42nd Annual ASCLD Symposium April 26-30, 2015 Washington Marriott Wardman Park Washington DC Jeri D. Ropero-Miller, PhD, F-ABFT FTCoE Project Director NIJ Award 2011-DN-BX-K564 Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence — Research to Laboratory Reality

2007 – established by National Institute of Justice Committed to improving the practice of forensic science and strengthening its impact rigorous technology corroboration evaluation and adoption effective knowledge transfer and education dissemination of best practices/ guidelines Research Knowledge Transfer Technology Evaluation Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) FTCoE Snapshot

3 Partnering with the Forensic Community

GOALS Identify Technology Requirements Support NIJ’s Research & Development Programs Testing, Evaluating, & Demonstrating New Technologies Support the Adoption of New Technology Develop and Update Technology Guidelines Provide Technology Assistance and Support to Criminal Justice Agencies on a National Basis Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Research Knowledge Transfer Technology Evaluation

Advancing Technology Landscape Studies In-field Evaluations Forensic Databases Technology Assistance Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Our Impact Driving Research & Development Technology Working Groups NIJ R&D Portfolio Management for Technology Adoption Dissemination of R&D Findings

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Evaluation Reports –Landscape Mobile ID Fingerprint Devices (Jan 2014) Handheld/Portable Raman Spectrometers (Sept 2014) DNA Expert Systems (Summer 2015) –In Field Magneto-optical Sensor Technology (Mar 2014, June 2015) Organic Gunshot Residue (Spring 2015) Technology Adoption

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Technology Adoption Transition Workshops –Expert Systems for Interpreting DNA Data Duquesne University, Sept 2014 –Cognitive Factors in Forensic Decision Making Dr. Itiel Dror, April 2015 –Statistical Methods for Forensic Decision Making Dr. Stephen Morgan, Fall 2015 Assistance –Y-STR Database, University of Central Florida –Cheminformatic Database, RTI International –Forensic Resource Reference on Genetics (Frog-db), Yale University –Forensic Service Provider Data Collection, ASCLD

Our Impact Sharing Knowledge Blended Learning Environment ELearning (Live & Archival) Technology Transition Workshops Specialized Events Discussions Panels Focusing on Special Initiatives — Guidelines & Best Practices National Response to Sexual Assault Forensic Optical Topography Current Approaches to Familial DNA Searching Strengthening Forensic Science Services Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE)

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Over 100 onsite and online events Since Jan 2012 more than 43,834 visitswww.forensicCOE.org Weekly newsletter: 12,000+ subscribers 2 Year Impact: 25,000 participants Over 90 on demand topics (~100 hr content) Average Monthly Hours attendance: 2,100 Average Attendance per event: 132 Knowledge Transfer

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Addressing Today’s Challenges Organizing and Transferring SANE/SAFE/SART Knowledge and Best Practices (2014+) –Project focuses on systemic challenges that impede the investigation of criminal sexual assault in the U.S. –Goal: Awareness of resources and ensure existing research/knowledge/best practices are accessible –Approach –Consensus Topics Victim-Centric Care: Neurobiology & Telehealth Evidence Collection: Conducting Sexual Assault Examinations Evidence Analysis: Innovating DNA Analysis Technologies Evidence Management: Eliminating Untested Evidence

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Addressing Today’s Challenges Forensic Optical Topography Working Group (2015+) –NIJ directed the FTCOE to examine the development and application of forensic optical topography –Goals Determine how to improve practitioner access to optical topography instrumentation and methods Determine how optical topography may improve the ability to individualize firearms and tool marks and provide a more objective and reliable basis for forensic comparisons Stimulate R&D in optical topography –Approach

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Summary FTCoE  Resource to Forensic and Criminal Justice Communities  Community Involvement  Contacts   Project Director  Jeri Ropero Miller    Exhibits  Inquiries Questions?