1. Fred Fochtman, PhD, F-ABFT
Courtroom Knowledge of Forensic Technology and the Impact on Frye and Daubert Standards
Fred Fochtman, PhD, F-ABFT
Director, Forensic Science & Law Program
Duquesne University
Lyndsie Ferrara, MS
Instructor, Forensic Science & Law Program
INTRODUCE YOURSELF!!!!! (Background)
Thank Bode/Organizers of the Conference
Awareness Overview
Involvement in R&D in Forensics

2. Welcome & Introductions 9:05 - 10:00 AM
Time
Title
Presenter
8:30- 9:00 AM
Registration
9:00 - 9:05 AM
Welcome & Introductions
9: :00 AM
“Forensic DNA Analysis and New Technologies”
John Picciano
10: :00 AM
Forensic Drug Chemistry Overview
Joshua Yohannan
11:15 – 12:15 PM
“Forensic Toxicology: Testing Technology and Casework”
Shawn Vorce
12:15 - 1:15 PM
On Your Own Lunch (Nearby Sites)
1:30 PM
Depart for Allegheny County Lab
2:00 - 4:30 PM
Presentation and Tour at Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office
Mandy Tinkey
5:00 – 6:00 PM
Reception – Bayer Rotunda
6:00 - 7:00 PM
“The Role of the Medical Examiner and Avoiding Cognitive Bias” - Pappert Lecture Hall
Judge Stephanie Domitrovich

3. Today, all of RTI’s research activities are guided by our mission to improve the human condition.
Researchers hold advanced degrees in more than 125 disciplines; their collaborative expertise is recruited to better understand, analyze, measure, and solve many of the most complex challenges to the planet and humankind. Health research, RTI’s largest field of study, spans a range of specialties from the human genome to local health education. Researchers across the institute are studying substance abuse among teenagers, the relationship between children’s television viewing habits and obesity, and the health implications of the dietary supplement ephedra. Others are evaluating the prevalence of sexual assault among prison inmates and the relationship between hypothermia and infants with encephalopathy. While one multidisciplinary team of researchers recently forged a unique private-public partnership to bring an affordable new tuberculosis drug—PA-824—to clinical trials, another group developed a data-mining and predictive analytics software program to help police forces optimize their resources to improve public safety. RTI’s medicinal chemistry researchers discovered two successful cancer drugs, Camptothecin and Taxol. Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline market the Camptothecin chemotherapy agent as Camptosar and Hycamtin, respectively, for the treatment of ovarian and colon cancers. Taxol is a successful option for breast cancer.
RTI scientists also are involved with semi-conductor research, hardware, and algorithm developments with historic successes. One of these successes is our work with wind shear detection, where RTI engineers worked with NASA to build an airborne simulation model of the Doppler radar system and then tested its feasibility in flight. The success of this experimental device led several private companies to manufacture wind shear detection systems. In 1996, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required all airlines to have such devices on board at all times. Since then, there has not been a wind shear crash of any airliner so equipped.
Another successful technology resulted from our work with cochlear implants. RTI researcher Blake Wilson, who is now at Duke University, is credited with inventing most of the speech processing strategies used in the original and subsequent generations of the device. One of Wilson’s papers, published in 1991 in the journal Nature, is among the most highly cited publications in the field of cochlear implants. In 1997, Wilson and RTI received the American Ontological Society’s Presidential Citation for “major contributions to the restoration of hearing in profoundly deaf persons.”
RTI also has several centers focused on forensics and criminal justice issues.
A non-profit research institute, RTI’s mission is to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice.
RTI Today

4. Award number (2011-DN-BX-K564)
Building on this kind of understanding, RTI works with NIJ to operate the FTCoE. RTI and its FEPAC (Forensic Education Program for Accreditation) accredited academic partners were awarded the FTCoE in 2011.
FTCoE delivers practical and valuable transition and knowledge transfer solutions that bridge the gap between science and justice.
FTCoE

5. Technology Evaluation
Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE)
“The primary role (of the FTCOE) is to assist in the transition of law enforcement technology from the laboratory into practice by first adopters within the criminal justice community….The FTCOE will coordinate and facilitate all NIJ projects and programs in these fields in order to leverage resources and provide comprehensive forensic technology support to State and local criminal justice agencies.”
Research
Knowledge
Transfer
Technology Evaluation
FTCOE Vision and Mission

6. Partnerships: the Core of the FTCoE
In 2011, RTI and its FEPAC accredited academic partners were awarded the FTCoE. RTI is an independent, Not-for-profit Research Institute that provides research, development, and technical services to government and commercial clients worldwide. Our mission is to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice. Our staff of more than 3,700 partners with leading research universities worldwide.
Within RTI there are 3 Centers that largely support the activities of the FTCoE – the Center for Forensic Sciences (CFS), Center for Justice, Safety, and Resilience (CJSR)& Center for Innovation Advisors (IA).
RTI International currently has 3 FEPAC (Forensic Education Program for Accreditation) accredited academic partner organizations — University of North Texas Health Science Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Duquesne.
We have many other collaborations within the forensic community that enhance the capacity of the FTCOE, and RTI as the primary, to meet its goals.
This is a representative list of collaborators.
PARTNERS – ACADEMIA, FEDERAL LABS, FEDERAL AGENCIES- PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & INDIVIDUAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.

7. The FTCoE connects science to justice.
The FTCoE delivers practical and valuable technology transition and knowledge transfer solutions that bridge the gap between science and justice.
We are committed to the advancement of forensic science
within the criminal justice community through the elevation of practitioner expertise and the integration of policy and practice within the field of forensic science.
The FTCoE connects science to justice.
Committees & FTCOE HAVE COMPLENTARY MISSIONS. THE FTCoE SUPPORTS NIJ’s R&D PORTFOLIO, which stems from investigative and forensic sciences. The RAC does this for IACP, and its larger policing and law enforcement stakeholder groups.
Federal RDT&E process- The FTCoE is the T&E extension of R&D, its not good enough to demonstrate that a technology or process is successful in a research environment, it must be tested and evaluated in a practical setting. We do this with a lot of help and involvement of the practitioner community.
We deliver practical technology transitioning, including knowledge transfer solutions, to the community to close the gap between science and justice.
WE ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY-SHARE KNOWLEDGE- ADDRESS CHALLENGES to elevate practitioners expertise and the integration of policy and practice within the disciplines of forensic sciences. Not just in the laboratories but in the field.
Every year we complete activities to achieve our goals.SO in the next 15 minutes I would like to touch on a few examples to make the committee more aware of what we do and seed ideas in your minds for how we can grow partnerships and be a resource for one another.

8. The FTCoE Addresses Key Challenges to Forensics
The FTCoE is aware of the emergence of key issues based either on needs or on enabling technology developments
The forensic community may need more detailed, specialized assistance with coordinating knowledge transfer, adopting new technologies, and advancing research and development into the hands of practitioners. Special challenges stem from need to have multi-disciplinary national communication and coordination in order to achieve successful implementation of new ideas, policies, and practices.
The FTCoE has derived a team with specialized expertise to specifically address these concerns and provide workable solutions to these exceptionally challenging situations.

9. The FTCoE is a Resource for Valuable Insight and Information
Education
Provide relevant, rigorous and practical forensic educational tools including workshops, online forums, and opportunities for hands-on training
Reports
Inform and guide the forensic community on relevant topics originating from credible research and expertise
Events
Attend, support, present and exhibit
Leverage these opportunities to provide relevant information, obtain feedback, and better understand the current needs of the community
Databases
Host, support and promote the utilization and maintenance of forensic databases
Web-accessible R&D portfolio database
3 Policy & Practice Forums
3 Forensic Databases
3 Special Initiatives focusing on Today’s Forensic Challenges
11 Media and Public Communications
18 FTCoE Symposium and Workshops
More than 90 Online Knowledge Transfer & Education Events
Hosted 6 Technology Working Group (TWG) events
Released 11 translational technology reports
10-12 annually to Professional Meetings to exhibit and present

10. The FTCoE Drives Technology Toward Forensic Adoption
Research
Resolve crime and justice issues through the application of scientific research
Identify research in NIJ’s R&D portfolio which can benefit from additional adoption and dissemination support
Evaluations
Identify and remove the barriers which derail the adoption of new technology
Provide unbiased, credible, and relevant information for policy derivation, development, or modification
Translate data and information to enable adoption of emerging forensic solutions
Opportunities
Establish relationships with partners for technology transition, licensing and commercialization, technology evaluation, and knowledge transfer efforts
The FTCoE Drives Technology Toward Forensic Adoption
One of our primary goals is to work with NIJ to identify research in NIJ’s R&D portfolio which can benefit from additional adoption and dissemination support
To do this we look for Opportunities
To Establish relationships with partners for technology transition, licensing and commercialization, technology evaluation, and knowledge transfer efforts
Evaluations
Identify and remove the barriers which derail the adoption of new technology
Provide unbiased, credible, and relevant information for policy derivation, development, or modification
Translate data and information to enable adoption of emerging forensic solutions
Make reference to RAC website and mission for In Briefs

11. FTCoE Assistance

12. Thank you!