Technology Transition through the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Technology Transition through the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence"

Nicholas Peters
5 years ago
Views:

1 1 Technology Transition through the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence Donia Slack Associate Program Director Forensic Technology Center of Excellence RTI International

2 2 Origins Founded in 1958 as the first, anchor tenant in Research Triangle Park, RTI is one of the most transformational public-private partnerships in U.S. history.

3 3 RTIToday A non-profit research institute, RTI s mission is to improve the human condition by turning knowledge into practice.

4 4 RTI Translation For more than 50 years we have been transitioning technology for companies, universities, and government agencies.

5 5 RTI Forensics We support the forensics community with research, testing, certification, education, facilitation, and strategic advising.

6 Center for Forensic Sciences at a glance

7 7 Award number (2011-DN-BX-K564) FTCoE FTCoE delivers practical and valuable transition and knowledge transfer solutions that bridge the gap between science and justice.

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) www.forensiccoe.

is to assist in the transition of law enforcement technology from the laboratory into

the FTCOE will coordinate and facilitate all NIJ projects and programs in these fields

8 Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) Research Knowledge Transfer Technology Evaluation 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.

FTCOE Mission The FTCOE delivers practical and valuable technology transition and knowledge transfer solutions that bridge the gap between science and justice.

9 FTCOE Mission 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. 9

10 Tasks from the 2011 Solicitation OMB No Forensic Science Technology Center of Excellence Task 1 - Identify Technology Requirements Task 2 - Support NIJ s Research and Development Programs Task 3 - Testing, Evaluating, and Demonstrating New Technologies Task 4 - Support the Adoption of New Technology Task 5 - Develop and Update Technology Guidelines Task 6 - Provide Technology Assistance and Support to Criminal Justice Agencies on a National Basis 10

11 Partnering with the Forensic Community 11

12 12 Impact FTCoE strives to address emerging needs and opportunities related to technology; share knowledge; and advance technology.

13 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 13 The FTCoE recognizes that 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. Often, these areas face special challenges such as multi-disciplinary national communication and coordination in order to achieve successful implementation of new ideas, policies, and practices.

The FTCoE Addresses Key Challenges to Forensics 14 Forensic Optical Topography Reviewed technologies for collection of 3D data Established working group to address issues Supported validity testing

14 The FTCoE Addresses Key Challenges to Forensics 14 Forensic Optical Topography Reviewed technologies for collection of 3D data Established working group to address issues Supported validity testing Provided guidance to practitioners Sexual Assault Organized best practices (national) Identified systemic challenges Created awareness of resources Presented strategies for the derivation of victim-centered polices for the national response to sexual assault

Nursing Excellence International Developing a mobile App with an interactive

15 Sexual Assault Hosting a National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium (September 2016) Developing a web-based Sexual Assault Medical Glossary with the Center for Forensic Nursing Excellence International Developing a mobile App with an interactive process map to guide practitioners through key aspects of sexual assault evidence collection

16 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

Landscape Study of DNA Mixture Interpretation Software Report DNA mixture interpretation software tools are available to purchase from several vendors or as free open-source downloads.

17 Landscape Study of DNA Mixture Interpretation Software Report DNA mixture interpretation software tools are available to purchase from several vendors or as free open-source downloads. This report explores software features, validation considerations, technical support, and training options to provide a basic overview that will assist crime laboratories in the evaluation process to choose the software tool that best meets their needs. Guides practitioners on type of interpretation statistical models

18 Dataset Sustainability Support of The Forensic Resource on Genetics Knowledge Base (FROG-kb) Yale University Dr. Kenneth Kidd Several NIJ and NSF grants FROG-kb seeks to make allele frequency data for SNPs and other genetic polymorphisms more useful in a forensic setting. The primary objective of FROG-kb is to provide a web interface that, from a forensic perspective, is useful for teaching and research and can serve as a tool facilitating forensic practice The FTCoE has provided support to the web-interface so that practitioners have better access to population data associated with genetic panels. Support of The Y-STR Database The University of Central Florida Dr. Jack Ballantyne Financial support of an NIJ-developed and UCF-maintained YSTR database. This database is a searchable listing of 11 to 23 locus Y-STR haplotypes to allow practitioners the tools to obtain Y-STR frequencies needed to calculate matching or paternity probabilities with confidence intervals.

20 The FTCoE Drives Technology Toward Forensic Adoption 20 Evaluations Unbiased translation of data and information Research Consideration of NIJ s R&D portfolio to identify research that can have greater impact with support Opportunities Establish relationships with partners for technology transition licensing and commercialization evaluation knowledge transfer lessons learned community of practice

21 Impact of Rapid DNA on Case Resolution for Law Enforcement Evaluation of

communications performance metrics impact of cross-agency communication, evidence

Evaluation Objectively compare selected technologies to assess the capabilities,

21 21 Impact of Rapid DNA on Case Resolution for Law Enforcement Evaluation of deployment, including agency policies, management systems, and inter-agency communications performance metrics impact of cross-agency communication, evidence management systems, and organizational polices training and internal validation Evaluation Objectively compare selected technologies to assess the capabilities, requirements, benefits, and challenges. Provide findings, pricing, training, conclusions, and recommendations..

22 Technology Transition Workshops Technology Transition Workshops are small group events where forensic practitioners receive handson experience with new forensic science technology. These workshops provide information to law enforcement agencies and forensic laboratories considering purchasing and implementing the respective technology. Previous Technology Transition Workshops Previous Technology Transition Workshops: Statistical Methods for Forensic Decision-Making - Disseminate practical knowledge of how to carry out meaningful statistical analyses for impression, pattern, and trace evidence. Statistical Methods for Forensic Decision-making in Toxicology covered an introduction to basic statistics and hypothesis testing for analytical chemical measurements in toxicology, including calibration, limits of detection, validation, uncertainty estimation, and statistical quality control. Cognitive Factors in Forensic Decision Making. The goal of this workshop is to provide forensic examiners training by cognitive experts to recognize and minimize bias in forensic science. Forensic science plays a pivotal role in policing and the criminal justice system.

23 Upcoming Technology Transition Workshop: Statistics and Applied Mathematics in Forensic Science

24 Portfolio Management 24 Identified 25 cases Selected 11 cases In Development 5 cases On web 6 cases Successes Highlight the impact of NIJ R&D and place innovations into the hands of practitioners includes key benefits and contacts.

25 Advise PIs Inform the Field Enable Products 25 Think transition Build connections Create relationships Tell the story Communication Database support and sustainability Plan the path ID and attract partners Validate technology EXAMPLE Grgicak (BU) Support Analysis of freeware vs. commercial path Planning roundtable EXAMPLE Clark (Auburn) Webinar ~100 attendees researchers, industry, forensics community EXAMPLE Calloway (CHORI) Commercialization Attracted commercial partner for funding / validation Advising on MTA, IP DNA SOFTWARE TO ID NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS GC-IR TO ID SYNTHETIC DRUGS WHOLE MITOCHONDRIA PROBE CAPTURE ASSAY Impact Transition efforts drive adoption of knowledge and products for the forensic and criminal justice communities.

EVALUATION If benefits are proven, FTCoE will seek commercial PARTNER(S) Icons from flaticon.

26 FTCoE 26 NIJ Sherriff brought PI forensic NEED PI awarded NIJ grant to develop SOLUTION Sheriff retired so PI LOST FORENSIC LINK FTCoE ID d in portfolio review to help SUPPORT FTCoE is planning to compare via technology EVALUATION If benefits are proven, FTCoE will seek commercial PARTNER(S) Icons from flaticon.com Reality NIJ support is enabling technology advances for forensics, and the FTCoE is working to drive impact and avoid the valley of death.

27 FTCoE Assistance 27

28 Impact Does the research offer benefits? Can the benefits be proven? Is the impact sustainable? Acceptance Who will use, supply, or teach? Do the economics work? Can it stand up in court?

28 28 Impact Does the research offer benefits? Can the benefits be proven? Is the impact sustainable? Acceptance Who will use, supply, or teach? Do the economics work? Can it stand up in court? Adoption What are the requirements? What are the procedures? What is the partnership (knowledge/ip)? Key Considerations Transition of research into forensic applications demands more than market acceptance, it demands the ability to stand up in a court of law.

Thank you! 30 Jeri Ropero-Miller Sr. Research Forensic Scientist, Center for Forensic Sciences FTCoE Director jerimiller@rti.

29 Thank you! 30 Jeri Ropero-Miller Sr. Research Forensic Scientist, Center for Forensic Sciences FTCoE Director Donia Slack Research Forensic Scientist, Center for Forensic Sciences FTCoE Associate Director

Integrate, validate, and implement

Integrate, validate, and implement Human Identification Professional Services As the world leader in human identification, Thermo Fisher Scientific continues to develop and deliver technologies, services,