Special Research Projects
Investigation of Rubber Transfer on Tools Which Were Stabbed Into a Tire
Project Mentor: Jeff Jagmin, Washington State Patrol
Various tools (knifes, serrated knifes, screwdrivers, etc.) will be used to penetrate a tire side wall. The
tool will be removed from the tire and observations (visual, stereoscopic and infrared spectroscopy) will
be made to determine if there is any evidence of rubber transfer, and if so, how much. The various tools
will then be compared against each other to determine if there is greater transfer that occurs on one
tool versus another.
Extraction Failures From Poorly Supported Semiautomatic Pistols
Project Mentor: Matthew Noedel, Noedel Scientific
In some instances, self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head delivered from semiautomatic pistols
exhibit failure to extract and eject the expended cartridge case. The theory behind these failures to
extract usually involves incomplete cycling due to poorly supported firearms. This workshop will explore
methods to initiate semiautomatic jams and qualify when and how incomplete cycling occurs.
Workshops
High Definition Survey (3-D Laser Scanning) of Crime Scenes: Lessons Learned and What’s Next
Instructor: Trevor Allen – WSP Crime Laboratory Division
The Washington State Patrol Crime Scene Response Team acquired two High Definition Survey (HDS) instruments
to assist in documenting crime scenes. Since the implementation of the 3-D scanning instruments, over 60 crime
scenes have been scanned for casework. This workshop will cover the lessons learned after acquiring this
technology and how it has been applied in the realm of crime scene reconstruction. This workshop will also be a
chance for HDS users to have informal discussions on past experiences in casework and share ideas for where to go
with the newly implemented technology.
Tentative Training Outline – Monday Afternoon
1300 – 1400
Introduction to high definition scanning
1400 – 1500
Different scanning techniques
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1500 – 1600
Applying realistic colors to your point cloud
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1600 – 1700
Scanning with targets/spheres
Scanning without targets
Traversing
Built-in camera features
HDR images
Importing images with an external camera kit using PTGui to create a cube map
Creating point cloud databases and registering point clouds
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Using the autoalign feature
Group registration
Tentative Training Outline – Tuesday
0800 – 1000
Exploring 3-D point clouds in ModelSpace
1000 – 1200
Creating deliverable products
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1300 – 1500
TruView panoramic views of the scene
Creating screen snapshots
Creating animations
Advanced applications of 3-D laser scanning
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1500 – 1700
Creating working copies of ModelSpace views
Cleaning the point cloud
Making annotations
Taking measurements
Inserting geotagged references
Importing objects into point clouds
Importing projects with multiple HDS instruments
Case presentations, Q & A, Roundtable discussion
Interpretation of Mass Spectra
Instructor: Dr. Jason Stenzel – WSP Crime Laboratory Division
Mass spectrometry is arguably the technique most relied upon for forensic drug analysis. This course
will review the theoretical underpinnings of mass spectroscopy, and from this develop spectral
interpretation techniques for simple organic molecules. Different classes of drugs will then be
examined. Finally, an approach to using existing library spectra to evaluate unknown compounds will be
developed. Attendees will do several practical exercises during the workshop.
The Modern Crime Scene Responder
Instructors: Stephen Greenwood and Liz Schroeder – WSP Crime Laboratory Division
This half day workshop will cover new technology that is currently being implemented in crime scene
response to help create a more efficient workflow. Topics covered will include:
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Voice dictation on scene and translating the notes into a final report
Using tablet computers at a crime scene for note taking
Hand-held instrumentation and imaging products
Using Adobe Lightroom in the lab for post-processing digital images
High Definition Scanning (3-D laser scanning) of crime scenes to document scenes
Using scaled vehicle templates in Adobe Illustrator
Factory Tours of Buck Knives in Post Falls, Idaho and CCI Ammunition in Lewiston, Idaho
These tours will provide examiners with insight into how the edged blades produced within the Buck
Knives factory are created along with the rimfire cartridges within the CCI Ammunition factory. The
tours are limited to 12 people and closed toed shoes are required. The tours will be open until filled and
lunch will be provided.
Using YSTR Testing in Your Lab: Practical Applications
Instructor: Dan Hellwig – Sorenson Forensics
Although YSTR testing has been an available methodology in the forensic community for many years, the
widespread implementation of the commercially available kits has recently increased. There are some
distinct advantages to utilizing a YSTR chemistry, such as the enhanced ability to obtain a male DNA
profile in the presence of a large amount of female DNA. However, there can be some challenges to
incorporating this technology in a forensic DNA casework laboratory, particularly in the interpretation
and statistical analysis of both single source and mixed YSTR profiles.
This workshop will provide an overview of the basic principles of YSTR methodologies,
recommendations for validation criteria in order to generate the data necessary for a comprehensive set
of interpretation guidelines, use of YSTR statistics with reference sample comparison, and practical
applications of YSTR testing to forensic evidentiary samples. In addition, the workshop will focus on the
complexities of YSTR mixture interpretation in the forensic community, including an overview of the
SWGDAM recommendations and provide guidance on calculating inclusion statistics for YSTR mixtures.
Fundamentals of Raman Spectroscopy and It’s Applications in the Modern Forensic Laboratory
Instructors: Mohammed Ibrahim, PhD – Thermo Fisher Scientific
Mike Landowski – Thermo Fisher Scientific
Presentations will include the theory and practical application of Raman spectroscopy in forensic labs.
Examples will include the utilization of the high spatial resolution capability of Raman spectroscopy in
the identification of multi-component tablet and drug mixtures, fibers, and ink on questioned
documents and analysis of multilayer paint samples. A multi-wavelength Raman microscope will be
available for demonstration and to measure samples. Attendees are encouraged to bring samples for
analysis.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Future Trends in Forensic DNA Technology
Various DNA related topics to include:
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Get decision-support to help streamline sexual assault sample processing
Are you ready for the new CODIS loci? Learn validation tips and tricks from the experts on our
professional services team
Increase discrimination of degraded DNA samples with NGS
Troubleshooting for quant and CE
ALS Techniques for Serology and Trace – Theory and Applications of Light in Forensic Science
Instructor: Allyce McWhorter, Foster + Freeman USA, Inc.
We will discuss the basics of light theory and how light can be used to help find and visualize evidence.
This will include ultraviolet, visible and infrared theory and applications.
Evidence Collection Techniques: How evidence collection impacts the examination in the lab
Instructors: Various presenters from the WSP Crime Laboratory Division
This workshop is designed to familiarize law enforcement officers and evidence collection technicians
with proper evidence documentation and collection techniques. Employing these evidence handling
procedures will likely increase the chances of successful results when submitted to the crime laboratory.
DNA (0800-1000)
-Identifying biological stains and how to collect
-Preserving biological evidence short term and long term
-Obtaining reference samples
-Rules of CODIS
-Best and worst samples for DNA
-How to submit a case
Latent Prints (1000-1200)
-Receptive surfaces vs non-receptive surfaces
-How to dust for prints
-How to photograph
-How to lift and preserve
-Submitting images
-Submitting elimination prints
Trace Evidence (1300-1500)
-Recognizing impressions evidence
-Photographing impressions evidence
-Casting impressions
-Preserving/shipping impressions
-SICAR requests
Crime Scene (1500-1700)
-Documenting bullet defects/trajectories
-Labeling primary bullet defects and subsequent defects
-Prioritizing which evidence gets submitted for analysis
-Making a firearm safe before shipping/delivering
-Identifying and documenting bloodstain patterns
-Which bloodstains should be sampled