Daily Archives: May 12, 2015

FBI Hair Analysis Problems Reveal Limits of Forensic Science

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dna_justiceKirk Odom was convicted of a 1981 rape and robbery after a woman identified him as her attacker and an FBI specialist testified that hair on her nightgown was consistent with hair on Odom’s head.
But DNA testing some 30 years later affirmed what Odom long had maintained: The hair wasn’t his; neither was the semen left on a pillowcase and robe. A felony conviction that imprisoned him for decades was overturned in 2012 by a judge who declared it a “grave miscarriage of justice.”

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Posted in Cold Cases, Forensic Industry News, Innocence Project

More than 7,000 rape kits tested for DNA evidence

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Backlog of sexual assault kitsCOLUMBUS – A sexual assault kit testing initiative launched by the Ohio Attorney General’ s Office has now completed testing on more than 7,000 rape kits.
In February, 2012, an exclusive 5 On Your Side Investigation revealed how thousand of rape kits remained untested on police department shelves across Ohio.

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Posted in Backlogs, Forensic Industry News

Thousands of untested rape kits discovered in police evidence rooms, hospital

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sexual assault kitsATLANTA (CBS46) – Advocates of sexual assault victims said the findings of a CBS46 investigation into untested rape kits are “very upsetting.
“These kits represent victims,” said Jennifer Bivins, president of the Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault.

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Posted in Backlogs, Cold Cases

Washington to save sex-offender DNA

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Justice and DNAOLYMPIA – DNA collected in any felony case charged as a violent or sex offense will now be preserved through the length of the offender’s sentence, including post-prison community custody, under a new law signed Monday by Gov. Jay Inslee.

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Posted in DNA Legislation

DNA spray helps keep bad guys away

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dna-sprayKNOXVILLE, TN (CBS46) – A Subway restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee has a fresh approach to crime fighting.
The store is the first in the nation to use a security system that sprays the bad guys with DNA as they run out the door.

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Posted in New ID Technologies

In forensics, ‘microbiome’ may be the new ‘fingerprint’

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bacteria in intestinesA person’s gut bacteria and the colony of microbes that live in the body and on the skin may serve as a unique identifier, much like a fingerprint, researchers said today.
The study led by Harvard University is the first to investigate just how identifiable people are based on their bacteria, which can vary substantially based on a person’s age, diet, geographic location and overall health.

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Posted in Forensic Industry News, New ID Technologies

Present your work at ISHI 26- Oral abstract reminder

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ISHI Banner 2015Share your expertise with the forensic community at the 26th International Symposium on Human Identification. Abstracts are being accepted for oral presentations during the general session for both scientific and interesting case talks. The deadline for oral submissions is June 12.
All abstracts must be submitted through the online portal following the listed guidelines.
Learn more about ISHI 26, submit an abstract or register to attend at: www.ishinews.com

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