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2023 American Academy of Forensic Sciences 75th Anniversary Conference
Mon-Sat | Feb. 13-18th
Orlando, Florida
Thirteen of Arizona State University’s FFSI faculty affiliates (representing 6 schools and the disciplines of anthropology, engineering, biology, statistics, entomology, psychology, chemistry, isotope geochemistry, & genetics) presented their research at the 2023 American Academy of Forensic Sciences 75th Anniversary Conference in Orlando, Florida (February 13-18, 2023). Listed is a short document highlighting the FFSI faculty affiliates who presented their research, with many students and collaborators that helped represent the richness of ASU’s involvement in interdisciplinary forensics. We enjoyed connecting with everyone (including if you attended) at the AAFS conference.
Mental Health and the Courts: What Can New Science and Technologies Offer?
Dec. 9, 2022 | Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse, District of Arizona
The behavioral health crisis in our country, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, affect every aspect of our justice system - from competency proceedings, sentencing and probation, to probate and family court, including foster care, and civil liability. Our speakers included national field experts and academics, who reflected the variety of practices and approaches to this crisis from around our country. The public conference was the eighth biannual Law and Neuroscience Conference, sponsored by the Center for Law, Science, and Innovation of ASU College of Law and held at the US District Court.
Cold Case Symposium
Sept. 23, 2022 | ASU West Valley campus; Zoom
In partnership with Purdue University, New College hosted the first-ever Cold Case Symposium, in recognition of Forensic Science Week. Three speakers including Sarah Turney of the Voices for Justice podcast , Daniel Robinson and Kelsi German shared their experiences with cold cases and taught attendees how they can help advocate. Attendees learned about resources available for cold cases and hear what student work is being conducted at ASU and Purdue University to bring awareness to the cold case crisis in the U.S.
Manifesting Justice with Author Valena Beety
September 28, 2022 | Beus Center for Law and Society; Zoom
The Academy for Justice at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law hosted a book talk with the author of Manifesting Justice: Wrongly Convicted Women Reclaim Their Rights.
The book talk included a conversation with author Valena Beety and award-winning journalist and KJZZ host Lauren Gilger.
About Manifesting Justice: Through the lens of her work with the Innocence Movement and her client Leigh Stubbs—a woman denied a fair trial in 2000 largely due to her sexual orientation—innocence litigator, activist and founder of the West Virginia Innocence Project, Valena Beety, examines the failures in America’s criminal legal system and the reforms necessary to eliminate wrongful convictions—particularly with regards to women, the queer community and people of color.
Crime Scene Investigations – An Informative Conversation and Overview of CSI Procedures
Ken Pomeranz | March 17, 2021
This presentation covered the methodology of how crime scene investigators process crime scenes, coupled with actual case examples to offer insight into the real workings of CSI.
Microplastics meets Sherlock Holmes: How Forensic Science Can be Used to Tackle the Plastic Pollution Problem
Claire Gwinnett | March 3, 2021
The problem of plastic pollution is a relatively new one compared to crime but is one that needs a multidisciplinary approach to solve it. This presentation focused upon the benefits of employing other scientific disciplines in improving and standardizing microplastic analysis, particularly those disciplines which require the same questions to be asked of the samples and also both require fast and effective analysis techniques. This presentation introduced techniques employed in forensic science, specifically forensic fiber analysis, which have been a fundamental part of criminal investigations for over 50 years.
The analytical techniques available to the forensic fiber examiner can also be employed for microplastic analysis with additional benefits for the interpretation of microplastic particulates. The what, where, when and how questions asked of fibers in a criminal case can also be asked of microplastics in our water environments leading to a better understanding of ‘source’ level information and enabling effective mitigation activities to be introduced. This presentation outlined the work of Staffordshire University’s Microplastic and Forensic Fibers Research Group who bring together technology and best practice from disciplines such as forensic science, computer vision, machine learning, data science and environmental monitoring to provide solutions to the plastic pollution problem.
Future of Forensic Science Working Group 2021
February 24, 2021
Splitting Hairs: The Watershed Investigation That Exposed the FBI’s Use of Flawed Forensic Hair Analysis
Lindsay Herf and Hope DeLap | February 3, 2021
Since the 1930s, FBI Crime Lab analysts have conducted microscopic hair examinations and trained state lab examiners. In 2012, the FBI began to investigate testimony by their hair examiners and identified improper testimony in 90% of cases between 1978 and 1999. The astounding results of the audit led the FBI and DOJ to strongly recommend individual state reviews of hair comparison testimony. Starting in 2017, the Justice Project worked with a state task force to review Arizona hair microscopy cases. To date, there have been more than 300 DNA exonerations across the country; erroneous hair testimony was a contributing factor in approximately 25% of those exonerations. The investigation into the FBI Crime Lab has highlighted the need for greater scrutiny of forensic disciplines and standards for forensic testimony.
To Err is Human: Cognitive Bias in Forensic Science
Jeff Kuckuka | January 20, 2020
Contrary to its reputation, forensic science errors have contributed to myriad wrongful convictions. In this talk, Dr. Kuckuka described his research on the causes and consequences of bias and error in the forensic sciences, including various reform measures that have been met with a mix of enthusiasm and resistance.
AAAS presentation and press conference for paper, "Psychological Assessments in Legal Contexts: Are Courts Keeping "Junk Science" Out of the Courtroom?"
Tess Neal and Michael Saks | February 15, 2020
Watch the AAAS presentation here.
FFSI Working Group at Skysong, including UNSW colleagues Drs. Kristy Martire and Gary Edmond
March 2-3, 2020
Forensic Evidence Admissibility: A Retrospective, invited panelist, Forensic Science Ten Years after the National Research Council Report, Houston Law Review Symposium, Houston, TX
Valena Beety | Sept. 19, 2019
"Revelatory Isotopes: Using Geology to Identify Victims of Homicide, War, and Mass Disasters" at the ASU CISA Science and Mathematics Colloqium Series
Gwyn Gordon | Sept. 12, 2018
External Speakers
Microplastics meets Sherlock Holmes: How Forensic Science Can be Used to Tackle the Plastic Pollution Problem
Claire Gwinnett | March 3, 2021
The problem of plastic pollution is a relatively new one compared to crime but is one that needs a multidisciplinary approach to solve it. This presentation focused upon the benefits of employing other scientific disciplines in improving and standardizing microplastic analysis, particularly those disciplines which require the same questions to be asked of the samples and also both require fast and effective analysis techniques. This presentation introduced techniques employed in forensic science, specifically forensic fiber analysis, which have been a fundamental part of criminal investigations for over 50 years.
The analytical techniques available to the forensic fiber examiner can also be employed for microplastic analysis with additional benefits for the interpretation of microplastic particulates. The what, where, when and how questions asked of fibers in a criminal case can also be asked of microplastics in our water environments leading to a better understanding of ‘source’ level information and enabling effective mitigation activities to be introduced. This presentation outlined the work of Staffordshire University’s Microplastic and Forensic Fibers Research Group who bring together technology and best practice from disciplines such as forensic science, computer vision, machine learning, data science and environmental monitoring to provide solutions to the plastic pollution problem.
Splitting Hairs: The Watershed Investigation That Exposed the FBI’s Use of Flawed Forensic Hair Analysis
Lindsay Herf and Hope DeLap | February 3, 2021
Since the 1930s, FBI Crime Lab analysts have conducted microscopic hair examinations and trained state lab examiners. In 2012, the FBI began to investigate testimony by their hair examiners and identified improper testimony in 90% of cases between 1978 and 1999. The astounding results of the audit led the FBI and DOJ to strongly recommend individual state reviews of hair comparison testimony. Starting in 2017, the Justice Project worked with a state task force to review Arizona hair microscopy cases. To date, there have been more than 300 DNA exonerations across the country; erroneous hair testimony was a contributing factor in approximately 25% of those exonerations. The investigation into the FBI Crime Lab has highlighted the need for greater scrutiny of forensic disciplines and standards for forensic testimony.
To Err is Human: Cognitive Bias in Forensic Science
Jeff Kuckuka | January 20, 2020
Contrary to its reputation, forensic science errors have contributed to myriad wrongful convictions. In this talk, Dr. Kuckuka described his research on the causes and consequences of bias and error in the forensic sciences, including various reform measures that have been met with a mix of enthusiasm and resistance.