Using DNA to Help Exonerate the Innocent
With the rate of wrongful convictions being estimated between 2% and 6%, there are thousands of innocent people currently incarcerated in the United States. Over the years, multiple Innocence Project organizations have been founded to help exonerate the innocent, provide legal counsel, and to advocate for needed reforms within the justice system. Mike Ware […]
Under the Microscope – Meradeth Houston Snow
The intersection between identifying human remains that may be of Native American ancestry, and genetic testing, is one that is fraught with misunderstandings and cultural insensitivities. As the numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous persons (MMIP) continues to rise, the ability to bridge the world of forensic identification and cultural respect is becoming one that […]
Meet ISHI Exhibitors: DNA Labs International
Travis chats with Rachel Oefelein, Director of Research and Innovation, Quality Assurance Manager, and a Senior DNA Analyst at DNA Labs International who has been to 7 different ISHI meetings. They discuss evaluative reporting, which helps to develop a framework for a case by looking at how person’s DNA may have come to be […]
This Week in Forensic Science
No one has hours to scour the papers to keep up with the latest news, so we’ve curated the top news stories in the field of Forensic Science for this week. Here’s what you need to know to get out the door! DNA Profiles Recovered from Former Indiana Home of Suspected Serial Killer […]
Under the Microscope 2023 – Quentin Gauthier
Quantification of DNA in extracted samples offers key insights for an examiner’s decision on which downstream analysis to conduct. If the amount of nuclear DNA in a sample is too low for autosomal STR analysis, there may be the option to amplify the mitochondrial DNA present in the sample. Currently, however, these quantifications are achieved in […]
Innocence After Guilt Episode 2: Selecting the Appropriate Case for Re-Examination
According to the National Registry of Exonerations, there have been 3,337 exonerations since 1989 accounting for more than 29,500 years lost. In our quest for justice, how do we work to eliminate wrongful convictions? What has history taught us? What role has forensic DNA played since its emergence? In this video series we delve into […]
This Week in Forensic Science
No one has hours to scour the papers to keep up with the latest news, so we’ve curated the top news stories in the field of Forensic Science for this week. Here’s what you need to know to get out the door! Toronto Police Service Leverages Othram’s Genetic Testing Platform to Identify 2019 […]
Under the Microscope 2023 – Colleen Fitzpatrick
Forensic Genetic Genealogy was recently introduced into court as an investigative lead in the trial of Patrick Leon Nicholas for the 1991 murder of high school senior Sarah Yarborough in Federal Way, WA as a way to address privacy concerns that the defense raised related to the state constitution. This landmark case has brought to the […]
Connecticut’s Implementation of a Rapid DNA Program for Law Enforcement Agencies
Rapid DNA technology delivers lab-quality DNA profiles and database matches in ninety (90) minutes, as opposed to weeks or months when submitted to the laboratory for conventional DNA testing. The 24/7 access to prompt DNA testing, is an invaluable tool as it provides real-time investigative leads for major crimes. The Connecticut Department of Emergency […]
