The Justice Department and FBI have formally acknowledged that nearly every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials in which they offered hair comparison evidence against criminal defendants over more than a two-decade period before 2000. Of 28 examiners with the FBI Laboratory’s microscopic hair comparison unit, 26 …
Trace Evidence
A Simplified Guide to Trace Evidence
Tiny fragments of physical evidence such as hairs, fibers from clothing or carpeting, or pieces of glass are examples of trace evidence, and can be transferred when two objects touch or when small particles are disbursed by an action or movement. This evidence can be used to reconstruct an event or indicate that a person …
Portable NIST Kit Can Recover Traces of Chemical Evidence
A chemist at NIST has developed a portable version of his method for recovering trace chemicals such as environmental pollutants and forensic evidence including secret graves and arson fire debris. The briefcase-sized kit could enable detectives, field inspectors and others to carry with them a convenient version of NIST’s “headspace analysis” technique, which identifies solid or …
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Glass Analysis
The goal of this focus area is to improve the field of glass evidence analysis by developing new matrix-matched glass standards and by evaluating more objective approaches to evidence interpretation, such as the likelihood ratio. The latter will be accomplished through the development of glass databases that may be used to assign a significance to …
Trace Evidence Data Workshop: Improving Technology and Measurement in Forensic Science
Offered By: The National Institute of Standards and Technology. Multiple Speakers. Achieved Videos Available.
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Forensic Database Trace Evidence Table
Databases which include reference collections of trace evidence for fibers, glass, automobile identification, paint, tape, plastic bags, powders and impressions.
Improving a Database to Help Identify a Vehicle by Using Paint Fragments
For years, investigators have relied on the Paint Data Query database to identify the make of a vehicle by matching the physical attributes, chemical composition, and infrared spectrum of the paint, primers, and clear coating layers. However, there are concerns with the database, generic coding being one of them.
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Linking Suspects to Crime Scenes with Particle Populations
Two scientists with a long record of research into the forensic value of very small particle populations examined cell phones, handguns, drug packaging, and ski masks from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office examine whether such particles are valuable as physical evidence.
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Microtrace, LLC
Microtrace is a private microanalytical laboratory offering analytical services that are utilized by prosecutors, defense attorneys, police, forensic laboratories and, occasionally, the news media. Expert testimony and case reviews are provided. The website contains information about research and development in the field.
Microbial Communities on Skin Leave Unique Traces at Crime Scenes
Two related NIJ-supported studies evaluated the possibility of using an individual’s skin microbiome — a community of microorganisms that inhabit a specific environment — as a form of trace evidence from evidence found at a crime scene. The first study, led by Dr. Rob Knight of the University of California, San Diego, examined whether the …
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Toner Particles as Forensic Evidence
The Journal of Forensic Sciences is now offering an early viewing of a new article by Microtrace scientists. This article is co-authored by Katie White and Christopher Palenik. This article explores the potential usefulness of subvisible toner cartridge particles as evidence in forensic investigations. Modern printing toners represent a prime example of subvisible particles that can be …
Fire Research: Identifying Ignitable Liquids in Debris and Providing Error Rates to Strengthen Testimony
With funding from the NIJ, Dr. Michael Sigman and Mary Williams from University of Central Florida developed a method for analyzing fire debris samples that are highly contaminated with pyrolysis interferences. This technique provides an alternative objective method for classifying ignitable liquid residues, which is one of the only viable options for helping to progress …
Rapid and Effective Identification of Organic and Inorganic Gunshot Residues
Speakers: Dr. Tatiana Trejos, Dr. Luis Arroyo, and Dr. Suzanne Bell.
Offered By: FTCOE.
Achieved Video Available.
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Making Use of What’s Not Visible in Trace Evidence Examinations
Nanoparticles and other subvisible particles potentially present in nearly all trace evidence are often overlooked in forensic investigations. NIJ-supported researchers have characterized several types of particles and developed detection methods.
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Pills & Particles – Toxicology and Linking Trace Evidence
Speakers: David Moody, Barry Lavine, and David Stoney.
Offered By: FTCOE.
Achieved Videos Avaialble.
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