault Cases

Publication Sexual Assault Report, January/February 2024 Author Mikalaa Martin | RTI International Overview In August 2022, the FTCOE published a report, Guidance Document on Considerations for Photographic Documentation in Sexual Assault Cases, which presents photographic documentation practices and techniques for…

Evidence-based Evaluation of the Analytical Schemes in ASTM E2329-17 Standard Practice for Identification of Seized Drugs for Methamphetamine Samples

Publication Forensic Chemistry, May 2024 Authors Jeremy S. Triplett | Kentucky State Police Central Forensic Laboratory Jeff Salyards | Compass Scientific Consulting Sandra E. Rodriguez-Cruz | DEA Special Testing and Research Laboratory Jeremiah A. Morris | Johnson County Sheriff’s Office…

Mass Fatality and Disaster Response Preparedness Across Medical Examiner and Coroner Offices in the United States

Publication Forensic Science International: Synergy, February 2024 Authors Micaela A. Ascolese | RTI International Kelly A. Keyes | RTI International Jeri D. Ropero-Miller | RTI International Sean E. Wire | RTI International Hope M. Smiley-McDonald | RTI International Introduction With…