Forensic sketch artist puts a face to unsolved crimes Timothy McPhillips' work was crucial to arrest of suspect in killing of Indian Head Park teen. Chicago Tribune - Chicago, IL - by Christy Gutowski - December 1 , 2011
Hollywood police get DNA grant to help solve decades-old homicide cases The case of a 12-year-old girl found strangled near the sixth hole of the Hillcrest Golf & Country Club back in 1980 is among some of the cold cases investigators are now hoping to crack open thanks to a grant. Sun Sentinel - Orlando, FL - by Ihosvani Rodriguez - November 30 , 2011
MPD detective graduates forensic program A detective with the Murfreesboro Police Department graduated Friday from the National Forensic Academy, a program that trains law enforcement officials how to better investigate crime scenes. The Murfreesboro Post - Murfreesboro, TN - by TMP Staff Report - November 30, 2011
Fingerprint Technology Facing Breakthroughs and Economics Since fall, 2010, the Santa Cruz Sheriff's Department as well as municipal police departments in the county have been using mobile identification devices, which are handheld mini-machines that take a fingerprint and facial photo on site, cross-reference it with the county database, and return any available results. Scotts Valley Patch - Scotts Valley, CA - by Jacob Bourne - October 14, 2010
Sprite bottle fingerprint helps solve armed robbery Veteran cops like to say the real world of crime fighting is nothing like what you see on those silly "CSI" television programs. But the Dallas police physical evidence detectives deserve credit for solving a recent armed robbery by lifting a single fingerprint off a soda bottle.
The Dallas Morning News - Dallas, Texas - by Scott Goldstein - October 14, 2010
CSI a la PNP It may be the best kept police secret, but the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame, Quezon City is now a modern unit with advanced equipment and highly trained personnel. The agents of the Crime Lab, commonly called SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operatives), are as crucial to crime solution as police officers chasing criminals. The Philippine Star - Mandaluyong City, Philippines - by Cecille Suerte Felipe - October 16, 2010
Be a death investigator for a night with Douglas County coroner The Douglas County coroner’s office will open its doors to fans of forensic science for a night with the coroner leading with the invite that “it’s not ‘CSI,’ it’s how it is really done.” Our Colorado News - Englewood, CO. - by Rhonda Moore - October 13, 2010
Closure of forensics lab has effect law authorities were fearing The backlog has begun. The suspected drugs aren’t being delivered. And the number of delayed court cases is climbing. These are all delays local law enforcement officials predicted when the state forensics laboratory at McClellan closed at the end of July, a victim of a state budget crisis that required deep cuts from multiple government agencies. The Anniston Star - Anniston, Alabama - by Cameron Steele - October 13, 2010
Sarasota County Sheriff's Office receives forensics grant The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has received a federal grant to purchase equipment for the Forensic Services Section. The new equipment will bolster its effort to become nationally accredited. abcactionnews.com - October 11, 2010
Adobe’s New ‘Unblur’ Filter Makes CSI-Style Effects Real You know that scene in CSI and its ilk where the detective says, “Can you enhance the image?” and some faceless tech hits a few keys and suddenly the license plate is clear and readable? Nerds have been mocking those scenes for decades, but it might be time to stop. Webmonkey - by Scott Gilbertson - October 11, 2010
Tip Off: Solving the Curious Case of the Missing Fingerprints Fingerprints are so familiar that they are mostly taken for granted. Except, however, for people who don't have any at all. Although rare, such a deficiency poses a problem for immigration, the border patrol and the criminal justice system, which all rely on tools such as biometric scans and other devices that read these tiny, unique, markings found on the hands and fingertips of most people. Scientific American - by Lena Groeger - October 11, 2010
University of Oklahoma forensics class not for the faint of heart Heather Ketchum's forensic entomology class at the University of Oklahoma is best described as part Fear Factor, part CSI. Students use pig carcasses and maggots to determine length of time between death and discovery of a body. NewsOK - Oklahoma City, OK - by Jane Glenn Cannon - October 10, 2010
Fingerprint technology paying off, police say Promising results from new fingerprint identification technology are helping point more criminal investigations in the right direction than ever before, says a Calgary police representative. MetroNews.ca - by Jeremy Nolais - October 11, 2010
Horry County Police treatment of evidence could be audited by state agency The way Horry County police log, store and manage items of evidence could be reviewed by the State Law Enforcement Division after members of a County Council committee agreed to ask for an audit by the state agency. On Tuesday, the majority members of Horry County Council’s Committee of the Whole voted for the SLED audit to clear any questions raised by an anonymous letter concerning the procedures and handling of evidence at the county’s police department. The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC - by Tonya Root - October 11, 2010
Met hires 180 forensic scientists Scotland Yard is hiring 180 scientists from the soon to be defunct Forensic Science Service to bring its scenes of crime work inhouse - raising fears amongst criminal law experts that the independence and integrity of expert prosecution evidence could be jeopardised. Guardian News - by Sandra Laville - October 10, 2010
Nurses learn at Northampton Community College how to preserve crime evidence Bethlehem police Sgt. Andy Kehm said that when a crime victim or suspect comes into an emergency room needing treatment, police are depending on nurses and doctors to preserve and collect evidence. A group of nurses spent Friday afternoon learning just how to do that during Northampton Community College’s first nursing continuing education conference.
The Express-Times - by Sara K. Satullo - October 10, 2010
FBI to launch nationwide face recognition service to catch wanted criminals A nationwide face recognition service is likely to be activated in the US by the FBI, which will allow police to pinpoint wanted criminals more quickly and accurately. The program that would begin by mid-January, is a part of a one billion overhaul of the FBI’s existing fingerprint database. Other biometric markers such as iris scans and voice recordings will also be implemented into the revamped database, the Daily Mail reports. TruthDrive.com - October 9, 2010
Law Expanding SC's DNA Database Was Never Funded South Carolina passed a law in 2008 that would require police to collect DNA samples from everyone charged with a felony. Before that law, the state didn't collect DNA samples until someone was convicted. But the law hasn't been implemented because the legislature didn't provide the money for it. WSPA, News Channel 7, Spartanburg, SC - by Robert Kittle - October 7, 2010
Madisonville state police crime lab moving to larger facility by early spring The Kentucky State Police lab in Madisonville will soon increase its space by about one-quarter with a move to a new 9,200-square-foot facility. The move is planned for late this winter or early spring and will provide room for 14 employees, including two administrative specialists, six forensic chemists, two forensic biologists, two breath alcohol analysts, a polygraph examiner and the lab commander, Lt. Mark Mayes, who is also responsible for labs in Louisville and Frankfort.
The Republic, Columbus, IN - October 5, 2010
Cape Girardeau Police Dept. has new crime fighting tool The Cape Girardeau Police Department has a new crime fighting tool. It's basically a metal detector specially designed for crime scene investigators. The device can be programmed to pick up certain kins of metal, like the types used in bullets and shell casings, at certain depths.
KFVS12, Cape Girardeau, MO - by Christy Hendricks - October 4, 2010
Port St. Lucie's Crime Scene Investigations unit has been busy this year The Port St. Lucie Police Department's CSI detectives have been busier than ever this year, combing through evidence and working on a number of high profile cases. WPTV TV/NewsChannel 5, West Palm Beach, FL - by Kristyn Caddell - October 3, 2010
Houston Police consider DNA for solving minor property crimes The Houston Police Department is considering a pilot program to collect DNA evidence from minor property crimes to increase the likelihood of catching crooks who are already entered into a national database. Stephen Dean, Houston Page One Examiner - October 3, 2010
