Just Science

In this special release season of Just Science, we discuss leadership with prominent names in the forensic community. This episode features Martina Bison-Huckaby, the Director of the Center for Executive Education at West Virginia University’s College of Business and Economics. Just science examines how understanding and relating with people separates leadership from management. Also we discuss that taking business techniques, and human psychology into a crime lab leadership position can be challenging. Martina Bison Huckaby explains how West Virginia University, ASCLD, and the NIJ are aiding forensic scientists who are seeking leadership help.

In this special release season of Just Science, we discuss leadership with prominent names in the forensic community. This episode features Jody Wolf the assistant crime lab administrator at the Phoenix police department laboratory services bureau. Wolf tells us how forensic science found her at a pivotal time in her life, and how she found an amazing career at the Phoenix crime lab. With a background that only strengthens her ability as leader, Just Science examines how sometimes rethinking old procedures, or even how a lab is structured can create an overall better and more efficient justice system. This season was funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Servant Leadership In episode one of the Leadership Special Release season, Just Science interviews Ben Swanholm, the Forensic Science Section Supervisor at the Phoenix Police Department Laboratory Services Bureau. Swanholm discusses his personal leadership style, backed with resources that are helpful to not only forensic scientists, but anyone who is interested in pursuing a leadership role. Along with learning more about the ASCLD Leadership Academy we examine some of the unique ways Phoenix organizes it’s crime laboratory. This season of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

JUST SO YOU KNOW: RAPID DNA TECHNOLOGY In this “Just So You Know” episode of Just Science, we discuss this year’s Rapid DNA forum with Chris Asplen, the Executive Director of the National Criminal Justice Association. The 3-day forum, hosted by the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, was held in Alexandria, VA in August of 2017. This forum provided more than 130 attendees from the forensic DNA community an opportunity to be updated on commercially available Rapid DNA technologies, hear lessons learned from several early adopters spanning local law enforcement and federal agencies, and discuss moving forward as a community. As one of the many distinguished presenters from the forum, Chris discusses how Rapid DNA is moving forward slowly but surely saving jurisdictions time and money, and that getting the policy right is just as important as getting the technology right. This episode of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

In Episode 9, Season 2, Just Science interviews Ray Wickenheiser, director of the New York State Police lab system and current ASCLD president. Ray takes us down to Cajun Country to the case of deranged “Baton Rouge Serial Killer,” Derrick Todd Lee, who targeted young women in the Baton Rouge area of Louisiana during the early 2000s. Just Science and Ray jump into the details of the complex crime scenes Lee left throughout the city and discuss the significance of a muddy footwear impression, a computer cord, and DNA evidence, and how they helped break the case for a clear path to conviction. Derrick Todd Lee was convicted in 2004 and died on death row in 2016.   Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.    Funding for this season is brought to you by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Two Murders, One Trace Fiber In episode eight, Season two, Just Science interviews Dr. Jan De Kinder, from the National institute of Forensic science and criminology in the Belgium Department of Justice. Dr. De Kinder explores how trace evidence was a critical piece of evidence in the murder of two young girls 20 years ago in Belgium. During the time of the murders Belgium was dealing with a large number of missing children cases. The suspect’s jeans ended up the key piece of evidence matching fibers to both of  the victim’s clothing. This season of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110]. Please visit ForensicCOE.org for more information. Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

In Episode Seven, Season two, Just Science interviews Dr. John Kenney, who is also a member of the American Academy of Forensic Science, during the Cradle to Cane Conference held in Charleston South Carolina. Dr. Kenny discusses ways to identify human trafficking, not only in the field of dentistry, but also in other industries. This episode will not focus on one particular case but will describe many cases and examples where forensic odontologists are aiding the justice system by using age estimation. Please visit the forensicCOE.org for more information. This season of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

In episode six, season two, Just Science interviews Kimberly Meza from Mesa police Department during the annual ASCLD symposium held in Dallas, Texas. Kimberly describes how a blood spatter analyst takes in a scene, especially one as gruesome as this case, where the victim was brutally stabbed in their apartment by an unknown suspect. The suspects DNA that was found at the scene initially was a no match in CODIS, and the latent prints taken at the scene created no leads. For six months there were no DNA lead until a submitted sexual assault kit was entered into the system. The sexual assault kit was taken 9 days before the murder. This season of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

This week the forensic science community lost an influential and dedicated leader, Dr. Jay Siegel. "Just Science" is releasing a special "Just So You Know" episode interviewing Dr. Max Houck and John Collins, two of Dr. Siegel’s closest colleagues. In this short episode we remember a kind hearted, dedicated educator of forensic scientists, whose reach was felt internationally. The community has lost someone who is considered a forefather for education in forensics, please join us as we celebrate a life that gave so much to his beloved community.

Atlanta Olympic Bombing Season two, episode five of Just Science interviews John Collins during the annual ASCLD symposium in Dallas, Texas. This episode takes us back to a time when the United States was hosting the summer Olympics, in Atlanta, in 1996.  The summer of 1996 was meant to be an important moment for the heart of Georgia on the world’s stage, but instead is remembered by a horrific explosion, whose percussion echoed the planet.  Join us as John Collins walks us through the timeline of when law enforcement received an anonymous phone call warning of the bomb, to the forensic analysis of explosive devices, and how a pre 9/11 America tried to cope with such a shocking event. Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences. This season of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

Season two, episode four of Just Science involves a case through the eyes of an investigator.  Mike Weber, an investigator with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office in the Crimes Against Children Unit, walks us through a case involving Munchausen Syndrome by proxy. Munchausen Syndrome by proxy is a rare form of child or elderly abuse where a primary caretaker exaggerates or creates their victim’s symptoms of illnesses, in this case through manipulation, deceit, and forgery. Not much is known about this type of crime because it is so rarely recognized and so difficult to prosecute. Listen along as Investigator Weber navigates us through his journey to justice in this horrific case involving an abusive and attention crazed chemist, a poisoned child, and an investigator who wants justice. In part 2 we navigate this dramatic rollercoaster of a case, filled with deceit and cliffhangers that seem more like fiction than reality. We left off with the victim being tested in the hospital and Hope’s story starting to unravel... This season of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

Season two, episode three of Just Science involves a case through the eyes of an investigator. Mike Weber, an investigator with the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office in the Crimes Against Children Unit, walks us through a case involving Munchausen Syndrome by proxy. Munchausen Syndrome by proxy is a rare form of child or elderly abuse where a primary caretaker exaggerates or creates their victim’s symptoms of illnesses, in this case through manipulation, deceit, and forgery. Not much is known about this type of crime because it is so rarely recognized and so difficult to prosecute. Listen along as Investigator Weber navigates us through his journey to justice in this horrific case involving an abusive and attention crazed chemist, a poisoned child, and an investigator who wants justice. Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences. This season of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

Episode two of the Just Science podcast involves a case from Canada that Deputy Director Andrew Greenfield worked on when he was a young scientist. The gruesome murder of a child in 1999 in Toronto was unheard of and it dominated the air waves, and because of inaccurate witness statements describing the suspects, it was near impossible to generate leads for this case. Greenfield spoke up to one of his superiors about using a new DNA technology to help find a lead. We will be discussing with him outside the box thinking and DNA match probability, and what it means for justice. This podcast contains violent and sometimes graphic content, this may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences. This season of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

JUST CASE STUDIES: MEL HALL – A SEXUAL PREDATOR For the second season of Just Science we will be delving into case studies. These case interviews include victim accounts, lawyers, investigators, and crime lab directors. They will tell you about cases they have personally worked during their career, and what tactics they used to bring their victims justice. Episode one is a case involving a former Yankee baseball player, Mel Hall, who was convicted on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. We phone interviewed the prosecutor of his case, Kim Davignon, and one of his victims Chaz Easterly. Just Science discusses with them victimology, and how to handle cases involving children who have experienced sexual assault. Some content in this podcast is sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences. This recording took place during the From Cradle to Cane Conference: Crimes Against Vulnerable Victims in Charleston, SC March of 2017. If you are a victim of sexual assault or would like to talk to a trained advocate, there is a National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline you can call at 800.656.4673, or visit RAINN.ORG or Victimsofcrime.org. Some content in this podcast is sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences. This season of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

This special release season of the 2017 NIJ R&D Symposium of Just Science, funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110], interviews Dr. Rob Maher. Below is the abstract submitted where Dr. Rob Maher explains his research: Gunshot acoustics–interpretation of the characteristic sounds produced by firearms recorded at a crime scene–is a specialization within the audio forensics field. Audio forensic evidence is increasingly common in law enforcement investigations because of the growing availability of inexpensive and lightweight digital voice recorders and miniature personal digital video camera systems for routine law enforcement and surveillance use. An increasing number of cases involving gunshot sounds are being captured in these audio recordings. The acoustical characteristics of a firearm depend upon the type of gun and ammunition, the distance and azimuth with respect to the gun barrel, and the acoustical reflections and reverberation due to nearby surfaces and objects. For scientific study it is necessary to separate the direct sound of the muzzle blast from the acoustic reflections, echoes, and reverberation that depend upon the recording environment. We use an elevated array of twelve specialized microphones capable of capturing the high intensity and short duration of the firearm’s muzzle blast concurrently over 180 degrees in azimuth. Each microphone is recorded with 16-bit resolution at a 500 kHz sampling rate, and the elevated platform allows the entire muzzle blast to be recorded before the arrival of the first acoustical reflection from the ground. This presentation includes a description of the firearm recording technique, the characteristics observed from these scientific recordings, recommendations on the use and processing of our database of firearm acoustical recordings, and a discussion of future prospects for forensic gunshot acoustical analysis.