The Role of Forensic Science in Solving Cold Cases

Cold cases, unsolved criminal investigations that have gone inactive for an extended period, present a persistent challenge for law enforcement agencies. These cases may remain unresolved for years, leaving victims and their families without closure. However, advancements in forensic science have breathed new life into cold case investigations. With modern techniques and technology, forensic science plays a pivotal role in reexamining evidence, identifying suspects, and bringing justice to those affected by these long-standing mysteries. In this article, we will explore the critical role of forensic science in solving cold cases and shedding light on once-elusive truths.

1. DNA Analysis:

Perhaps the most significant breakthrough in solving cold cases has been the advancement of DNA analysis. Forensic DNA testing allows investigators to reevaluate biological evidence, such as blood, semen, hair, or skin cells, found at crime scenes. The emergence of techniques like touch DNA analysis enables scientists to extract DNA from even the tiniest traces, potentially leading to the identification of new suspects or confirming the guilt of known individuals. DNA databases and familial searching have also proven invaluable, linking previously unknown perpetrators to crime scene samples and expanding the scope of investigations.

2. Fingerprint Analysis:

Fingerprint analysis remains a staple of forensic science in cold case investigations. Advances in fingerprint technology, such as Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS), enable investigators to cross-reference unidentified prints against vast databases, facilitating the identification of suspects previously overlooked. Additionally, latent prints lifted from old evidence can be reexamined using new enhancement methods, potentially providing crucial leads in solving cold cases.

3. Ballistics and Firearms Analysis:

The analysis of ballistics evidence, such as spent shell casings and bullets, can be instrumental in connecting suspects to unsolved crimes. Firearms databases and ballistic imaging technology help match recovered bullets to specific weapons, possibly linking a suspect to multiple crimes. Reexamining ballistics evidence using advanced techniques may unveil links between cold cases that were previously unknown, ultimately leading to the identification and apprehension of offenders.

4. Digital Forensics:

With the proliferation of digital technology, digital forensics has become a critical component in cold case investigations. Revisiting old electronic evidence, such as emails, social media posts, or communication records, can provide insight into the movements and interactions of suspects and victims. Moreover, digital footprints left behind by perpetrators can be traced, offering vital leads and potential breakthroughs in cold cases.

5. Forensic Anthropology:

In cases where victims' remains have been unidentified or misidentified, forensic anthropology plays a crucial role. Anthropologists can analyze skeletal remains to determine the age, sex, and ancestry of the victim, helping to create a profile and narrow down potential matches in missing persons databases. The use of isotopic analysis can also provide valuable information about the victim's geographic origin and movements, aiding in the identification process.

Conclusion:

Forensic science has significantly advanced the field of cold case investigations, offering a renewed sense of hope for victims and their families seeking justice. The application of DNA analysis, fingerprint technology, ballistics, digital forensics, and forensic anthropology has breathed new life into once-dormant cases. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies and forensic experts has proved instrumental in solving long-standing mysteries and bringing closure to the affected parties. As forensic science continues to evolve, its role in solving cold cases will only become more significant, providing hope for justice to be served and bringing solace to those impacted by unsolved crimes.

Jury Imposes Death Sentence Against Bridgeport Drug Dealer for Murdering Three People in 2005

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, announced that a federal jury in New Haven today voted unanimously to impose the federal death penalty against AZIBO AQUART, 30, of Bridgeport, for murdering three Bridgeport residents on August 24, 2005.

“We thank the jury for their diligent and attentive service over both the guilt and sentencing phases of this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Fein. “They have made a significant sacrifice from their daily lives as they fulfilled an important duty of citizens of our country.”

On May 23, 2011, after a month-long trial, the jury found AQUART guilty of the murders of Tina Johnson, 43, James Reid, 40, and Basil Williams, 54. According to the evidence disclosed during the trial, AQUART, also known as “Azibo Smith,” “Azibo Siwatu Jahi Smith,” “D,” “Dreddy,” and “Jumbo,” was the founder and leader of a drug trafficking group that primarily sold crack cocaine out of an apartment building located at 215 Charles Street in Bridgeport. AQUART and his associates participated in acts of violence, such as threats and assaults, to maintain their control over the group’s drug distribution activities at the Charles Street Apartments. In the summer of 2005, AQUART and his associates became involved in a drug trafficking dispute with Tina Johnson, a resident of 215 Charles Street who sometimes sold smaller quantities of crack cocaine without the approval of AQUART. On the morning of August 24, 2005, AQUART and others entered Johnson’s apartment, bound Johnson, her boyfriend James Reid and friend Basil Williams with duct tape, and brutally beat the victims to death with baseball bats. AQUART and others then drilled the front door of the apartment shut from the inside.

In addition to witness testimony, the government offered extensive forensic evidence gathered from Johnson’s apartment, including fingerprints and evidence that contained DNA from AQUART and his co-conspirators. AQUART’s fingerprint was found on a piece of duct tape recovered from the crime scene.

AQUART was found guilty of conspiring to commit murder in aid of racketeering and committing the racketeering murders of Johnson, Reid and Williams. The jury also found AQUART guilty of committing three counts of drug-related murder. Finally, AQUART was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack cocaine”).

Today, the jury unanimously determined that AQUART should be sentenced to death for committing both the racketeering murders and drug-related murders of Johnson and Williams, but could not reach a unanimous decision as to an appropriate penalty, life imprisonment or death, for the racketeering murder and drug-related murder of Reid.

This is the first time since the federal death penalty was reinstituted in 1988 that a federal jury in Connecticut has found that a defendant should be sentenced to death. United States District Judge Janet Bond Arterton will schedule a sentencing date after the submission of post-trial motions.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police, Connecticut Department of Correction’s Intelligence Unit, ICE Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Bridgeport States Attorney’s Office and U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tracy L. Dayton, Peter D. Markle, Alina P. Reynolds of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut, and Trial Attorney Jacabed Rodriguez-Coss of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Capital Case Unit.

Federal Jury Finds Suffield Man Guilty of Robbing Berlin Bank

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury in Hartford has found LUIS SOTO, 51, of Suffield, guilty of bank robbery. The trial began on April 28, and the jury returned its verdict today after deliberating for approximately four hours.

According to the evidence presented during the trial, on July 25, 2008, LUIS SOTO and his brother, Felix Soto, dressed in dark clothes and stocking masks and armed with handguns, entered the Webster Bank at 40 Webster Square Road in Berlin, ordered patrons and employees to the ground, and robbed the bank of approximately $40,000. Witness testimony and video surveillance showed that during the course of the approximately three-minute robbery, Felix Soto continuously issued threats and pointed handguns at patrons, while LUIS SOTO leapt over the teller counter and forced a teller to empty cash into his duffle bag. Both LUIS SOTO and Felix Soto then ran out of the bank, through a wooded path next to the bank, and then into a getaway car parked on the side of Route 9, just short of the Mill Street exit.

The evidence also showed that LUIS SOTO and Felix Soto recruited two others to place separate "hoax" 911 calls that diverted police resources to a supposed home invasion in another part of Berlin.

In addition to witness testimony, the government offered extensive forensic evidence, including a hat and stocking mask that contained DNA from Felix and LUIS SOTO, as well as approximately $5,000 in stolen money, which were recovered by the Berlin Police along the escape route.

The government also presented cellular phone evidence, including reports of forensic examination of phones belonging to LUIS SOTO and Felix Soto, as well as call records and cell site data. The government presented the testimony of an expert in cellular site technology who used these cell site records to produce maps and charts showing that the participants in the robbery called one another extensively around the time of the robbery, while utilizing cellular towers within a short distance from the Webster Bank.

Chief United States District Judge Alvin W. Thompson has scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2011, at which time SOTO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

LUIS SOTO has two prior bank robbery convictions.

On April 14, 2010, Felix Soto pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. He awaits sentencing.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Berlin and Windsor Police Departments. Expert testimony concerning DNA analysis was provided by the State of Connecticut's Forensic Science Laboratory. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David E. Novick and Michael J. Gustafson.

A New Breed: Scent Dog Program Gets Results

When an Anchorage, Alaska nurse went missing in 2007 and was found dead six weeks later, the FBI Laboratory’s Evidence Response Team Unit (ERTU) was called in and asked to bring some experts—our specially trained human scent evidence canines Tinkerbelle, Lucy, and Casey. Following human scent trails from several places linked to the killing, the dogs kept ending up at the same location—the house of a man who lived near the victim.

The neighbor was eventually charged with the murder. In a pre-trial hearing his lawyer challenged the science behind the scent evidence and asked that it be thrown out. The judge ruled that the science was indeed sound, and fully admissible in court. Last February, the man pled guilty to the killing and was sentenced to life without parole.

Human scent evidence has been used in federal court before.  However, the federal court judge’s ruling sets an important precedent—and by extension acknowledges the Bureau’s efforts to promote the highest standards when scent dogs are used in investigations.

The use of dogs by law enforcement is nothing new. Bloodhounds have traditionally been called upon to pick up the trail of fugitives and missing persons. FBI police and our special agent bomb technicians use dogs trained to sniff for explosives, and we have victim recovery dogs trained specifically to seek out the smell of blood and decomposing bodies.

But our Human Scent Evidence Team (HSET), established in 2002 and now a full-time program in the ERTU, is something of a new breed. After they are trained and certified—a process that can take two to three years—HSET dogs can help point investigators in the right direction when time and resources may be in limited supply—and their efforts may later be scrutinized in the courtroom.

Here’s how the program works:

-At the crime scene, in addition to collecting fingerprints, DNA, and other evidence, ERT technicians collect scents by using a trace evidence vacuum similar to those used for collection of hair and fibers. Human scent traces, which can be obtained from almost any object, are vacuumed onto a sterile surgical dressing and placed in an airtight glass jar (they can be stored that way for an extended period of time).

-Dogs are trained to smell the collected scent by sniffing the scent pad and indicating either a scent match or a non-match. If there is a matching trail of human odor, the dog will follow an invisible “odor highway” in the same way humans might recognize streets, roadways, and intersections.

-In most cases handlers know nothing about the cases they are called in to work. They are simply given a scent pad and asked to follow a trail if one is found.

Stockham is working with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to establish a uniform set of training and certification standards that would apply to all scent dogs used in investigations.

 “Our goal is to promote a science-driven program with the highest standards of training, certification, and professionalism,” Stockham explained. “It’s part of the FBI Laboratory’s commitment to provide exceptional forensic science services to our federal, state, local, and international law enforcement partners.”

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

Public Safety Technology in the News

New Device Can Sniff Out Dirty Bombs, Other Radiation
Contra Costa Times, (10/02/2008), Mike Taugher

Law enforcement and other agencies have a new tool to alert them to small amounts of radiation. The devices, called adaptable radiation area monitors, can detect small amounts of radiation and identify what type it is. The device can be placed inside vehicles to patrol highways or survey stadium entrances, or set up on a road. It could be used in a variety of ways, for example, in a vehicle to inspect a parade route. The New Jersey State Police have installed the detectors in a fleet of vehicles. The equipment is small enough to pack into a SUV. The software allows authorities to immediately know whether the source of the radiation is from natural, industrial or medical sources or from materials that could be used in a dirty or nuclear bomb. The technology can detect tiny amounts of radioactive material at about 40 miles per hour, within 12 feet of the material. The technology was developed at Livermore National Laboratory in California.
www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/ci_10611239

Tiny Cameras Going With Seattle Cops Out on the Street
Seattle Times, (09/11/2008), Jennifer Sullivan

Some Seattle police officers are now using tiny video cameras to record events as they perform their duties. The cameras, which weigh about 3.5 ounces, are made by VIEVU, a company founded by former Seattle police officers Steve Ward. He said video provides an accurate account of events during an incident and can be useful in determining liability. The devices can be worn on an officer's uniform, helmet or belt and can store more than four hours of video. Seattle police have used the cameras during demonstrations.
seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008172390_cameras11m.html

Dog to Sniff Out Phones in Prisons
Tampa Tribune, (10/04/2008), Josh Poltilove

The Florida Department of Corrections will soon be using a dog's powerful sense of smell to deter smuggling of cell phones into prisons. Razor, a 14-month-old Malinois, is trained to smell cell phones and will report for duty in November. Cell phones can help inmates commit a variety of illegal activity, including dealing drugs, planning escapes and harassing victims. Between July 2007 and June 2008, authorities confiscated 336 cell phones from Florida prison inmates. A state law took effect in October making it illegal to smuggle cells phones into prisons.
www.heraldtribune.com/article/20081004/ARTICLE/810040364/-1/newssitemap

North Charleston Police Take Step into the Future
The Post and Courier, (09/25/2008), Noah Haglund

The police department in North Charleston, S.C., is the latest Law enforcement agency to use a wireless device that allows officers to quickly check criminal histories and vehicle registration. The handheld unit allows police to check a national database for warrants and vehicle information, before they confront a driver. Previously, officers had to call dispatchers to obtain that information. The device is made by the Atlanta-based American Law enforcement Network and costs about $400. The monthly subscription fee is $30 per unit. About 500 departments in five states are using the device.
www.charleston.net/news/2008/sep/25/north_charleston_police_take_step_into_f55749/

State Buying DNA-Testing Robots to Speed Up Results
Coloradoan, (09/05/2008), Trevor Hughes

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is turning to robotic analyzers to speed up processing of DNA evidence samples. CBI has a backlog of DNA evidence requiring testing, partly due to more samples being submitted from property crimes in addition to violent crimes such as rape and homicide. CBI already has one robotic analyzer, which is used to develop DNA profiles from convicted felons. Three new analyzers will be used for evidentiary samples taken from crime scenes and suspects. The new analyzers are to be installed by the end of 2008, with technicians trained and using them by May 2009.
www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080905/UPDATES01/80905017

Grant to Help Solve Crimes
The Troy Messenger, (10/04/2008), Holli Keaton

The Troy University Forensic Science Institute is using a U.S. Department of Justice grant to expand its services for Law enforcement. The institute offers training to Law enforcement and helps with computer crime research. The university also uses its computer forensic science lab to help local, state and federal Law enforcement obtain digital evidence. The $463,000 grant will allow the university to offer more in-depth training, increase cybercrime work and expand the lab.
www.troymessenger.com/news/2008/oct/04/grant-help-solve-crimes

FEMA Awards $17.6 Million in Equipment and Training to Smaller Emergency Response Agencies Nationwide
Media-Newswire.com, (09/29/2008)

More than 1,000 emergency response agencies in the United States will receive equipment and training under $17.6 million in grants awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grants are awarded through the Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP). FY 2008 CEDAP funds are to be used for extrication devices; thermal imaging, night vision and video surveillance tools; chemical, biological and radiological detection tools; information technology and risk management tools; and vehicle tracking tools. Of the 1,045 grant awards, 79 percent were awarded to Law enforcement agencies. The rest went to fire departments, emergency medical service, emergency management and public safety agencies.
www.desastres.org/noticias.php?id=29092008-09

GM Introduces technology to Slow Down Stolen Vehicles for Police
Canadian Press, (10/02/2008)

technology to remotely slow down stolen vehicles may soon be available. General Motors of Canada is introducing the technology through its OnStar service beginning with some 2009 model year cars. An On-Star adviser can locate a vehicle using a global positioning system and send a remote signal to slow a vehicle down to help police make an arrest. Police say it will help them catch car thieves and possibly reduce the number of high-speed chases. The owner of the vehicle must first contact the police and an OnStar adviser and request the service before it can be activated. Once activated, the suspect car's parking lights flash to alert police to the correct vehicle, which is slowed to a crawl so police can easily pull it over. The car's brakes and steering will still work; the accelerator will not.
www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2008/10/02/6959481.html

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

NIJ Solicitation FY08: Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program

The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program awards grants to States and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. Among other things, funds may be used to eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic evidence and to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel, as needed, to eliminate such a backlog. States may apply for both "base" (formula) and competitive funds. Units of local government may apply for competitive funds. Application Deadline: May 30, 2008, 11:59 p.m. eastern time. Download the full solicitation at www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl000839.pdf.

Crime and Justice Research Solicitation

Funding amounts for this year's NIJ Crime and Justice Research solicitation have doubled—up to $4 million may be available. We also extended the time for applicants to write proposals—90 days.

According to the NIJ, “We're looking for innovative, precedent-setting ideas in what we call our "open" solicitation for social and behavioral research and evaluation on criminal justice and juvenile justice policy and practice.

As always, the questions your research answers should have clear implications for criminal justice policy and practice. Other NIJ solicitations and awards can help you focus on targeted topics of interest.”

Proposals are due: March 5, 2008

NIJ's open solicitations:

Terrorism (due: February 5, 2008)
Abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elders (due: February 5, 2008)
Topics of upcoming targeted solicitations:

Human trafficking
Crime prevention and control with a focus on gangs
American Indian Alaska Native Crime and Justice Research
Safe Community Release for Pretrial and Jail Populations
Social Science Research in Forensic Science
Criminal Justice Technology Evaluation
Justice System Responses to Violence Against Women
Research on Policing

More Information
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/sl000820.pdf

Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology News Summary

Per NIJ 11/15/07

ShotSpotter Project NLECTC-Southeast
NLECTC-Southeast is currently providing technical assistance to Birmingham (Alabama) Police Department as that department installs the ShotSpotter gunshot location system. As of August 2007, 86 sensor sites have been selected and the department has received signed permission to install sensors at 80 of these locations. In addition, Southeast Center staff are assisting Richland County (South Carolina) Sheriff's Department with the installation and testing of a new hybrid system developed by ShotSpotter. The hybrid system employs sensors based on both wired telephone lines and wireless cellular data modems. For more information on gunshot location systems and evaluations of the ShotSpotter technology, contact NLECTC-Southeast at 800-292-4385 or nlectc-se@nlectc-se.org.

Emergency Management System Pilot Project NLECTC-West
From August 14–16, 2007, staff from NLECTC-West facilitated the installation of a software system at Claremont (California) High School as part of an NIJ technical pilot program to test an emergency management system. The system is based on requirements developed in response to the Columbine High School shooting and subsequent changes in response to active shooter scenarios. Staff also participated in a 2-day active shooter training drill. For more information about this project, contact NLECTC-West, 888-548-1618 or nlectc@law-west.org.

Paterson, NJ, Improves Public Safety With Addition of Gunshot Location System
Government Technology (09/25/07), News Report

In an effort to better public safety, the City of Paterson, NJ, is using the ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection and Location System in conjunction with its wireless surveillance network. In order to complement the existing, as well as expanding, video surveillance system, the ShotSpotter GLS sensors will be placed throughout areas of Patterson. The complete integration of these two systems is scheduled for the end of 2007, and this integration will allow the cameras to focus in on sources of gunfire.
http://www.govtech.com/gt/148999?topic=117693

Byrd Announces Grant Funding for Marshall Forensic Science Center
HuntingtonNews.net (09/25/07), Marshall University Communications

West Virginia senator Robert Byrd has announced that the Marshall University Forensic Science Center (MUFSC) is set to receive more that $2 million in Federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to support the sustained growth of MUFSC as a working model forensic laboratory and a resource for the national forensic community. The additional funding for this project will help MUFSC provide training to laboratory specialists, as well as other members of the criminal justice community, in the area of DNA testing. It will also allow MUFSC to conduct tests of DNA samples gathered from convicted felons throughout the country.
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/marshall/070925-staff-marshallgrantfunding.html

Oregon Prison Guards Get Tasers
Seattlepi.com (09/30/07), Associated Press

In an effort to help control an inmate population that has reached 13,500, Oregon state correctional officers will be issued Tasers® equipped with digital cameras. Nearly 100 of the State's correctional officers are receiving training on how and when to use the less-lethal weapons, which are aimed at preventing injuries to both staff and inmates. Under department policy, approval for use would have to come from the supervising officer in charge and the prison superintendent, and then use of the weapon would be left to the judgment of the trained officers and command staff.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/333806_prisontasers01.html

San Francisco Police Officers

October 26, 2007 (San Dimas, CA) Police-Writers.com is a website that lists nearly 800 state and local police officers who have written books. The Website added three San Francisco Police Department police officers.

Sergeant Peter Thoshinsky graduated from San Jose State University in 1982 with a degree in Criminal Justice. In June of 1982, he joined the San Francisco Police Department. He was promoted to sergeant in 1990. He worked the Poterero, Central, Southern and Ingleside Stations as well as the Narcotics Bureau. A 20 year veteran of law enforcement he also served as a member and supervisor on the San Francisco Police Department’s SWAT team. A photograph for almost 30 years, he is the author of Blue in Black & White, a collection of photographs relating to law enforcement.

Inspector Mark Hawthorne is a 28 year veteran of the San Francisco Police Department. He has been assigned patrol, field operations and investigations. His current assignment is Crime Scene Investigations. As a POST instructor he specializes in Instructor Development, Preliminary Investigations and Crime Scenes. As a an adjunct faculty member of the City College of San Francisco Administration of Justice and Fire Science Department he acts as an advisor to the Forensic Science Club. Inspector Mark Hawthorne is the author of First Unit Responder: A Guide for Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers and Fingerprints: Analysis and Understanding.

According to the book description of First Unit Responder: A Guide for Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers, “Physical evidence cannot be wrong; it cannot perjure itself; it cannot be wholly absent. Only its interpretation can err. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value." -Presiding Judge, Harris v U.S., 331 U.S. 145 (1947) HOW TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE CRIME SCENE WHILE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION. First Unit Responder: A Guide to Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers is a training guide and reference for patrol officers and criminal investigators, who conduct preliminary investigations of crime scene, to aid in identification, collection, and booking of physical evidence. Written by a veteran of 24 years of law enforcement, the book stresses the importance of understanding the critical nature of physical evidence and preservation of the crime scene as part of the case against a criminal defendant. This book is an important tool for police academies that train recruits and veteran patrol officers, as well as for students of criminal justice who seek guidelines for proper collection and handling of physical evidence”

According to Corporal Andreas K. Mendel, NCO in Charge, Forensic Identification Section, West Vancouver Police, in Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal, “Mark Hawthorne's easy writing style and use of personal anecdotes make this book a relaxed read. First Unit Responder is a good resource for recruit training or criminal justice/criminology students, or as review material for seasoned investigators.”

Prentice E. Sanders was the Chief of Police of the San Francisco Police Department for fourteen months in 2002 and 2003. He was born in Texas and moved to San Francisco's Laurel Heights at the age of fourteen. After serving in the Army, he then received Bachelor's and Masters Degrees from Golden Gate University. Prentice Earl Sanders joined the San Francisco Police Department in 1964, becoming the San Francisco Police Department's first African American chief of police. In 2006, Prentice Earl Sanders and co- authored The Zebra Murders: A Season of Killing, Racial Madness, and Civil Rights.

According to Publisher’s Weekly, The Zebra Murders: A Season of Killing, Racial Madness, and Civil Rights is a “look at a largely forgotten reign of terror in San Francisco in 1973 and 1974 is an interesting if superficial true police procedural. Sanders, the SFPD's first African-American chief of police, was one of the lead detectives on the case code-named the Zebra Murders, involving a group of African-American men who, apparently racially motivated, were targeting whites in vicious random acts of violence that claimed 15 lives. The book reads less like an objective assessment of these events than a memoir of Sanders's experiences with the investigation and his role in a civil lawsuit against the SFPD to combat rampant racial discrimination. Oddly, about halfway in, the authors break the linear narrative with information derived only at the case's end, rather than lay out the police work and discoveries as they happened. The efforts to compare the police tactics with post-9/11 targeting of Muslims will strike most readers as labored despite Sanders's insistence that the killings were acts of political terror, not mere serial killings. Nonetheless, this serves as a useful introduction to the case.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 786 police officers (representing 352 police departments) and their 1674 law enforcement books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

Police Books from Wisconsin and California

Police-Writers.com is a website that lists state and local police officers who have written books. The website added one police officer from Wisconsin and two from California.

During his over twenty-eight year law enforcement career, Detective Joseph L. Butts, worked for the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (Wisconsin). Joseph Butts worked assignments in the courts, uniformed patrol, the bicycle detail and the detective bureau. He was the first African American Sheriff’s Deputy to be assigned regular patrol duties in several south suburban communities of Milwaukee county; and, the first African American deputy sheriff to be assigned undercover drug assignments in Milwaukee County suburban communities. Moreover, during his career, Joseph L. Butts worked Internal Investigation, the Organized Crime Unit and investigated crimes throughout Milwaukee county. Detective Joseph L. Butts wrote a book about his experiences, Crime and Other Critical Social Ills: As Seen from Behind the Badge.

According to one reader of Crime and Other Critical Social Ills: As Seen from Behind the Badge, “This book shows how things can happen at a moments notice and how individuals react or don't react. This book could pertain to any Law Enforcement Department in the country. Being a member of the same department that Det. (retired) Butts was in, and reading his book, makes me understand crime, justice and the department better. I just wish I knew him personally.”

Larry Ragle is the retired Director of Forensic Sciences in Orange County, California. During his career he has investigated countless high-profile homicides, including lending his expertise to the defense team in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Larry Ragle was a criminalistics major at UC Berkeley where he received a Bachelors of Science degree in 1959. This program focused on laboratory examination of all types of physical evidence and on crime scene investigation techniques. Larry Ragle began his law enforcement career with the Berkeley Police Department in 1956. He was a police officer for the Berkeley Police Department until 1960. Larry Ragle is the author of Crime Scene.

According to the book description of Crime Scene, “Each week, millions of Americans tune in to watch CSI and CSI-Miami. Featuring the latest forensic fads and tools, these shows take a seemingly unsolvable mystery and unravel it in a primetime hour based on minute pieces of evidence to solve the crime. Just how do Forensic Teams and Labs accomplish these amazing feats? How do they turn a stray piece of hair into the key clue that leads police to the criminal? In Crime Scene, Larry Ragle offers the benefit of his 43+ years of experience and walks us through real-life crime cases to explain how different forensic methods are used and applied.”

A former police officer with the Berkeley Police Department (California), James N. Gilbert joined the University of Nebraska (Kearney) as the Criminal Justice department as Chair in 1988. Dr. James N. Gilbert received his BC from California State University, Long Beach; his MS from Eastern Kentucky University; and, his Ph.D., from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the author of Criminal Investigation and Criminal Investigation: Essays and Cases.

According to the book description of Criminal Investigation, “With interest in criminal investigation at an all time high, the newest edition of this popular text is particularly useful. One of the most comprehensive reviews of the investigative process available, it covers the fascinating history and future implications of field. A thorough discussion of cutting-edge investigative methods and technology employed to combat emerging crimes prepares readers to enter the next generation of criminal investigation. Using detailed crime scene examples, it links specific investigative techniques and laboratory techniques that are most effective for each particular crime.”

Police-Writers.com now hosts 721 police officers (representing 332 police departments) and their 1540 police books in six categories, there are also listings of United States federal law enforcement employees turned authors, international police officers who have written books and civilian police personnel who have written books.

NIJ Conference 2007

Plan now to attend the NIJ Conference 2007, July 23-25, 2007, at the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, Virginia

NIJ's annual conference brings together criminal justice scholars, policymakers, and practitioners at the local, State, and Federal levels to share the most recent findings from research and technology.

The conference showcases what works, what doesn't work, and what the research shows as promising. New developments in technology that increases public safety will be featured. The conference puts a heavy emphasis on the benefits to researchers and practitioners who work together to make effective evidence-based policies and practices.

This year's keynote speaker is Jan Burke, critically acclaimed writer and author of the Irene Kelly mystery series. Ms. Burke has won the Edgar® Award for Best Novel and founded the Crime Lab Project, a group of crime writers, friends, and readers concerned about the gap between the public's beliefs about the current state of forensic science and the reality faced by labs and coroners' offices throughout the country.

For more information and free, online registration, visit www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/events/nij_conference.

Addressing Shortfalls in Forensic Science Education

Are you interested in a career in forensic sciences? Do you teach forensic science courses? Are you a college administrator? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'll want to read NIJ's latest fact sheet about an accredited forensic science curriculum that will take you on the right path.

The NIJ In Short Fact Sheet Addressing Shortfalls in Forensic Science Education describes the benefits of an accredited forensic science education program. Many crime labs find that new graduates from forensic education programs are not properly trained. A committee led by the American Academy of Forensic Science has developed an evaluation and accreditation process to help universities improve their curriculum. An accredited curriculum gives employers—such as crime lab directors—standard criteria to assess whether an applicant is qualified.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/216886.htm

Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.

Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology

NLECTC Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary
Thursday, February 1, 2007

"Cameras Gather Evidence, Help Catch Criminals"
Kansas City Star (01/28/07); Lambe, Joe

The use of video surveillance footage is growing increasingly important in solving crimes and convicting criminals. Surveillance video business doubled over the last five years, and is expected to increase from $9.2 billion in 2005 to $21 billion by the end of the decade. Kansas City homicide Detective Steve Morgan says the first thing the police do at a crime scene is look for video cameras, even as far as a couple of blocks away, in case a camera caught someone going to or leaving the crime scene. Kansas City police want $4 million to upgrade patrol car cameras to higher-quality digital equipment and to install cameras in high-crime neighborhoods. Chicago already has hundreds of cameras in high-crime areas and is in the process of installing about 2,000 more, and Cincinnati officials plan to spend $6 million for "smart" cameras that can zoom in on people when gunshots are detected. A pilot study of the technology in Orange, N.J., reported an 85 percent drop in gun-related crimes. The ACLU says the use of new video technology has outrun concerns of privacy and policy, and the extreme use of cameras in public places makes no sense, according to Brett Shirk, director of the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri, citing a study in the United Kingdom that said public cameras did not reduce crime or make people feel safer.
http://www.kansascity.com
/mld/kansascity/news/16562557.htm

"County Jail Officials Push for Video Bail Hearings"
Baltimore Sun (01/26/07); Mitchell, Josh

Prison officials in Baltimore County, Md., say they want to launch videoconferencing for inmates' bail review hearings to save money and time. At present, many prisoners are transported from the county detention center in Towson to district courts in Essex and Catonsville to take part in bail reviews. But if videoconferencing were established, inmates would remain in Towson while judges could review their bails remotely. Meg Ferguson, criminal justice coordinator for County Executive James T. Smith Jr., says the project could involve about six cameras, one at each court building and one or more at the detention center in Towson. However, District Court buildings would have to be retrofitted to handle the new technology. Ferguson was unable to offer an estimate for the project. Officials assert that in the long run, videoconferencing would save funds because the cost of transporting prisoners would be cut. Furthermore, police officers at precincts would have to deal with fewer inmates, officials say. Officials also feel it would be safer to keep inmates within a single facility for hearings. The videoconferencing initiative requires the endorsement of the county executive as well as district and city courts, and officials hope to deploy the new system by spring.
http://www.baltimoresun.com
/news/local/baltimore_county/
bal-md.co.bail26jan26,1,7609379.story

"Camera Planes Pitched to Parker"
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (01/27/07); Campbell, Elizabeth

Parker County, Texas, could purchase unmanned aircraft that can help police search for people lost in wooded areas. The aircraft measure only three feet to four feet from wingtip to wingtip, but are equipped with imaging cameras and software that can aid searchers. The aircraft system can also provide firefighters with an eye-in-the-sky view of fires that can aid firefighting efforts. In addition, the aircraft could also be used to monitor areas where drug activity is suspected. A person stationed at the control center guides the three digital cameras used by each aircraft, which sends live video and high-resolution images to a computer.
http://www.dfw.com
/mld/dfw/16560421.htm

"Courts Installing Electronic Network"
Ventura County Star (CA) (01/26/07); Hernandez, Raul

The Ventura County, California, court system is scheduled to begin using a new electronic network in March for filing cases. Probate courts will be one of the early users of the network, with criminal courts hoping to use the network within two years. The multimillion-dollar statewide network, called the California Case Management System, is designed to allow judges, attorneys, and the public to access court files and documents over the internet from any location. The system is intended to reduce the lines at the county's court records department, and save a significant amount of tax dollars. Similar systems are in use in Colorado, Delaware, and federal courts.
http://www.venturacountystar.com
/vcs/county_news/article/0,1375,
VCS_226_5306736,00.html

"New Orleans Gets Anti-Crime Update"
Los Angeles Times (01/27/07) P. A14; Simmons, Ann M.

On Jan. 26, New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin announced efforts to fight violent crime, including more surveillance cameras, assigning more officers to foot patrols, and increasing the number of random traffic checkpoints. Nagin said 50 surveillance cameras in the city are currently functional, and that over the next two months 20 additional hot spots would be monitored through cameras. Surveillance cameras would also be erected along St. Charles Avenue ahead of Mardi Gras in March, he said. Law enforcement officials said officers would be required to walk their beats for as long as 1.5 hours per shift. In addition, officials said that random checkpoints established over the past few weeks have led to 1,600 citations, including 24 arrests involving drugs and the arrest of 35 wanted criminals. Some citizens have praised the mayor and police officials for providing weekly public updates.
http://www.latimes.com
/news/nationworld/nation/la-n
a-orleans27jan27,1,3440383.story

"British Footprint Database to Help Catch Criminals"
Reuters (01/29/07); Reany, Patricia

A new database being launched by Britain on Feb. 15 will compile footwear prints and marks from crime scenes and information from shoe manufacture's to help police. Footwear marks are the second biggest evidence type behind blood and DNA, according to Dr. Romelle Piercy of the Forensic Science Service in London. Footprints can be found nearly everywhere at a crime scene from on a body or carpet to within earth or mud, and are very unique to each individual person. The Footwear Intelligence Tool will include data on shoe type, color, branding, marks, and demographic information. The database is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.
http://today.reuters.com
/news/articlenews.aspx?t
ype=technologyNews&stor
yID=2007-01-29T203534
_z01_L29924862_RTRUK
OC_0_US-BRITAIN-FOOTWEAR.xml

"Mayor Seeks City Funding for Gunshot Locater Technology"
Boston Globe (01/22/07) P. B5; Vaznis, James

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino is expected to submit a request to the City Council this week for the purchase of sensors to monitor high-crime areas. The technology can locate where gunshots originated from and link directly to the city's emergency dispatch center. Officials noted that the system could be activated as soon as the summer. However, Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis indicated recently that he carefully wanted to consider the benefits of the system before providing his support. ShotSpotter developed the technology, which could eventually be used in conjunction with a camera system. Menino is optimistic that the acoustic gunshot-detection system can improve the police department's success rate for solving criminal cases.
http://www.boston.com
/news/local/massachusetts
/articles/2007/01/22/may
or_seeks_city_funding_for_g
unshot_locater_technology/

"Video Enlisted as Crime Deterrent"
Press Enterprise (PA) (01/23/07) P. B1; Moore, Steve

Palm Desert has agreed to launch a technology trial that allows 10 local businesses to receive as much as $1,500 in rebates for equipping their buildings with video surveillance gear. City officials project that the businesses will pay roughly $3,000 each to equip the surveillance technology. Businesses involved in the program are required to offer merchandise and services to consumers in Palm Desert. The types of businesses that qualify for the program include nightclubs, bars, banks, retail stores, and others. Participating businesses will equip the cameras in places that provide cover of interior, exterior, and common entry or extra doorways. The police department will be able to instantly access the images.
http://www.pe.com
/localnews/desert/stories
/PE_News_Local_D_dvid
eo23.242973d.html

"Court Security Plan to Cost Freehold $66G"
Asbury Park Press (NJ) (01/23/07); Petruncio, Nick

The Freehold borough will invest $66,500 to upgrade its municipal court security plan under a mandate issued by the New Jersey Supreme Court that orders all local urban districts to establish a court security committee and security program. The urban districts were required to present preliminary security plans by Dec. 29 of last year. State Superior Court Judge Lawrence M. Lawson said all municipalities have complied with the demand and added that his staff is currently evaluating the proposals. The urban districts are required to submit their final drafts by Feb. 5. The order also requires all municipal courtrooms in New Jersey to adopt a number of security protections, such as weapons detection measures and using materials to protect the judge's bench from bullets. The Freehold borough plans to install security cameras, a walk-through metal detector, and videoconferencing as part of its upgrade.
http://www.app.com
/apps/pbcs.dll/article
?AID=/20070123/NEW
S01/701230391/1004/NEWS01

"Parishes Now Share a Radio System"
New Orleans Times-Picayune (01/24/07) P. 1; Hunter, Michelle

In Louisiana, police departments in the parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines can now talk to each other via a single radio system. The departments launched a joint 700 MHz digital radio system on Jan. 22 funded by federal disaster money and grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The initiative is expected to encompass fire, medical, and government services in the future, according to law enforcement officials. New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley noted that because the new radio system facilitates interoperability, the system would accommodate out-of-state emergency personnel if they were to reprogram their own equipment. The new radio system now allows a Jefferson deputy sheriff, for example, to communicate with a New Orleans patrol officer directly, while in the past, officers would have to go though the communications hubs of the respective departments. DHS has allocated roughly $2.3 billion for a nationwide effort to replace obsolete or damaged radio systems, says George Foresman, the undersecretary of preparedness for DHS. Law enforcement officials estimate that the four-parish upgrade cost approximately $30 million.
http://www.nola.com
/search/index.ssf?/bas
e/library-119/1169623
06598400.xml?ZZLIBB&coll=1

"Osceola Site Tracks Sex Offenders"
Orlando Sentinel (FL) (01/24/07); Aradillas, Elaine

Residents of Osceola County, Fla., will be able to look up the location of sex offenders within a 1-mile radius of their address using the Sex Offender Watch program. The program, which was added to the Osceola County Sheriff's Web site, allows residents to enter the address of their home, school, or business to see if any sex offenders live within a mile of those addresses, as well as receive email notification if a sex offender should move into a residence near those locations. The program cost $7,000 to set up and will cost the same amount annually for upkeep, and is used by 300 sheriffs in 26 states.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com
/news/local/osceola/orl-owoffend
er2407jan24,0,5263892.story

"Council to Take Longer Look at Traffic Cameras"
Macon Telegraph (GA) (01/23/07); Barnwell, Matt

The Macon, Ga., City Council will likely convene during the last week of January to talk over a proposed agreement with Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) to erect red-light cameras at a minimum of 10 intersections in the city. Council members had earlier raised several concerns, including a pending state bill that would ban red-light cameras and citizens' opinions that Macon is more worried about making money than safety matters. ACS has informed city authorities that fines could earn the government between $4 million and $5.5 million over the deal's five-year term. Under the agreement, Macon would list 15 potential surveillance sites, and with the city's permission, ACS would then implement cameras in 10 or more of these intersections. The company would maintain the cameras and collect for Macon the fees they produce. Macon would pay a monthly fee to ACS of around $4,400 a camera, over $2.6 million during the five-year contract. The cameras would record three still pictures of vehicles that go through red lights, and a dozen seconds of video. ACS would permit preliminary reviews of camera photos and send any images that seem to portray a violation to the police, and an officer would then study the photos via a secure Web site and send a citation to the vehicle's owner.
http://www.macon.com
/mld/macon/news/local/16522258.htm

"Your License Plate May Be On Candid Camera"
Buffalo News (01/22/07) P. A1; Watson, Stephen T.

Police are using a new system that allows them to scan license plates quickly and accurately. The system, called optical character recognition (OCR), recognizes letters and symbols using infrared cameras that read license plates and translates the images into digital characters. Washington D.C., Maryland, Florida, and New York are some of the areas using the system. In Buffalo, N.Y., police using the system at a checkpoint issued 2,119 vehicle and traffic tickets, gave out 538 misdemeanor summonses, impounded 501 cars, and made a handful of arrests for driving a stolen car or possessing stolen plates.
http://www.buffalonews.com
/editorial/20070122/1059702.asp

"System Tracks Criminals and More"
Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (01/19/07) P. A3; Mathews, Cameron

A tracking system called RiteTrack is helping detention facilities in several states improve their intake processes and how they allocate probation officers to clients. The system is "50 percent business, the other half human service," asserts Even Brande, president and CEO of Handel Information Technologies, which manufactures the system. Les Pozsgi, division administrator with the state corrections department's field services division, says the department expects to issue a request for proposals for a field-specific, electronic case management system by February. He adds that it might use RiteTrack but will consider systems from across the country. The department's spokeswoman, Melinda L. Brazzale, says the facility now uses an internally developed product called the Wyoming Criminal Information System to monitor offenders. RiteTrack technology is beneficial because it prevents the loss of crucial data and streamlines the work of probation officers and other staff members. Law enforcement agencies, drug courts, and juvenile services can also benefit from the technology, according to Handel's Web site.
http://www.wyomingnews.com

"Ringing Busy: Managing Commercial Telecommunications in a Public Safety World"
Law Enforcement Technology (01/07) Vol. 34, No. 1, P. 32; Brown, Todd

Police organizations have frequently been quick to adopt new communication technology, but to take advantage of the newest cellular phones and personal communications devices, police are forced to depend on "commercial" telecommunications systems. Some of the newer options are smart phones such as the Blackberry, Push to Talk phone/radios from Nextel, Sprint, and Verizon, and geographic information systems (GIS)-enabled devices. Smart phones can be used for scheduling and internet access, Push to Talk allows for one person to talk to multiple people at the same time, and GIS creates mapping and tracking functions on cell phones, laptops and radios. Mobile Data Terminals can be used to record, store, transmit and receive mission-critical data on-site, and are in widespread use by police and EMS. There are concerns that too much commercialization of public safety communications might have reliability and network access problems.
http://www.officer.com/magazines/let/

"A Simple Plot"
Law Enforcement Technology (01/07) Vol. 34, No. 1, P. 8; Morgenstern, Henry

Although liquid explosives have not been used often in recent suicide bombings throughout the world, law enforcement agencies still must take action to stop them from being used. Investigations of the plot last August to bomb airplanes coming to the United States from the United Kingdom are finding that bottles of Lucozade--an English brand of Gatorade--with fake bottoms would have been employed. The Lucozade would have been contained in the bottle's top section while the false bottom would have held the explosives. It has been determined by authorities that the liquid would be utilized to either manufacture triacetone triperoxide TATP and/or hexamethylene triperoxide diamine. These apparently would have been mixed after take-off, and both substances can be activated by heat, friction, or electrical charge. There are numerous kinds of liquid and gel explosives that law enforcement should learn about, including WaterGel explosives, which were devised to replace dynamite, are packaged in plastic, have the appearance of very big sausages, and need a detonator. Two-element Kinepak is sold commercially and has a syrupy red liquid appearance; when combined with a white powder component it makes a highly powerful explosive, and requires an electrical or mechanical detonation. Nitroglycerin continues to be the explosive with the highest instability, and can be stabilized through freezing and reconstitution or by adding elements that can then be removed. http://www.officer.com/magazines/let/