2010 - January 25

General Announcements

To better represent the membership and streamline the flow of information to and from the membership and the ASCLD Board, the Board of Directors has divided the country into nine regions, plus international, for communication purposes. See attached link for listing of regional contacts: http://ascld.org/content/advocacy-council . Please do not hesitate to contact your regional representative, membership input is very important to us.

Quick Links

2010 Spring Program on Continuing Education for Forensic Professionals

This training is offered free to state and local law enforcement, forensic scientists, and related professionals.

Institute for Lab Automation offers 2 short courses

Introduction to Lab Automation Lab Automation for IT Professionals

News around the globe

Bill provides for DNA database
Ireland

Anybody arrested in relation to a serious offence will have DNA samples taken and placed in a database under the provisions of a new Bill.

Applied Biosystems Forensic DNA Kit Approved for Use by the National DNA Index System
USA

Applied Biosystems today announced that its AmpFℓSTR® MiniFiler™ PCR Amplification Kit has been approved for inclusion in the National DNA Index System (NDIS).

Advanced DNA Technologies Training

West Virginia

Receive FREE DNA laboratory and data analysis training at the Marshall University Forensic Science Center in Huntington, WV.

Bomb in Christmas plot sent to anti-terror lab
USA
The FBI has sent the bomb from the attempted Christmas Day airliner attack to a special lab to study its design and look for DNA samples that could help determine who built or handled the device.

Court Cases

PEOPLE v. GUTIERREZ
California Court of Appeals

Right to confrontation of expert

JOHNSTON v. STATE
Florida Supreme Court

Challenge to National Academy of Sciences report.

PEOPLE v. SCHWARZ

California Court of Appeals
Right to confrontation of expert