North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services
// by Sarah Olson
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published a draft report, DNA Mixture Interpretation: A Scientific Foundation Review, which reviews the methods forensic laboratories use to interpret evidence containing a mixture of DNA from two or more people.
NIST Publishes Review of DNA Mixture Interpretation MethodsRead More
// by Sarah Olson
NIST article about testing of drugs that may contain fentanyl or other dangerous synthetic opioids. The article contains video clips showing how powder substances can contaminate various surfaces in laboratories and addresses ways that labs work to eliminate contamination.
Safe, Efficient, Reliable: New Science in the Fight Against Killer DrugsRead More
// by Sarah Olson
// by Sarah Olson
Document outlining NIST’s approach to conducted scientific foundation reviews (including data sources used, evaluation criteria, and expected outputs) of DNA mixture interpretation, bitemark analysis, digital evidence, and firearms examination.
// by Jessica Phipps
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 …
Portable NIST Kit Can Recover Traces of Chemical EvidenceRead More
// by Jessica Phipps
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 …
// by Jessica Phipps
Offered By: The National Institute of Standards and Technology. Multiple Speakers. Achieved Videos Available.
Trace Evidence Data Workshop: Improving Technology and Measurement in Forensic ScienceRead More
// by Jessica Phipps
Databases which include reference collections of trace evidence for fibers, glass, automobile identification, paint, tape, plastic bags, powders and impressions.
// by Jessica Phipps
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees Materials (Trace) Subcommittee for Forensic Science focuses standards and guidelines related to the examination and interpretation of physical evidence that may result from the transfer of small or minute quantities of materials (e.g., hairs, fibers, paint, tape, glass).
// by Sarah Olson
Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Evidence (OSAC) is developing documentary standards for each forensic discipline. Standards under consideration as well as approved standards are available in the OSAC Registry.
// by Sarah Olson
// by Sarah Olson
Discusses the paper below and shows black-light videos that help illustrate the risk of cross contamination in a forensic drug lab. E. Sisco, M.E. Staymates, A. Burns. An easy to implement approach for laboratories to visualize particle spread during the handling and analysis of drug evidence. Forensic Chemistry. Published online March 11, 2020. DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2020.100232
In Glowing Colors: Seeing the Spread of Drug Particles in a Forensic LabRead More
// by Sarah Olson
NIST convened the Expert Working Group for Human Factors in Handwriting Examination to recommend ways to improve the practice and reduce the likelihood of errors. The Group’s report discusses human factors as they relate to all aspects of handwriting examination, including communicating conclusions through reports and testimony. The report also discusses education, training, certification, and …
// by Sarah Olson
This study looks at two methods for accessing data on damaged mobile phones.
NIST Tests Forensic Methods for Getting Data From Damaged Mobile PhonesRead More
// by Sarah Olson
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science’s Friction Ridge Subcommittee has developed a friction ridge examination process map that describes the conventional process for latent print examination. The process map identifies key decision points in the fingerprint examination process, enables laboratory managers to better understand how their protocols compare with those of other laboratories, …
OSAC’s Friction Ridge Subcommittee Develops Friction Ridge Process MapRead More