Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Forensic Science: Top Five Critical Issues

Forensic science plays a pivotal role in the criminal justice system, assisting investigators in solving crimes and ensuring the fair administration of justice. As technology and research continue to advance, new challenges and opportunities emerge within the field. In this article, we delve into the top five pressing issues in forensic science and their impact on the reliability and validity of evidence presented in court.

1. DNA Analysis: Unraveling the Genetic Code of Justice

The advent of DNA analysis has been a game-changer in forensic science, providing a powerful tool for identifying suspects and exonerating the innocent. However, as the demand for DNA analysis increases, forensic laboratories face challenges in handling a massive caseload, often leading to backlogs and delays. Ensuring the proper handling and preservation of DNA evidence are critical to prevent contamination and maintain the integrity of results.

Moreover, the analysis of complex DNA mixtures, such as those found at crime scenes with multiple contributors, poses unique challenges. Interpreting mixed DNA profiles accurately requires sophisticated statistical models and rigorous validation studies to minimize the risk of erroneous conclusions. Emphasizing research and collaboration to refine DNA analysis techniques is essential to ensure the credibility of DNA evidence presented in court.

2. Digital Forensics: Unraveling the Digital Trails

The digital age has ushered in a new era of crime, where digital evidence plays a central role in investigations. Digital forensics involves the recovery and analysis of electronic data, such as emails, texts, and social media posts. However, the sheer volume of digital data collected during investigations presents a daunting challenge for forensic examiners.

As technology rapidly evolves, digital forensic techniques must keep pace to address emerging threats, including cybercrimes and data breaches. Standardization of protocols and training for digital examiners are vital to maintain the accuracy and reliability of digital evidence in court.

3. Expert Testimony and Validity: The Weight of the Expert Opinion

Expert testimony often holds considerable weight in criminal trials, influencing jury decisions and shaping the outcome of cases. However, concerns have arisen over certain forensic techniques lacking sufficient scientific validation. Fields like bite mark analysis and hair microscopy have faced criticism for their subjective nature and potential for bias.

Ensuring the validity of forensic evidence calls for increased research and validation studies to establish the accuracy and reliability of techniques used in forensic investigations. Encouraging transparency and open communication between forensic experts and the legal community is essential to promote fair and just outcomes in criminal proceedings.

4. Research and Standardization: Advancing Forensic Sciences Together

Continuous research is indispensable in improving the accuracy and reliability of forensic methods. Collaborative efforts among forensic scientists, researchers, and law enforcement agencies are necessary to validate and standardize techniques across laboratories.

Establishing clear and uniform protocols for evidence collection, analysis, and reporting will help minimize discrepancies and enhance consistency in forensic practices. Allocating adequate resources to research initiatives in forensic science is crucial to meet the evolving demands of the justice system.

5. Bias and Cognitive Bias: Unraveling Unconscious Influences

Bias, whether conscious or unconscious, can taint the objectivity of forensic analysis and expert testimony. Addressing and mitigating bias are essential to prevent wrongful convictions and ensure fairness in the criminal justice system.

Comprehensive training programs should include education on identifying and avoiding cognitive biases that may influence forensic examiners' conclusions. Implementing blind testing and independent reviews of forensic results can also serve as checks and balances to reduce the impact of bias on forensic analysis.

Conclusion:

As forensic science continues to evolve, addressing these five critical issues is vital to safeguard the integrity of the criminal justice system. Embracing technological advancements, fostering collaboration, and maintaining scientific rigor will bolster the reliability of forensic evidence, ensuring that the pursuit of justice remains unwavering and fair for all. Only by confronting these challenges head-on can we build a stronger and more reliable forensic science foundation for the future.

Blood Splatter Analysis: Unraveling Clues in Crime Scenes

In the realm of forensic science, blood spatter analysis is a crucial investigative technique that helps investigators reconstruct crime scenes and uncover valuable evidence. This specialized field plays a significant role in solving crimes, providing critical insights into the dynamics of violent incidents, and aiding in the pursuit of justice. From homicides to accidents, blood spatter analysis is an invaluable tool that has revolutionized the way investigators approach crime scene investigations.

Understanding Blood Spatter

Blood spatter refers to the patterns created when blood is released into the environment, typically as a result of an injury or wound. The size, shape, distribution, and appearance of these bloodstains can offer valuable information about the nature of the incident. Different types of forces, such as impacts, gunshots, stabbings, or arterial spurts, can produce distinct blood spatter patterns, and skilled analysts can interpret these patterns to draw conclusions about the events that transpired.

Principles of Blood Spatter Analysis

Blood spatter analysis relies on several fundamental principles, including:

1. Impact Angle: The angle at which blood strikes a surface affects the shape and size of the resulting bloodstain. By analyzing the spatter's shape and dimensions, experts can determine the angle of impact and infer the position of the victim or the assailant at the time of the incident.

2. Point of Origin: Bloodstain patterns can be used to determine the location from which the blood originated. By tracing the trajectories of multiple blood spatters, investigators can identify the point of origin, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of the event.

3. Spatter Velocity: The force with which blood impacts a surface influences the spatter's size and shape. Higher velocities result in smaller droplets, while lower velocities produce larger stains. This information can help reconstruct the sequence of events and the relative positions of individuals involved in the incident.

4. Transfer and Contact Stains: Blood can be transferred from one surface to another when they come into contact. By analyzing contact and transfer stains, investigators can deduce actions taken by both the victim and the suspect during the crime.

5. Directionality: The shape of blood spatters often indicates the direction in which the blood traveled after the injury. This information can be used to recreate the sequence of events leading up to the crime.

6. Passive, Projected, and Impact Spatter: Different types of spatter, such as passive (dripping), projected (spurting), or impact (caused by external force), provide insights into the nature of the injuries and weapons involved.

Applications in Crime Scene Investigations

Blood spatter analysis finds applications in various criminal investigations, including homicides, assaults, suicides, and accidents. By meticulously studying the bloodstain patterns, investigators can corroborate or refute witness statements, establish timelines of events, identify potential murder weapons, and even provide critical evidence in court.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its usefulness, blood spatter analysis has some limitations. It is essential to consider factors such as gravity, wind, and surface texture, which can influence the appearance of bloodstains. Additionally, the interpretation of blood spatter patterns is an intricate process that requires a highly skilled and experienced analyst.

Conclusion

Blood spatter analysis is an indispensable tool in modern crime scene investigations. By providing a scientific and objective approach to understanding bloodstain patterns, it allows investigators to unravel the mysteries surrounding violent incidents. From establishing the sequence of events to shedding light on the roles of individuals involved, blood spatter analysis serves as a crucial ally in the pursuit of truth and justice.

The NCFTA: Combining Forces to Fight Cyber Crime

Long before it was acknowledged to be a significant criminal and national security threat, the FBI established a forward-looking organization to proactively address the issue of cyber crime.

Since its creation in 1997, the National Cyber Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA), based in Pittsburgh, has become an international model for bringing together law enforcement, private industry, and academia to share information to stop emerging cyber threats and mitigate existing ones.

“The exchange of strategic and threat intelligence is really the bread and butter of the NCFTA,” said Special Agent Eric Strom, who heads the FBI unit—the Cyber Initiative and Resource Fusion Unit (CIRFU)—assigned to the NCFTA. “The success of this effort at every level comes down to the free flow of information among our partners.”

When the nonprofit NCFTA was established, the biggest threat to industry was from spam—those annoying unsolicited e-mails that fill up inboxes. Today, the organization deals with malicious computer viruses, stock manipulation schemes, telecommunication scams, and other financial frauds perpetrated by organized crime groups who cause billions of dollars in losses to companies and consumers.

Cyber Takedowns

The FBI has conducted a number of major cyber takedowns with the help of the Cyber Initiative and Resource Fusion Unit (CIRFU)—the cyber unit attached to the NCFTA. Here is a brief look at a three of those cases:

Dark Market: Fifty-six individuals were arrested worldwide and $70 million in potential loss was prevented. A CIRFU undercover agent posing as a cyber crook infiltrated a criminal Internet forum at its highest level. More

Coreflood: Investigators disrupted an international cyber fraud operation by seizing the servers that had infected as many as two million computers with malicious software. More

Trident Breach: This major bust targeted a theft ring that used a Trojan horse virus to steal millions of dollars from victims’ bank accounts. More

The NCFTA essentially works as an early-warning system. If investigators for a major banking institution, for example, notice a new kind of malware attacking their network, they immediately pass that information to other NCFTA members.

Alliance members—many have staff permanently located at the NCFTA—then develop strategies to mitigate the threat. FBI agents and analysts from CIRFU, also located at NCFTA headquarters, use that information to open or further existing FBI investigations, often in concert with law enforcement partners around the world.

“Cyber crime has changed so much since those early days of spamming,” Strom said. “And the threat continues to evolve globally, which is why the NCFTA’s work is so critical to both business and law enforcement.”

The organization draws its intelligence from hundreds of private-sector members, Carnegie Mellon University’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). That extensive knowledge base has helped CIRFU play a key role in some of the FBI’s most significant cyber cases in the past several years. (See sidebar.)

Training is another important role of the NCFTA. Last year, an international internship program was held in which cyber investigators from Germany, Great Britain, Australia, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and the Ukraine came to the alliance headquarters for 90 days to share knowledge, build relationships, and help with each others’ investigations.

“Working with CIRFU and the NCFTA makes our cooperation very direct,” said Mirko Manske, a cyber investigator for the German Federal Criminal Police. “We can work in real time, sharing information and moving our cases forward. That is one of the biggest gains for us.”

Manske added, “If I need a contact in the U.S., I reach out to CIRFU and they help me immediately. And we do the same for them. Basically we are opening doors for each other.”

When it comes to the global reach of cyber crime, Manske said, “The FBI gets it. They realize that no one organization can succeed by itself. CIRFU started all of this,” he added. “The unit is one of the reasons the FBI is recognized as one of the worldwide leaders in the fight against cyber crime.”

Free Child ID Kits in Senath, Missouri

Volunteers with the FBI St. Louis Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association (FBISTLCAAA) are spearheading an effort to help the FBI, Senath Police Department, and the Dunklin County Sheriff’s office to distribute free Child ID Kits in Senath, Missouri, where 3-year-old Breeann Rodriguez disappeared.

When:

August 13, 2011 (Saturday) from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where:

First Assembly Church (gymnasium)

601 South State Street

Senath, MO  63876

The kits use a clear inkless solution to produce the fingerprints without the messy black ink. The kits also allow parents to collect and store a saliva sample for DNA. Once the kit is completed, parents maintain it at home. Parents can carry a wallet card which has a spot for a fingerprint and a current photo of the child. The information WILL NOT go into any law enforcement database. The hope is parents will never need to bring the completed kit to law enforcement.

In the U.S., almost 800,000 children are reported missing every year. Twenty-five percent of those reported missing are abducted by family members. Seven percent are abducted by non-family members. Even more rare (0.01 percent) are victims of “stereotypical” kidnappings by a stranger or someone of slight acquaintance.

The National Child Identification Program was created by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in 1997 as a community service. In 2001, the FBI worked in conjunction with the AFCA in distributing the National Child Identification Program ID Kits.

The FBI Citizens’ Academy gives recognized business, civic and religious leaders a rare look behind the scenes of the FBI. The academy meets once a week for 8-10 weeks. A limited number of participants are selected from a pool of applicants nominated by FBI employees or academy alumni members. After completing the Citizens’ Academy, graduates are invited to join the alumni association to continue their education and support of the mission of the FBI through its community outreach efforts and programs. The FBISTLCAAA is a non-profit organization that is separate but closely affiliated with the FBI.

Also, visit www.fbi.gov for information on a new free FBI Child ID mobile app that allows parents to electronically store their children’s pictures and information if their child goes missing.

Research and Development on Instrumental Analysis for Forensic Science Applications

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding for research and development to enhance instrumental methods of analysis employed within forensic science disciplines. This program furthers the Department’s mission by sponsoring research to provide objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the State and local levels.

More Information
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl000926.pdf

Forensic Science in Homicide Investigations

On December 17, 2009, Conversations with American Heroes at the Watering Hole will feature a discussion with Vernon J. Geberth, NYPD (ret.) on Forensic Science in Homicide Investigations.

Program Date: December 17, 2009
Program Time: 1700 hours, Pacific
Topic: Forensic Science in Homicide Investigations
Listen Live: www.americanheroesradio.com/forensic_science_homicide_investigations.html

About the Guest
Vernon Geberth is a retired lieutenant-commander of the New York Police Department. As the commanding officer of the Bronx Homicide Task Force, his investigators handled more than four hundred murder investigations every year. Vernon Geberth is recipient of over sixty awards for bravery and exceptional work during twenty-three years of service. He has personally investigated, supervised, assessed, researched and consulted on over eight thousand homicides.

Vernon Geberth has master's degrees in both psychology and professional studies, is a graduate of the FBI's National Academy. Over the past twenty-five years, he has taught over 50,000 police officers his comprehensive course in Practical Homicide Investigation.

Geberth’s book, Practical Homicide Investigation has been referred to as the "Bible of Homicide." His subsequent works, “The Practical Homicide Investigation Checklist and Field Guide” and “Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation: Practical and Clinical Perspectives,” demonstrate his professional ability and subject matter expert command over homicide investigations. In addition to his own works Geberth has been an editor in over forty other textbooks. He has devoted his life to the study of murder and was the first law enforcement professional to devise standard guidelines and protocols for proficient death inquiries. Currently he is president of P.H.I. Investigative Consultants, Inc., a New York-based corporation that provides state-of-the-art instruction and consultation regarding homicide investigations to police officers.

About the Watering Hole
The Watering Hole is Police slang for a location cops go off-duty to blow off steam and talk about work and life. American Heroes Radio brings you to the watering hole, where it is Sometimes funny; sometimes serious; but, always interesting.

About the Host
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster was a sworn member of the Los Angeles Police Department for 24 years. He retired in 2003 at the rank of Lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s from the Union Institute and University in Criminal Justice Management and a Master’s Degree in Public Financial Management from California State University, Fullerton; and, has completed his doctoral course work. Raymond E. Foster has been a part-time lecturer at California State University, Fullerton and Fresno; and is currently a Criminal Justice Department chair, faculty advisor and lecturer with the Union Institute and University. He has experience teaching upper division courses in Law Enforcement, public policy, Public Safety Technology and leadership. Raymond is an experienced author who has published numerous articles in a wide range of venues including magazines such as Government Technology, Mobile Government, Airborne Law Enforcement Magazine, and Police One. He has appeared on the History Channel and radio programs in the United States and Europe as subject matter expert in technological applications in Law Enforcement.

Listen, call, join us at the Watering Hole:
www.americanheroesradio.com/forensic_science_homicide_investigations.html

Program Contact Information
Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster, LAPD (ret.), MPA
editor@police-writers.com
909.599.7530

Military Books

Military-Writers.com is pleased to announce the addition of these servicemembers to the website:

Lt. General Albert P. Clark, USAF (ret.)
Major General James Pocock, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Nick Halley, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Dorothy B. Pocklington, USA (ret.)
Brigadier General Albin F. Irzyk, USA (ret.)
Colonel John F. Welch, USAF (ret.)
Colonel Carroll V. Glines, USAF (ret.)
Colonel Charles L. Crain, USA (ret.)
Colonel Eric H. Vieler, USA (ret.)
Colonel Edward Vaughan Coggins, USAF (ret.)
Captain Stanford E. Linzey, USN (ret.)
Captain Dale R. Herspring, USN (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Calvin W. Vraa, USA (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Roland Everett Langford, USA (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Ronald K. Culp, USMC (ret.)
Lt. Colonel James B. Pocock, USAF (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Herman L. Gilster, USAF (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters, USA (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Michael P. Elcano, USA (ret.)
Lt. Colonel Charles T. O’Reilly, USA (ret.)
Commander Raymond B. Allen, USN (ret.)
Commander John C. Whitehead, USN (ret.)
Commander George Sigler, USN (ret.)
Lt. Commander James A. Brink, USN (ret.)
Major Lothar Maier, USAF (ret.)
Major Samuel D. Greco, USAF (ret.)
Major W.L George Collins, USAF (ret.)
Captain Malcom S. Macgruer, USMC (ret.)
Captain Edgar F. Puryear, USAF (ret.)
Captain Roger M. Baty, USA (ret.)
First Lieutenant Donald Springer Hawley, USA (ret.)

The Website now lists 802 servicemembers and their 2583 books.

MORE INFORMATION
Military Books

This information was sponsored by Forensic Science information online.

Field Investigation Drug Officer (FIDO) Program

Many drug investigations fail to be prosecuted or are dismissed due to a lack of timely sample analysis. In an effort to combat this problem, the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC), in partnership with the NLECTC system, and the Forensic Resource Network, has implemented Field Investigation Drug Officer (FIDO) programs at three pilot sites: Utah Bureau of Forensic Services, Oregon State Police, and Philadelphia Police Department.

The aim of the FIDO program is to streamline the adjudication process by allowing certified law enforcement officers the capability of providing a preliminary identification of the most commonly encountered drugs of abuse. To this end, NFSTC conducted a thorough review of four commercially available field test kits and has created guidance documents for the establishment of FIDO programs. NFSTC will work with the pilot sites to assess how the implementation of the program impacted the laboratories' efficiency, how the agencies ma! y have changed the way that drug cases are address, whether the agencies plan to continue the FIDO program, and how the program affects how FIDO officers process drug cases.

For more information about the field test kit review study and the FIDO program, please contact NFSTC at info@nfstc.org

The NIJ Forensic Microscopy Training Program

The NIJ Forensic Microscopy Training Program provides a week of basic and advanced forensic microscopy education and training to prepare forensic scientists for the identification and characterization of physical evidence. Participants will learn polarized light microscopy and related techniques through intensive hands-on courses and instruction.

Courses begin in January 2008. They are open to forensic science practitioners in microscopy or trace evidence who work in state or local crime laboratories.

Eight seats are available for each of the five-day courses, which will be held at the McCrone Research Institute (McRI) in Chicago.

Visit the NIJ Forensic Microscopy Training Program Web site for details on the courses, including schedules and enrollment information.

Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, April 26, 2007

"Cutting-Edge Scheduling Help for Police"
Washington Post (04/22/07) P. SM1; Rucker, Philip

Charles County, Md., is implementing an Internet-based tool called CourtDates to enable police officers to understand and manage their court appearance schedules online. CourtDates will go live on May 1, 2007, and will work much like an online banking tool. Police officers will be able to use a password and user-name to log onto their schedule through any Internet portal to check in, see updates, and make changes. Today officers receive court notice through paper subpoenas, must track their court dates on a calendar, and are responsible for tracking whether a court date has been moved or cancelled. This Web system will make it "vastly more efficient," says State's Attorney Leonard C. Collins Jr. Soon when police officers all have vehicle-based computers, they will be able to check each day for the week's court appointments, says Collins. Charles County IT director Richard A. Aldridge says it cost the county $12,500 to develop CourtDates. Nearby countries also will have access to this tool.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2007/04/20/AR
2007042002479.html

"Jail Ups Security Since Escape"
Columbus Dispatch (OH) (04/22/07) P. 1C; Hassett, Kelly

The Ross County, Ohio, jail has taken a number of steps to improve security in the aftermath of last July's high-profile escape of John W. Parsons, who was serving a life sentence for killing a Chillicothe police officer. For instance, the jail replaced the only camera in the recreation area, which was at least 10 years old and did not work. In addition, authorities added another camera in the center of the ceiling of the recreation area. The new camera is capable of turning 360 degrees and is protected with security casing. But there is still more work to be done. For instance, the Sheriffs Department's new body-orifice scanner, which is supposed to be able to detect metal anywhere in or on the body, failed to detect a hypodermic needle that was being smuggled in by an inmate this month. According to Sheriff Ron Nichols, the needle probably escaped detection by the scanner because it was wrapped in plastic. In light of that incident, Nichols said that his deputies will continue to physically screen inmates in addition to using the scanner.
http://wwwphp.dispatch.com
/text/stories/20070422-C1-02.php

"Gadget is Parolees' Last Call"
Tampa Tribune (04/21/07); Mullins, Richard

Facing crowded prisons and high costs of incarceration, judges are giving nonviolent offenders a choice: Wear a tracking bracelet or go to jail. Most have chosen the latter, in a new wave of monitoring devices that have allowed authorities to keep track of offenders without contributing to overcrowded jails. The bracelets are typically used for drunk driving convictions, but have also been used to monitor sexual predators. Advanced GPS technology enables parolees to stay on house arrest or in the case of alcohol detectors, monitor ethanol levels emitted by the body to track the offender's alcohol consumption. Some 34,000 people in the United States have been under Alcohol Monitoring Solutions' surveillance, the largest company in the tracking market. It costs roughly $1,300 to $2,000 monthly to incarcerate an individual, compared with the approximately $400 monthly cost of wearing a bracelet.
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro
/MGBDNZJIR0F.html

"Interrogations May Be Recorded"
Hartford Courant (CT) (04/21/07); Poitras, Colin

The Connecticut state Appropriations Committee has approved $100,000 per year of funding for a pilot program to install video surveillance in police interrogation rooms. If this provision passes, police interrogation areas in Connecticut will experience videotaping for the first time. Videotaping is in fact standard in most areas within police department buildings. The pilot program will help create clear evidence of interrogation sessions, which could be useful in court, says Chief State's Attorney Kevin Kane. The Innocence Project in New York reports that a number of large cities already do this, while Alaska, Maine, and Minnesota are states that require videotaping of interrogations for serious criminal cases. Innocence Project policy advocate Amanda Melpolder says one out of five wrongful convictions relied on dubious evidence gained through interrogation. Melpolder argues that electronic surveillance will improve court evidence.
http://www.highbeam.com/do
c/1Y1-105490455.html

"L.A. Gets Nation's Largest Crime Lab"
Daily News of Los Angeles (04/19/07) P. N4; Anderson, Troy

Los Angeles city and county officials have scheduled a May 11 official opening for the area's newest crime lab, the $102 million Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center at California State University, Los Angeles. The new, five-story facility will merge the existing LAPD and sheriff's labs and will help reduce the backlog of DNA samples and other evidence. The 209,080-square-foot forensic center will also accommodate classrooms from the university's School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics and the California Forensic Science Institute. The lab will provide evidence testing for all law enforcement agencies in the county via such means as DNA analysis and crime scene reenactments using computer programs. Scanning electron microscopes will help assess trace evidence, including gunshot residue and fire-scene substances. In addition, chemical processes and laser analysis will allow personnel to develop fingerprints on surfaces such as plastic bags, paper, and other surfaces that are usually incompatible with conventional powders. The new center will also have sufficient space for upwards of 70 DNA analysts, up from the existing 30 at the sheriff's lab, and will be able to accommodate 400 staff members; evidence from some 140,000 criminal cases is estimated to be submitted yearly for assessment. http://www.dailynews.com/news
/ci_5699612

"North Huntingdon Police Latest Department to Employ Taser Device"
Greensburg Tribune-Review (PA) (04/20/07); Kaufman, Dirk W.

Police officers in Penn Township, Pa., recently finalized training on the use of Tasers, five of which were recently purchased by the department. The devices cost about $800 each and were purchased using grant money. Two officers in the department who were certified as trainers in the use of Tasers trained all of the other officers. During the training, the officers had the option of being shot at with the device. Officials note that the Tasers are effective when officers just warn suspects about their use. "They have been used as a deterrent several times successfully," notes Penn Township police Chief Michael Mastroianni. "Once you put the red dot on a person and order them to cease and desist what they're doing, they stop." He adds that the Tasers are a powerful tool in safeguarding officers from harm. Currently, all 21 officers in the department carry the devices. Officers are required to record when they fire a Taser as well when it serves as a deterrent with discharging. Officials consider the devices as one of many types of deterrents, including billy clubs and special munitions. Officers at the Delmont police department are required to undergo yearly training at the Greensburg police department, which involves mandatory shooting of the device. Officials say although such training is costly, it allows officers to be familiar with the Taser's capabilities.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x
/tribunereview
/news/westmoreland/s_503388.html

"More Parolee GPS Tracking"
San Bernardino County Sun (CA) (04/17/07); Watson, George

San Bernardino County, Calif., officials would like to partake in a California program that links monitoring devices to parolees with gang connections. On April 17, the County Board of Supervisors voted to ask Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to be included in his pilot program. The program calls for parolees who had a gang-improvement conviction as part of their sentence have gadgets placed on their ankles, electronically connecting them to a GPS. It is not known how long it will take for San Bernardino County to find out whether it will be part of California's pilot program. Officials think the county is host to 300 gangs and over 13,000 gang members. Of those, a minimum of 2,000 are on parole. As part of the supervisors' April 17 vote, letters will be mailed to Sacramento supporting state Senate bills 390 and 657, in addition to Assembly Bill 360, all of which further fortify existing gang laws.
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_5691647

"Technology Cuts Response Time"
Raleigh News & Observer (NC) (04/17/07) P. B3; McDonald, Thomasi

On April 16 at Raleigh, N.C.'s Wake County Emergency Medical Services Training Center, a new vehicle monitoring system was introduced. Financed by a $1.1 million grant from the federal government, the system depends on GPS that will permit emergency dispatchers to send the nearest available emergency workers to a situation and allow law enforcement to talk with EMS on their way to a 911 call. The Automated Vehicle Tracking System will be employed in all emergency vehicles utilized by EMS, the Wake County Sheriff's Office, the City-County Bureau of Identification, and Animal Control. By employing one infrastructure, emergency vehicles will be able to answer a 911 call quicker, noted Wake EMS Chief Skip Kirkwood.
http://www.newsobserver.com
/114/story/564900.html

"Watching Workers: More Checkpoints Possible: Airport Screening Debated"
Tulsa World (OK) (04/11/07); Stewart, D.R.

The recent gun-smuggling scandal at Orlando International Airport has prompted widespread calls for airport and airline employees to be subjected to screening at airport security checkpoints, but some airport officials believe that this move would be unnecessary, disruptive, and burdensome. The Reason Foundation's director of transportation studies, Robert W. Poole Jr., offers several suggestions to significantly increase access control measures at airports while also ensuring that operations are not disrupted. Among these are requiring stronger background checks for airport employees--to the point where a criminal record of any kind would disqualify a job applicant from being hired anywhere on the airport. Poole also believes that special security checkpoints should be established. These checkpoints would have unique rules and procedures, be for airport employees only, and be manned by private security companies. Lastly, Poole calls for airport employee badges to be enhanced with biometrics, preventing anyone but the employee who holds the badge to access secure areas. Companies whose employees have these badges should be required to immediately turn in the badges of any employee whose job at the airport has ended or risk severe penalties, Poole says.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/business
/article.aspx?articleID=070411_238_
E1_spanc46283

"Butler to Join County Crime Data System"
Dayton Daily News (OH) (04/19/07) P. Z3-15; Hulsey, Lynn

In Ohio, Butler County is linking up with Montgomery County's Criminal Justice Information System, a data warehouse that merges information from multiple sources. These sources include county and municipal courts as well as courts outside the county. Montgomery County Commissioners approved Butler County's entry into the system on April 10, which means Butler County will have to bear the cost of preparing its information to be ready for submission into the system. The cost of access is free for counties. Although the counties of Greene, Miami, and Preble joined earlier in 2007, Preble and Miami have yet to place any data into the system, which now holds some 2 million records, according to Joe Spitler, executive director of the criminal justice council for Montgomery County. Data on the system helps law enforcement, courts, children services, and adult protective service in verifying if an individual has had any interaction with the criminal justice system, including convictions, prison sentences, or pending charges. The addition of new counties to the system helps officials promptly find any evidence of suspects' criminal activity across county borders.
http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/
content/oh/story/news/local/neighbors
/2007/04/19/ddn041907z7computer.html

"City to Put Surveillance Cameras in Park"
Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN) (04/18/07) P. B1; Wang, Herman

On April 17, Chattanooga, Tenn., authorities stated the city is ready to spend as much as $660,000 for security cameras in its police cars and parks. Chattanooga will purchase 23 fixed cameras from Motorola to be erected in Coolidge and Renaissance parks and four mobile cameras to be placed in police cars. Police officers will be able to utilize laptops in their vehicles to access a wireless online program that will enable them to see images from every camera, Chattanooga CIO Mark Keil noted. Motorola representative Bob Randolph explained that the cameras can archive images that could be studied by law enforcement following an incident. "When cameras are installed, the biggest benefit is as a deterrent," he pointed out. "With the images, you have the ability to prosecute." Although the capital budget for the security cameras includes $660,000 to cover all of Chattanooga, the initial camera purchase for the city's North Shore area will cost $395,000. On April 24, the City Council will vote on the spending.
http://www.timesfreepress.com
/absolutenm/templates/local.aspx?
articleid=13965&zoneid=77

"Centers to Help Agencies Share Information"
Herald-Sun (NC) (04/20/07); Freyvogel, Colleen

Federal and State law enforcement agencies are devising new strategies to effectively manage emergency situations. Fusion centers have been created as a coalition endeavor between social and federal agencies, safety officials, and state law enforcement members to create databases for emergency calls. Events such as Hurricane Katrina have illustrated deficiencies in systems of coordinating between federal and private sectors, while in the case of 9/11, technological lapses prevailed in failed attempts to call New York City. Veronique Pluviose-Fenton of the House Homeland Security Committee cites the government's endeavor to expand technology to efficiently communicate during crucial situations. With North Carolina's creation of the Information and Analysis center, Rep. David Price (D-N.C.) says both state and local governments are better prepared for 2007 in the event of a disaster.
http://www.heraldsun.com

"Appriss to Provide Sex-Offender Information to Law Enforcement Agencies"
Business First of Louisville (04/17/07)

Appriss has signed a deal with Watch Systems of New Orleans in which Appriss will be able to use Watch System's OffenderWatch database. OffenderWatch is a sex-offender registration database that is Web-based. It helps law enforcement authorities by incorporating the data from OffenderWatch with its current product offerings. Appriss manufactures criminal justice technology products and is well-known for its VINE system, which permits crime victims throughout the United States to acquire data concerning criminal cases and the custody status of violators around the clock by phone, the Internet, or email. For the past six years, Appriss has offered sex-offender notification services in numerous states. Appriss now notifies residents and companies when registered sex offenders move into their communities, although it does not directly offer information to law enforcement agencies, notes Appriss President Mike Davis. http://louisville.bizjournals.com
/louisville/stories/2007/04/16
/daily13.html

"Feds: Accuracy of Face Recognition Software Skyrockets"
LiveScience (04/13/07); Wood, Lamont

Face recognition software is 20 times better than it was five years ago, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In NIST's latest results from its Face Recognition Vendor Test, the best face recognition algorithms had a rate of false rejections of 1 percent, compared with a failure to make correct comparisons 20 percent of the time in 2002. Speed is not a key characteristic of the algorithms, which make use of the single comparison approach, rather than compare every face in a database to every other face. "We fed the algorithms lots of data to get a statistically meaningful answer," explains Jonathon Phillips, an electrical engineer who directed the test. "Our goal was to encourage improvement in the technology, and provide decision makers with numbers that would let them make an educated assessment of the technology itself." With random lighting on each face, the rejection rate was about 12 percent, compared with 20 percent five years ago.
http://www.livescience.com
/technology/070413_face_re
cognition.html

"Expert: 'Flasher' Technology Digs Deeper for Digital Evidence"
Purdue University News (04/12/07); Medaris, Kim

Rick Mislan, Purdue assistant professor of computer and information technology and former U.S. Army electronic warfare officer, said a technology currently in use in Europe could potentially be used to help solve thousands of cybercrimes in the United States. The "flasher box" can be used to download and analyze every bit of information from a wide variety of cell phones, a huge advantage over current forensic techniques that requires investigators to issue specific commands and receive only information relating to the command. With the flasher box, investigators can download the entire contents of a cell phone for examination, including call history, text messages, contacts, and deleted images and videos. "Using a flasher box is like taking a snapshot of the cell phone," Mislan said. "This method shows a lot of promise." The content of the phone is downloaded and appears as a stream of letters and numbers that only requires a mathematical translation to turn the code into useable information. Mislan said the key to success with flasher boxes is finding the correct software and cables to match the wide variety of phones available on the market.
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x
/2007a/070412MislanFlash.html

"Preparing for the Worst"
Police (03/07); Hamilton, Melanie

Local and county governments interested in further help with their emergency preparedness systems can turn to the latest online tool from the federal government, "The Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program" (HSEEP). Agencies on the local level can access the site and implement various scenarios and exercise drills in their local area to determine if their emergency response systems are adequate. The online tool also offers tips on designing standard policy, methodology, and language for all agencies at the local level. Agencies need to first set up policies and infrastructure that is uniform across the emergency response system, then assess individual targets in their region in terms of likely attack and resulting devastation. Once those tasks are completed, agencies can perform mock drills and engage the help of nearby agencies and other parties. Mock drills also need to be as realistic as possible, including the use of volunteers to play injured parties or those interested in helping others during a disaster. However, each agency involved must understand that clear, concise communications are a top priority if disasters are to be dealt with appropriately and quickly. Once drills are completed, agencies will want to conduct their own internal reviews to see what procedures were successful, which were minimally successful, and which failed completely. The audit will provide workers with areas to continue working on before a real emergency requires a response, but responders also need to keep abreast of how the interaction among agencies aided or hindered the responses given during the drill.
http://www.policemag.com/t_
cipick.cfm?rank=93858

"Each Police Chase Could Mean Change in Policy"
Bellevue Leader (04/18/07); Buzzell, Jason

In general, police departments rarely change their pursuit policies unless death or severe damage occurs; but at the Bellevue Police Department in Nebraska, that is not the case. The eight-page policy is gone over at the police academy and rigorously reviewed periodically to ensure that public safety is a number-one priority when pursuits occur. Officers are trained as recruits for eight-hour stretches when they first sign on with the department and for two-hour stretches periodically as veteran officers. However, officials note that not all chases are perfect; and when officers disobey protocols, they are disciplined accordingly per the instructions of a commander committee that reviews the actions of the officer in conjunction with the current policy rules. The department's pursuit policy was changed in February; and officers now are required to cease pursuit if apprehension is a viable option later on, suspects have crossed state lines, or commanders order the pursuit to stop. The debate over pursuit policy restrictions is heated; but with recent rulings from the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled that cities could be held liable for third-party injuries even after the pursuit ended, pursuit policies are carefully monitored for weaknesses.
http://www.bellevueleader.com
/site/tab3.cfm?newsid=1822152
2&BRD=2712&PAG=461&d
ept_id=559850&rfi=6

"Emergency Communications: Taking Command"
Government Security (03/07) Vol. 6, No. 1, P. 12; Carey, Carol

Three jurisdictions--Columbus, Ohio; San Diego, Calif.; and Washington, D.C.--demonstrated superior Tactical Interoperability Communications Plans (TICPs) that could serve as "best practice" models for areas developing emergency aid procedures. In Columbus, aggressively allocating 50 percent of the Urban Area Security Initiative and other grants toward communications made interoperability a priority. The city formed a Homeland Security Advisory Council to develop protocols, such as talk groups for various geographical zones and functions--like bomb squads and hospitals. A decade of forest fighting through mutual aid helped San Diego develop a TICP plan with superior coordination, involving not only police and fire departments, but also forestry services and the U.S. Coast Guard. The city's technology uses both mobile and fixed gateways; and because frequencies are pre-programmed into the radios, responders are able to quickly connect with one another, according to city officials. D.C.-area emergency staff can communicate anywhere in the country through national interoperability frequencies, and officials emphasize that speaking in "plain English," rather than in code, can facilitate communication among various agencies.
http://govtsecurity.com/mag
/emergency_communications
_responders/

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.