Just Science

In the first episode of our Workforce Resiliency season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Jennifer Rineer, a program manager and research psychologist in RTI International’s Center for Policing Research and Investigative Science, and Kelly Keyes, a research forensic scientist in RTI’s Center for Forensic Sciences, to discuss workforce resiliency among medicolegal death investigators.

Medicolegal death investigators face consistent exposure to stress and traumatic events on the job, yet there is limited research on the daily pressures these professionals experience. An NIJ study led by Dr. Rineer surveyed 900 medicolegal death investigators to gain more information on the driving sources of stress among these practitioners, with the goal of developing better interventions to mitigate these stressors. Listen along as these experts discuss the responsibilities of medicolegal death investigators and difficulties retaining good staff, as well as their findings on work-related stress within the profession in this episode of Just Science.

In episode eleven of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Maureen Platt, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Waterbury, CT, Denise Covington, Program Manager at the Gail Burns-Smith Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner’s Program, Danielle Lindgren, Sexual Assault Kit Initiative Coordinator and Forensic Science Examiner, and Bonnie Bentley, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney in Connecticut, to discuss standardizing sexual assault kits.

The standardization of sexual assault kits limits variability in the collection and processing of different cases, allowing for more reliable evidence-gathering by those who investigate these crimes. Listen along as this expert panel from Connecticut, a state that has achieved success in standardizing sexual assault kits, has used standardization to improve the efficacy of investigating and prosecuting sexual assault cases in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses or may not be appropriate for younger audiences

In episode ten of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Rachel Lovell, researcher and professor at Cleveland State University, and Mary Weston, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Director of the Cold Case Unit at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, to discuss the complexities surrounding crossover offending in sexual assault cases.

Do serial rapists have a consistent modus operandi? According to Dr. Lovell’s research and Mary Weston’s experience as a prosecutor, serial offenders rarely stick to a script, making it harder to bring them to justice. Listen along as our guests use their research and experience in the courtroom to demystify crossover offending and provide strategies to better investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases involving serial offenders in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

In episode nine of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Ms. Marya Simmons, founder and CEO of Shift in Notion Consulting, to discuss considerations for supporting older survivors of sexual assault.

Shift in Notion Consulting is focused on developing and implementing strategies for supporting all victims of sexual assault, regardless of gender, age, or sexual orientation. As Shift in Notion’s CEO, Marya Simmons works tirelessly to ensure that law enforcement agencies, advocacy groups, and volunteer support networks have the tools and training they need to provide empathetic, trauma-informed services to the most vulnerable populations. Listen along as she discusses elder sexual assault and best practices for supporting older victims in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode eight of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Patricia Powers to discuss considerations for sexual assault cases involving older victims.

During her professional career as a prosecuting attorney, Patricia Powers specialized in cases involving sexual violence, domestic violence, child and adult abuse, and much more. Now, she works as an attorney advisor at AEquitas, developing and refining best practices for prosecuting sexual assault cases including those with victims from marginalized and vulnerable populations. Listen along as she discusses considerations for the effective prosecution of sexual assault cases involving older victims in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

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 of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Rachel Lovell and Mary Weston to discuss resolving partially tested sexual assault kits.

Partially tested sexual assault kits create a unique barrier when it comes to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases. However, re-opening these cases and conducting a comprehensive case review can yield positive results, even years later. Mary Weston and Dr. Rachel Lovell led the charge when it came to resolving partially tested kits in Cuyahoga County, resulting in a series of new investigative and prosecutorial leads. Listen along as they discuss the challenges associated with partially tested kits, the importance of a comprehensive case review, and the value of building a good relationship with your forensic laboratory in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode six of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Patricia Powers, an attorney advisor with AEquitas, to discuss supporting male victims of sexual assault through the criminal legal system.

Research suggests that sexual assault is an often-underreported crime. Biases, myths, and societal expectations can further discourage male survivors from stepping forward and disclosing their assault. Pattie Powers works with survivors and sees the impact that these misconceptions have on the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault crimes. Listen along as she discusses the myths surrounding sexual assault, the role of education in overcoming biases, and best practices for supporting male survivors and effectively prosecuting their cases in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode five of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Marya Simmons, founder and CEO of Shift in Notion Consulting, to discuss supporting male survivors of sexual assault.

One of the common misconceptions about sexual assault is that it is always a male perpetrator and a female victim. However, research suggests that this isn’t always the case. Marya Simmons and many advocates like her work to improve outcomes for sexual assault survivors, regardless of race, gender, age, or sexual orientation. Listen along as she discusses myths surrounding sexual assault and best practices for supporting male survivors in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Some content in this podcast may be considered sensitive and may evoke emotional responses, or may not be appropriate for younger audiences.

In episode four of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Rachel Lovell, Research Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University, and Mary Weston, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, to discuss a recently published article detailing the case for an “investigate all” approach to sexual assault kit investigation.

As more jurisdictions submit their previously untested sexual assault kits, investigators are finding that many submissions do not result in a CODIS hit. But should investigators continue their efforts even though there isn’t an immediate suspect identified through CODIS? Dr. Rachel Lovell and Mary Weston provide a compelling case for investigating all previously untested sexual assault kits, regardless of whether there is a CODIS hit. Listen along as they discuss the recently published article, “The case for ‘investigate all:’ Assessing the cost-effectiveness of investigating no CODIS hit cases in a sexual assault kit initiative” in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

In episode three of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Natasha Alexenko, Jordan Satinsky, and Marya Simmons to discuss trauma informed, victim-centered interviewing for sexual assault cases.

A sexual assault victim’s experiences with law enforcement and advocates can affect the way they approach future interactions with the criminal justice system. By understanding that each victim is unique and will respond differently, investigators and advocates can meet the needs of the survivor and increase the likelihood of moving the investigation forward. Natasha Alexenko, Jordan Satinsky, and Marya Simmons have been working together to develop and promote victim-centered, trauma-informed interviewing strategies for sexual assault cases. Listen along as they discuss supporting victims of sexual assault, improving case outcomes, and maintaining victim engagement by using trauma-informed, victim-centered approaches during the interviewing process in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.