The Forensic Technolgy Center of Excellence- Continuous Improvement of Lab Efficiency, Technology Implementation, and Leadership Excellence @ American Society of Crime Lab Directors 2017 Symposium (May 3, 2017) Dallas, TX

1. Jeri D. Ropero-Miller, PhD, F-ABFT
FTCoE Project Director
JeriMiller@rti.org
ASCLD Symposium
Dallas, TX
May 3, 2017
The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence -
Continuous Improvement of Laboratory Efficiency,
Technology Implementation, and Leadership Excellence

2. The Forensic Technology Center of
Excellence (FTCoE), led by RTI International,
is supported through a Cooperative
Agreement from the National Institute of
Justice (NIJ), Office of Justice Programs,
U.S. Department of Justice (2016-MU-BX-
K110). The opinions, findings, and
conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this presentation are those of
the speaker and do not necessarily reflect
those of the Department of Justice. Any
products and manufacturers discussed are
presented for informational purposes only
and do not constitute product approval or
endorsement by the USDOJ.
Disclaimer

3. Forensic Technology Center of Excellence
The FTCoE supports the NIJ to
transition forensic science and
technology to practice.
Research
Knowledge
Transfer
Technology
Evaluation
• Supports NIJ’s research and
development (R&D) programs
• Provides testing, evaluation and
technology assistance
• Knowledge transfer of
technological applications,
leadership and best practices

4. Donia Slack,
MS, PMP
FTCoE
Associate
Director
Nicole
McCleary, MS
FTCoE
Program
Manager
Heidi
Eldridge, MS,
PhD Candidate
Nicole
Bynum, MS,
D-ABFT-FT
Katherine
Moore, MS
Sarah
Norsworthy, MS
Megan
Grabenauer, PhD
John Holloway Josh Vickers Cameron
Johnson
Lauren
Mangum
Lisa MaletteJeannine
Bratts
Erica Fornaro
Technical
Scientific
LeadershipTheFTCoETeam
John
Morgan, PhD
Molly Dix,
BSME, MIP
Kelle Barrick,
PhD
Jeri Ropero-Miller,
PhD, F-ABFT
FTCoE
Director
Erik Shepard
Rick Satcher,
MS, MBA

5. FTCoE Partners

6. 2012-2016 Project Activities Metrics
Knowledge
Transfer
348
78,000
Website
67,000
606,000

7. Webinars, Workshops, Conferences,
and Symposiums

8. Online Webinars
Virtual education and knowledge
transfer between forensic
discovery and forensic process
using an interactive learning
environment
• Live events
• Archives
• onsite events & workshops
• live events
• Over 250 hours of content
www.forensic COE.org

9. Courtroom Knowledge of Forensic Technology and the
Impact on Frye and Daubert Standards
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, August 9th-10th, 2016
The integration of expert
testimony and interpretation of
laboratory results were
examined in light of Frye and
Daubert standards.
This 2-day workshop focused
on introducing and enhancing
criminal justice professionals’
knowledge of forensic
technologies.

10. Statistics and Applied Mathematics in Forensic Science
Washington, DC October 31st-November 2nd, 2016
• Basic notions of statistics and probability
theory that apply to a wide range of forensic
disciplines and evidence types
• Fundamental statistical concepts and their
applications to forensic problems
• confidence intervals
• hypothesis testing
• sampling theory
• logical inference
• Examples and datasets
• trace and pattern evidence
• forensic drug analysis and toxicology
Access the archived symposium www.forensicCOE.org

11. National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium
Washington, DC, September 8th – 9th, 2016
The symposium focused on how the
nation is moving forward and finding
solutions to the complex issues that
arise in sexual assault cases and in
testing sexual assault evidence.
The goal of the event was to support our nation’s
policymakers and practitioners as they drive
future efforts to solve sexual assault cases,
provide justice to victims, and ultimately improve
public health and public safety.
Access the archived symposium www.forensicCOE.org

12. NIJ Forensic Science R&D Symposium
New Orleans, LA, February 14th, 2017
• Free and open meeting where attendees
learned about NIJ-funded research
• 16 presentations spanning several
forensic disciplines
• Impression, Pattern, and Trace
Evidence
• Forensic Biology / DNA
• Anthropology and Microbial Forensics
• Controlled Substances and Toxicology
*Above numbers represent cumulative metrics
of R&D Symposium from 2012-2016
Access the archived symposium www.forensicCOE.org

13. Reports

14. 2016 Crime Laboratory Director's Meeting - Final Report
August 29–30, 2016
• Gather information and
feedback on NIJ programs that
are specifically dedicated to
forensic science laboratories
• Provide an opportunity for an
open discussion about the
needs and challenges in the
forensic science practitioner
community.
• NIJ/FTCoE/ASCLD collaboration
• 27 laboratory directors
• 16 states
• 3 counties
• 8 cities
• Selection criteria
• labs receiving Coverdell and
DNA CEBR funding
• geographic diversity
The Final Report is available at www.forensicCOE.org
SummaryPurpose

15. Forensic Optical Topography- Final Report
December 2016
• informs the forensic professional concerning the application of
optical topography in the crime laboratory
• compares available instruments, some of which are not commonly
used for forensics
• discusses barriers to broader adoption of optical,
topography-based solutions
• provides practical and technical considerations faced by crime
laboratory practitioners
• provides an overview of ongoing developments of the technology and
associated standards
Purpose
The Final Report is available at www.forensicCOE.org

16. State Forensic Science Commissions
November, 2016
Highlights
• communication & collaboration
among labs & stakeholders
• allocation of resources
• laboratory improvements
• promulgation of accreditation
and certification standards
• investigations into misconduct
or professional negligence
• other implementation and
oversight issues
This report provides a review for
states wishing to create and
maintain a state forensic science
commission.
This report provides an overview of
considerations in planning for and
developing a state-level forensic
science commission.
SummaryPurpose
The Final Report is available at
www.forensicCOE.org

17. Federal Investment in Forensic Science R&D
December 2016
• Federal government
involvement in forensic
science improvement has
accelerated in recent years
• Federal investments have
transformed DNA capacity
and demonstrated the power
of scientific advances to
address criminal justice
challenges.
This compilation lists government
agencies and sub-agencies that offer
funding opportunities for forensic
science researchers, as well as sub-
agencies and organizations that offer
support for the forensic science
research community.
Hyperlinks of government agencies
websites, reports, and funding
opportunities offer the reader easy
access to additional information.
SummaryPurpose
The Final Report is available at
www.forensicCOE.org

18. Mobile Evidential Breath Alcohol Instruments
December 2016
• an overview of the technology
and federal/state requirements
• exemplary situations that
illustrate successful adoption
• lessons learned and key
considerations for mobile
instrument implementation
• comparisons of the capabilities
of commercially available breath
alcohol instruments
A basic understanding of mobile
evidential breath alcohol
instruments, as well as their
use, benefits, and limitations.
This report also provides
suggested methodologies for
incorporating a mobile breath
alcohol instrument workflow to
help establish best practices for
investigating alcohol-related
driving incidents.
SummaryPurpose
The Final Report is available at www.forensicCOE.org

19. Future Outreach
Efforts and Events

20. Just Science Podcast
Coming in May 2017
• A podcast for forensic science
professionals and anyone with an
interest in learning more about how
real crime laboratories are working
to do their job better, produce more
accurate results, become more
efficient, and solve more crimes.
science and public security
• Just Science highlights key leaders
in forensic science research,
practice and innovation
• Host: Dr. John Morgan, Senior
Director of the Center for Forensic
Science at RTI
Season 1: Numbers
• Episode 1: Lab Management with Barry
Fisher
• Episode 2: Human Factors with Dr. Tom
Busey and Heidi Eldridge
• Episode 3: DNA Mixture Interpretation with
Dr. Catherine Grgicak
• Episode 4: 3D Optical Topography with Ryan
Lilien and Todd Weller
• Episode 5: Subjective Probability with Dr.
Christophe Champod and Dr. Tacha Hicks

21. Online Forensic Leadership Series
Coming in 2017
• Best practices training
• Designed to support
laboratory accreditation and
personal certification
• Content includes discussions
about innovation, standards,
ethics, and organizational
excellence
Course titles include:
• Leadership Principles and Concepts
• First-Line and Mid-Level Supervision
• Personal Leadership
• Leadership and Change
• Leadership and Ethics
• Leadership and Power
• Leadership Theories and DiSC Styles
• Moral Compass
• Founding Fathers on Leadership
• Generations
• Practical Emotional Intelligence
• Diversity

22. Rapid DNA Technology Forum
Mid-August 2017 (pending conference approval from OCFO)
Rapid DNA technology has quickly advanced over the past several years
• IntegenX RapidHIT ID and ANDE (formerly NetBio)
• Rapid DNA Act of 2017
Potential presentation and discussion topics:
• Commercially available Rapid DNA technologies
• Current Rapid DNA initiatives spanning local law enforcement
and federal agencies
• Rapid DNA applications
• Validating a Rapid DNA system
• Lessons learned from law enforcement and the federal arena
• Potential privacy concerns
• Evolution of Rapid DNA
• Current Rapid DNA R&D

23. Impression, Pattern & Trace Evidence Symposium
November 2017 (pending conference approval from OCFO)
Objectives:
• Bring together practitioners and researchers to enhance
information-sharing and promote collaboration among the
impression, pattern and trace evidence, law enforcement and
legal communities
• Provide unique educational opportunities for forensic examiners
in the disciplines of impression, pattern and trace evidence
Potential topics:
• Fingerprint evidence
• Questioned documents
• Bloodstain pattern analysis
• Biometrics
• Firearm and tool mark identification
• Fibers, paint, tape, and other types of
trace evidence

24. We are Here to Help You!
Please contact us:
Jeri Ropero-Miller
• FTCoE Director
• Email: jerimiller@rti.org
• Office: 919.485.5685
Web:
www.forensicCOE.org
www.rti.org