Category: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

This video is one of 12 from the recorded at the Firearm and Toolmarks Policy and Practice Forum hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 11–14, 2022. Presentations include:
– 3D Microscopes and their Application to Firearm and Toolmark Examination; Thomas Brian Renegar, National Institute of Standards and Technology
– Firearm and Toolmark Virtual Comparison Software Technology; Todd Weller, Weller Forensics LLC
– Computer-Aided Firearm and Toolmark Analysis; Johannes Soons, National Institute of Standards and Technology

The symposium included presentations and panel discussions on topics relevant to recent advances in firearm and toolmark examination with a focus on the future. The symposium brought together 685 criminal justice professionals to explore implementation of three-dimensional (3D) imaging technologies, best practices for forensic examination of firearm and toolmark evidence, federal initiatives, gun crime intelligence, black box studies on firearm and toolmark examination, legal challenges to the admissibility of current examination of firearm and toolmark evidence and engineering solutions that will be used in court in the future, implementation of Organization of Scientific Area Committee (OSAC) standards and reporting, uniform language in testimony and conclusion scales. The panel discussions and presentations and provided examples of how agencies implement new imaging technologies for firearms and toolmark examination, incorporate statistics to add weight to forensic comparisons, address legal issues, and operationalize forensic intelligence to improve public safety and share information with the justice community. The symposium also provided a platform to discuss a series of considerations for the forensic, law enforcement, and greater criminal justice community that could help support a successful national transition to incorporate statistics in forensic testimony and accelerate the adoption of imaging technologies for firearm and toolmark examination.

(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=5VUbe6tZWVo

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

(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=4G1QZWEzjXQ

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

Plastic bags are present in many criminal cases. Analyzing these bags in a forensic case can sometimes identify the manufacturer. More importantly, forensic comparison of bags from a known box or other known source can determine whether the bag could have originated from that source. This webinar discusses the manufacturing process, class and randomly acquired characteristics, examination techniques, and comparisons between questioned and known bags. The final segment includes a discussion of recent research in this area, followed by a question-and-answer period.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 20, 2024.

(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=R4R64V7DuFM

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

In bloodstain pattern analysis, pattern classification is the step in the method where the analyst evaluates the features of bloodstains to determine the potential mechanism of creation. The community has standard definitions for these different bloodstain patterns; however, classification is based on features, not definitions. This webinar guides the analyst through the process of establishing objective criteria for what features must be present to include specific pattern types within the pattern classification step. This will also include a discussion about embracing qualitative uncertainty in pattern classification.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 1, 2024.

(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=31PXzfHdA2A

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

When working within a coroner or medical examiner’s office, engaging with the bereaved is a daily task. While this task can sometimes feel monotonous or routine, this webinar challenges this myth and shows that it should be anything but. It provides insight on the importance of a trauma informed approach to supporting all grieving individuals. It discusses the value of collaborating with trained professionals, such as victim advocates, and lessons learned from the presenters’ combined years of experience working with people experiencing trauma.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 26, 2024.

(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=twOIIwMpeZQ

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

This session busts the myth that new toxicology screening tools can fully replace traditional toxicology testing. The session discusses the appropriate integration of current rapid toxicology screening tools into MEC offices as a method of triaging cases, rather than a determination of toxicology related causes of deaths. Topics covered in this webinar include the rationale for rapid screening at different points in the investigation (e.g., triage of case); differences between toxicology screening and confirmation testing; and exemplar case studies to highlight salient points.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on October 8, 2024.

(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=UXfXUzK7EdQ

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

Former medicolegal death investigators highlight the mental health challenges faced by medicolegal death investigation professionals, particularly the effects of indirect trauma. By sharing personal experiences, research data, and practical strategies, they aim to raise awareness about early signs of PTSD, stress, and burnout. Emphasizing the importance of resilience, community support, and vulnerability, the presentation encourages fostering trauma-informed workplaces and prioritizing wellness, including practical strategies. The goal is to help professionals recognize issues before they escalate and maintain long-term well-being in demanding careers.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 19, 2024.

(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=yLSTEMNnodI

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

Identification of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) based on comparisons of electron-ionization (EI) mass spectra continues to pose challenges in seized drug analysis. In this webinar, a method to statistically compare EI mass spectra is described, and an application of the method to distinguish several structural and positional isomers of NPS analogs are demonstrated.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 25, 2024.

(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=8zc54luO1ns

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) conducts the Census of Publicly Funded Forensic Crime Laboratories (CPFFCL) to provide insight into federal, state, county, and municipal crime labs that are funded solely by the government or whose parent organization is a government agency. The most recent CPFFCL provides national-level data on the workload and operations of crime labs during 2020. Of the 326 eligible crime labs and multilab systems in the 2020 CPFFCL, 293 (90%) provided responses to at least some of the survey questions. This webinar presents findings from the 2020 CPFFCL and provide an update on next year’s new CPFFCL.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on April 2, 2024.

(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=O_kS2yqtKpQ

Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)

This presentation explores a series of research studies aimed at assessing the accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility of forensic pattern evidence examination decisions across various disciplines, including latent prints, firearms, shoeprints, and handwriting. Key topics covered include a comprehensive overview of the design factors in these four large-scale research studies, as well as a response to common critical observations regarding the experimental design and the interpretation of results.

This webinar was hosted by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on March 19, 2024.

(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=tr-vZ81u2g4