THE CRIME LAB MINUTE

May 5, 2008

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Announcement

ASCLD is looking for interested and enthusiastic volunteers to run for five Board of Director positions this fall. This three-year commitment is open to all voting ASCLD members in good standing. Board member duties typically include chairing and/or serving on ASCLD committees, symposium planning and tackling issues that promote the mission of the organization. Board members attend three Board meetings each year, funded by ASCLD. The meetings are usually scheduled over a weekend in order to minimize the amount of time that members are away from their laboratories. If you are interested in directing the future of this progressive organization, or if you would like to recommend a colleague, send an e-mail to Susan Shankles, Nominating Chair at susan.shankles@tucsonaz.gov.

Don't miss your chance to attend the 18 th Triennial Meeting of the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS), July 21-25, 2008, in New Orleans , Louisiana , USA !  Program information and the online registration form are now available at www.IAFS2008.com.  The pre-registration deadline is: June 30, 2008.

Nominations for the 2008 Briggs White Award are currently being accepted. Please click here for more information.

Forensic Science in the News

Michigan
Detroit Police Suspend Firearms Testing
The Detroit Police Department has suspended all firearms investigations conducted by its crime lab and ordered it to undergo an independent audit.

California
California Attorney General Expands DNA Search Policy to Relatives of Suspects
California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced a new DNA search policy that he says will improve the ability of local law enforcement to investigate unsolved violent crimes by providing new investigative leads.

Idaho
Idaho lab develops a quicker way to catch a thief
Federal researchers say they've developed a human identification test that analyzes antibodies that's faster and possibly cheaper than DNA testing though no one expects it to replace DNA analysis — and its promoters say it is not intended to.

Missouri
DNA from Lawless case not a match to Kezer
DNA evidence collected in the 1992 homicide of Angela "Mischelle" Lawless has eliminated Joshua Kezer, the man convicted of the crime and currently serving a 60-year sentence at a maximum-security prison, as a possible contributor to the physical evidence found at the scene.

Australia
DNA use in WA under review
The State Government stated that DNA technology needs to be used more widely as a crime fighting tool in Western Australia.

Texas
Houston PD Crime Lab Upgrades After Critical Investigation
New independent oversight and accreditation of the facility as well as increased investment in staff salaries, equipment and training have been instituted at the HPD Crime Lab after the reviews of more than 3,500 cases processed by the HPD Crime Lab found hundreds of cases where incompetence, inadequate training and resources, lack of guidance and even intentional bias on the part of a crime lab - which is not independent from the HPD - contributed to mistakes.

Washington
Wall Street Detectives and Texas A&M Offer New Equine DNA CODIS
Equine CODIS, a CODIS Identification System for horses, has been developed and is based upon the same process as the FBI's CODIS for human identification.

New York
Missing evidence, mistrial spark forensics overhaul
The NYPD has ordered a shakeup in the department's forensic division after a series of investigative mishaps.

Texas
Dallas' 17 DNA Exonerations Tops In USA
17 men convicted in Dallas County have been cleared and freed from jail based on DNA testing.

England
Net closing on 100s of sex offenders say police
More than 1,700 cold case crimes are being re-investigated by Yorkshire police following major advances in forensic science.

United Kingdom
New method for DNA analysis is 'unique'
LGC Forensics, the UK's largest independent provider of forensic services, announced that DNA SenCE, an innovative new approach to analysing tiny amounts of DNA, is now in operational use with several police forces.

Oklahoma
New state crime lab brings 'justice to the guilty'
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s new $30 million high tech Forensic Science Center was officially opened for business on Thursday, May 1, 2008.

Tennessee
New 'Weapon' In Forensics: Devise Detects Latent Prints On Human Skin
Using a field portable system being developed by ChemImage and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, investigators at crime scenes will be able to detect latent prints on human skin.

Florida
Fla. justices rule lab, breath test technicians must testify
Crime laboratory and breath-test technicians must testify in most criminal cases and not just submit reports about their findings, the Florida Supreme Court ruled.