Rapid DNA’s Role in Disaster Victim Identification

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate has tested Rapid DNA at mass fatality incident response exercises since 2015. This was done to determine the technology’s ability and usefulness in identifying victims of mass disasters. This webinar will review the successes and challenges from those exercises as well as discuss Rapid DNA’s most recent role in identifying victims of the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County, CA.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on May 2, 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNhpzMioBIc

Improving National Laboratory Capability and Capacity to Measure Human Exposure to Synthetic Opioids

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

This presentation will review CDC laboratory activities related to improving measurements of human exposures to synthetic opioids, and how this may benefit public, private and academic laboratories.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 3, 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO5cZOD5r9Q

Surviving Sexual Assault – It Takes A Village

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

Listening to the experiences of sexual assault survivors is an important step to fully understand how the criminal justice system plays a pivotal role in a survivor’s journey to recovery from the mental and physical impact of sexual assault.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on May 2, 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqz_TObLUvA

Applying Lessons Learned from Opioids & PolyDrug Incidents in Addressing Emerging Drug Threats

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

By participating in this webinar, participants will be able to discuss the breadth, diversity, and array of substance and substance combinations as well as the latest trends in novel psychoactive substances contributing to our current substance abuse pandemic. Audience members will recognize that while the timing of future abuse / overdose surges cannot be predicted with accuracy due to novel polydrug combinations, evolving ingestion routes, and ever-changing user demographics related to particular surges, lessons from past substance-related surges and outbreaks provide probative and informative lessons from which responses can be fashioned. Participants will be able to implement strategies for drug landscape monitoring, testing approaches, and harm reduction based on contemporary drug intelligence. Attendees will be able to mitigate harms occurring in emerging drug outbreaks and will gain insights to assist in factual communication and information dissemination at the federal, state, regional and local level regarding the emergent crises’ scope, nature, and impacts.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on November 12, 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyRzdsg3h24

A Campus-Wide Response to Sexual Misconduct: Best Practices

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

Sexual misconduct may impact students in all aspects of their campus lives and a comprehensive response includes meeting students’ needs. This webinar provides an overview and examples of best practices for equitable process options, culturally competent resources, and creative solutions to serve students and comply with a changing legal framework.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 7, 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPiXrttNp7Y

UNODC Early Warning Alert System: Forensic Tools for New Psychoactive Substances

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Early Warning Advisory (EWA) on new psychoactive substances (NPS) was launched in June 2013 as a response to the emergence of NPS at the global level. The EWA aims to monitor, analyse, and report trends on NPS as a basis for effective evidence-based policy responses. It also serves as a repository for information/data on these substances and a platform for providing technical assistance, tools, and relevant analytical information for national drug testing and toxicology laboratories in member states.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on December 3, 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf1voz8gJYc

Using ODMAP to Harness Data and Accelerate Action

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

By combining the data in ODMAP with collaborative partnerships which span different disciplines, localities can develop and deploy a real-time plan to reduce both fatal and non-fatal overdoses.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 16, 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIZbfBe2rN4

Investigating Sexual Assault of Elder Victims

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

Sexual assault investigations within the elderly population require a unique and collaborative response. This webinar highlighted strategies to improve support services and case outcomes for elderly victims through a multidisciplinary approach.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 12, 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6nXYAUvkuc

The Opioid Epidemic: An Update from the Coroner/ME Perspective, Part 1

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

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 of Columbia were the top five states with the highest rate of drug overdose deaths.

This presentation provided an overview of the opioid epidemic from the medical examiner and coroner perspective. Attendees learned about the current state of forensic pathology in the United States, as well as the history, production, metabolism, and pharmacology of heroin. Additionally, the subject matter expert shared a review of heroin overdose signs, autopsy and scene findings, and considerations for forensic toxicology.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence in July 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17_31DU9egc

The Opioid Epidemic: An Update from the Coroner/ME Perspective, Part 2

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

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 of Columbia were the top five states with the highest rate of drug overdose deaths.

This presentation provided an overview of the opioid epidemic from the medical examiner and coroner perspective. Attendees learned about the current state of forensic pathology in the United States, as well as the history, production, metabolism, and pharmacology of heroin. Additionally, the subject matter expert shared a review of heroin overdose signs, autopsy and scene findings, and considerations for forensic toxicology.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence in July 2019.

(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqmxry9s5aE