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In The News

2015-05-01 | Director of D.C.’s embattled DNA lab resigns after suspension of testing
The embattled director of the District’s first independent DNA lab resigned Thursday, a week after two audits found that the lab’s procedures were inadequate, thereby forcing a national accreditation body to suspend all of the lab’s DNA testing. In addition to Houck’s resignation, two other senior officials, the chief scientist for the lab and the senior manager for DNA testing, were let go.

2015-04-30 | Suspended D.C. Crime Lab Has 30 Days
Although, Houck did not comment on what the audits found specifically that led to the suspension of DNA testing, or a timetable for when testing might resume, he said that the recent finding are extremely significant.

2015-04-30 | Database Size, Sample Quality Impact Forensic Accuracy
Specifically, the authors developed methods to statistically quantify 1) the random match probability (RMP) which quantifies uncertainty in measures aimed at validating a forensic discipline’s basic premises (such as a uniqueness claim) and 2) the accuracy of likelihood ratio methods (LRs) used in making classification/ individualization conclusions.

2015-04-28 | District could spend nearly $1 million for outside lab to test DNA evidence
The District may have to pay as much as $1 million to an outside laboratory to test DNA evidence after two audits found that the city’s own testing procedures were inadequate, two city officials said Tuesday. District officials are scrambling to identify a DNA forensic lab that can review older cases as well as handle new cases.

2015-04-27 | Five Things About Sexual Assault Kits
Investments in research have dramatically improved the science of forensic DNA testing and our understanding of sexual assault kits. Here are Five Things we know and don’t yet know, based on research to date:

2015-04-27 | Four States Auditing Cases Involving Flawed FBI Hair Analysis
Approximately 3,000 cases involved FBI hair analysis from 1985 to 1999. The FBI is reviewing those convictions to see how many of those cases involved errors made by hair examiners. But the pool of potentially-related criminal cases could be much larger than 3,000 cases, Cates said. The Bureau is having difficulties identifying cases prior to 1985, when it started its computer system, but the federal agency started doing hair comparison in the 1930s, Cates said.

2015-04-27 | National accreditation board suspends all DNA testing at D.C. crime lab
One of the national organizations that govern DNA laboratories has ordered the District’s new crime lab to immediately suspend all DNA casework after concluding that the lab’s procedures are “insufficient and inadequate.”

2015-04-26 | Hi-tech DNA machines cause concern
Patrick Carroll, senior director of international sales at IntegenX, told The Independent he expected to see the technology used in all major UK custody suites in the near future. Although data is currently double-checked by a forensics expert, he said he believed officers could soon input information directly into the national database. “What we want is the data from this to go directly into the national database, so that you skip that step of having to have a forensic lab,” he said.

2015-04-24 | LIMS vs QMS: What Are They and Do I Need Both?
Let us start with a description of the two systems. A LIMS is a Laboratory Information Management System, sometimes also referred to as a LIS — Laboratory Information System or a LMS — Laboratory Management System. A QMS refers to a Quality Management System, sometimes also referred to as an eQMS – Electronic Quality Management System or a Compliance Management System.

2015-04-24 | ‘Serious flaws’ found in Ohio’s fingerprint system
“More than 1,100 times from 2012 to 2014, BCI officials changed criminal histories recorded through flawed fingerprint scans as “no-hit” when, in fact, checks showed the people had “hits” — prior convictions with fingerprints on file.”