Workshops
Spring 2004
Southern Association of Forensic Scientists
Magnetic Serial Number Restoration
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Your instructor(s) will conduct a hands-on workshop demonstrating the
magna-flux serial number restoration technique. Theory, requirements, and
equipment will be discussed. There may be a limited number of participants;
however, additional observers are welcome.
Full Auto Conversion
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Your instructor(s) will display and discuss a selection of firearms modified
to fire in a fully automatic mode. Examine these with your instructor(s) and
take notes on how these modifications were accomplished. Note that the key to
profiting from this exercise is being able to articulate in your notes the
normal operation of the firearm, the modifications made, and precisely why these
changes allow fully automatic fire.
Gas Chromatography Maintenance
Daron Decker Agilent Technologies
Daron Decker is currently a chromatography technical specialist for the
consumable and accessories group at Agilent Technologies. He has given hundreds
of seminars, courses, and technical papers on GC. In May, 2003, Daron was
awarded the Palmer Award. This prestigious award is given to those whose
professional as well as scientific accomplishments have fostered progress in
chromatography. This workshop will be excellent for beginners as well as
“seasoned” veterans. The workshop will cover the theory of gas
chromatography, care and maintenance, troubleshooting, as well as choosing the
correct GC column dimensions and stationary phase. Finally, a practical approach
to Fast GC will be discussed on various analyses.
First Responders and Weapons of Mass
Destruction
James Crippen Western Forensic Law Enforcement Training Center (WFLETC)
James Crippen is currently the Director of the Western Forensic Law
Enforcement Training Center (WFLETC). This will be a 2-day workshop. The first
day will deal with the responsibilities of the First Responders to a crime scene
in which Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) may have been used. The different
types of WMD’s will also be explored, and how to recognize and deal with each
type. On the second day, we will visit a bomb range for demonstrations of
various types of devices.
The Use of GC/MS in Modern Drug Analysis
Lynn Griffin DEA South Central Laboratory-Dallas
Lynn is currently a forensic chemist from DEA South Central Laboratory in
Dallas. During this time, he has worked on method development for a number of
different MS techniques, which include quadrupole, ion-trap, LC/MS, chemical
ionization, and MS/MS. Lynn is published in the Journal of the International
Society for Ion Mobility Spectrometry, and is currently working with different
sample introduction techniques such as direct insertion, chromatoprobe, and
large volume injection. The presentation will begin by exploring the basic
philosophies governing the use of blanks, standard and auto-tunes, and library
searches. Technical aspects of injection and liner volumes, flow rates,
temperature programs, and general method development will also be addressed.
Finally, Lynn will demonstrate some derivatization techniques.
Forensic Ethanol Analysis and
Interpretation
Forensic Toxicologist Certification Board (FTCB)
Jimmy Barnhill, System Director North Louisiana Crime Lab
Dr. David Stafford, University of Tennessee Toxicology Lab, Memphis (retired)
Dale Carpenter and Mark Peevey, Alabama Dept. of Forensic Sciences, Birmingham
This FTCB alcohol workshop will include 1 ½ days of lecture on the
Pharmacology and Pharmocokinetics of Ethyl Alcohol (Jimmy Barnhill), the
Chemistry and Analysis of Alcohols and Expert Testimony (Dr. David Stafford),
and Breath Testing of Ethyl Alcohol (Dale Carpenter and Mark Peevey).
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Workshop
Phyllis Rollan Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences
Phyllis Rollan of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences has been
analyzing bloodstain patterns for over 15 years. She is past president of the
International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (IABPA) and she
currently serves on the SWGSTAIN committee. She was also instrumental in
developing bloodstain pattern analysis proficiency tests with Collaborative
Testing Services. She has lectured extensively and has taught numerous workshops
on bloodstain pattern analysis through the IABPA, the State of Alabama, and the
University of Alabama at Birmingham. This workshop will cover the beginning
basics of bloodstain pattern analysis through lecture, case studies, and
experimental demonstrations (facilities and availability of materials
permitting). The target audience of this workshop is forensic scientists,
trainees, technicians, and crime scene investigators who have never attended a
40 hour bloodstain pattern analysis class or those who have not had much
exposure to bloodstain pattern analysis.
Applied Biosystems GeneMapper® ID
Workshop
Michelle Shepherd and Catherine Caballero Applied Biosystems
Ms. Shepherd and Ms. Caballero both have crime lab experience as forensic DNA
analysts. Ms. Shepherd was formerly with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Crime Lab and Ms. Caballero was with the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime
Lab. Their crime lab backgrounds have made them very effective in meeting the
forensic DNA analysis needs of crime labs using Applied Biosystems’ products.
Technical Applications Specialists Michelle Shepherd and Catherine Caballero of
Applied Biosystems will teach a hands-on GeneMapper® ID workshop. This workshop
will consist of lectures and practical exercises. Workshop participants will
work in pairs and actually use GeneMapper® ID to analyze raw DNA data. The
target audience of this workshop is forensic DNA analysts who are using, or soon
will be using, GeneMapper® ID. ENROLLMENT IN THIS WORKSHOP IS LIMITED.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE SELECTED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.
Ethics in Forensic Science
Laura Schile, Wayna Tyner, and Joe Robertson of the Oklahoma Indigent Defense
System, and Karen Mize of the Oklahoma City Police Department
Ms. Schile has worked for both the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime
Lab and the Oklahoma City Police Crime Lab. She is currently a permanent
forensic science consultant with the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System. She has
the unique perspective of seeing the criminal court system from both the
prosecution and defense sides. Ms. Tyner is a capital defense attorney with the
Oklahoma Indigent Defense System. Mr. Robertson is a former prosecutor and
judge. He is currently the chief capital defense attorney with the Oklahoma
Indigent Defense System. Ms. Mize is a police officer with the Oklahoma City
Police Department.
This workshop will cover the ethical responsibilities of expert witnesses,
prosecutors, and defense attorneys with the ultimate goal of equalizing the
criminal justice system. In the adversarial criminal justice system, the
forensic scientist is supposed to present analysis results objectively without
deference to either side; however, the forensic scientist can inadvertently
introduce bias into trial proceedings. This bias can even be introduced after
the expert witness has testified. This workshop will identify potential ethical
pitfalls that forensic scientists can encounter when conducting analyses and
testifying in court. Transcripts will be examined and scenarios will be
presented.
Latent Print Evidence from Human Skin
William Sampson and Karen Sampson KLS Forensics, Inc.
This workshop is a condensed 8 hour version of a 3 day course in
understanding basic factors involved in the recovery of latent print evidence
from human skin. This workshop encompasses “hands on” methods that
have been used in actual field cases involving both living and deceased persons.
The attendees will experience opportunities for enhancing their processing
skills, utilizing various non-invasive direct transfer methods, and instituting
temperature and humidity controls. This hands on approach enables the
participants to evaluate first hand the value of each process. Minimal safety
requirements/precautions and OSHA regulations will be discussed and encouraged.
Students should wear appropriate clothing as this is a workshop and clothing may
become soiled. It is also a good idea for them to bring their own processing
equipment. Recent clinical studies will be an important adjunct to the hands on
activities. This will include a review of the methods used in 59 successful
field cases. Finally, a morgue visit will be scheduled near the end of the
workshop. Morgue participation is not mandatory. A workbook, handout materials,
and a bag with basic supplies to process a body with the direct transfer
method(s) will be given to each student to take with them at the conclusion of
the class. (This workshop is being presented twice.)
Introduction of ASCLD/LAB-International
(an ISO17025 based program of accreditation)
John Neuner and Bud Keaton
Announcement