Secrets From the Crime Lab

This week's discussion is all about consent and ethical use of genetic information, including DNA databases. I define and discuss what is meant by consent and informed consent and how it's related to the treatment of Henrietta Lacks and how her story triggered the development of ethical practices in medical science. What are the responsibilities of the forensic geneticist? The law enforcement investigator? What should you think about before volunteering a DNA sample...It's a big topic, and this is only the start if the discussion.

To learn more about the host visit https://practicalforensics.science/
Join our discussion and let us know your thoughts. E: [email protected]
OR
Join our Facebook Page! https://www.facebook.com/SecretsfromtheCrimeLab

Comments? Feedback? Suggestions? Or if you would like to be a guest?
Get in touch on the Contact Page

Helpful links and to learn more about the topics covered in this  episode:

• Genetic papers containing data from China’s ethnic minorities draw fire
• FBI Quality Assurance Standards
• ANAB guidance for professional responsibility
• Stats on sexual assaults – lack of reporting
• https://www.csofs.org/
• https://www.aafs.org/
• https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/informed-consent-requirements
• https://nij.ojp.gov/funding/common-rule
• https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fruit_of_the_poisonous_tree

Support the show

Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry?

email [email protected]

This episode is the first in a series (non-sequential) providing overviews of different fields of forensic science.

Meredith Dekalb Miller is an FBI trained expert in Forensic Document Examination with almost twenty years experience in both criminal and civil matters. Her work revolves around determining the authenticity and sometimes reconstruction of documents.

To get in touch with our guest: https://dekalbmiller.com/
To learn more about the host, Angela Tanzillo-Swarts, MBE: https://practicalforensics.science/

Join our Facebook Page! https://www.facebook.com/SecretsfromtheCrimeLab

Support the show

Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry?

email [email protected]

Following on from episode 2...this time our discussion focuses on the experiences of David Schudel, PhD as an expert in the UK. He is an expert in Forensic Chemistry, Fire Analysis, and Cell site analysis (to name a few) and over the years has become that guy who catches all the weird cases. Join us as we explore how the forensic scientist fits into the criminal justice system in England and Wales and hear about a few of those extra weird ones...

To Learn more about the host:
Angela Tanzillo-Swarts, MBE

To get in touch with the guest:
David Schudel, PhD

Please remember to rate, review, and share! And please consider supporting this podcast through a donation at the link below.

Support the show

Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry?

email [email protected]

Teaser trailer of episode 3 of Secrets from the Crime Lab.  A peak into how the criminal justice system and crime laboratories intersect in England and Wales. Dr. Schudel discusses his experiences working as a forensic expert for both the prosecution and the defence conducting a wide variety of forensic analyses including forensic chemistry and cell site analysis.

Support the Podcast
https://practicalforensics.science/podcast

Support the show

Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry?

email [email protected]

Ensuring the validity of the crime laboratory’s test result is paramount. Ensuring that the lab is impartial, competent, and committed to confidentiality is an integral part of that assurance.

PLAN - DO - CHECK - ACT

Laboratory Accreditation demonstrates conformance with international standards, giving the customer of a crime laboratory confidence in the test results.

In this episode we explore the ISO/IEC standards specific to forensic testing and calibration laboratories. These standards apply to labs performing a wide-range of forensic tests: biology/DNA, bloodstain pattern analysis, drug chemistry/ controlled substances, toxicology, firearms, blood alcohol, friction ridge, fire debris and explosives, digital evidence, and many more.

This episode sets foundational knowledge for future episodes that will explore the issues, challenges, and scandals facing many laboratories and how having a robust quality assurance program is essential for driving improvements.

Comments? Feedback? Suggestions? Or if you would like to be a guest?
Email: [email protected]

To learn more about the host, Angela Swarts, visit:
practicalforensics.science

Helpful Links:

https://www.coursera.org/learn/challenging-forensic-science

International Organization for Standardization

ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)

United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)

 The National Registry of Exonerations

The Marshall Project

The Innocence Project

Support the show

Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry?

email [email protected]

What happens when the crime laboratory gets it wrong? In this episode we discuss the issues with relying solely on laboratory accreditation to determine if a forensic science laboratory is doing the testing correctly, what happens when a lab fails as it did in Washington, D.C., and how other laboratories manage to recover and regain customer confidence. We explore how organizations like the Texas Forensic Science Commission work to ensure quality forensic science work by taking action and the better way for laboratories to respond and improve after a complaint.

Comments? Feedback? Suggestions? Or if you would like to be a guest?
Email: [email protected]

To learn more about the host, Angela Swarts, visit:
practicalforensics.science

Helpful Links:
Forensic Aid, LLC
Tiffany Roy, MSFS, JD

Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC)
SNA International Audit Report
DC Lab Criminal Case Filing
Texas Forensic Science Commission

Support the show

Want to be on an episode? Have ideas for an episode you would like to hear? Want to sponsor the podcast? General enquiry?

email [email protected]

Ensuring the validity of the crime laboratory’s test result is paramount. Ensuring that the lab is impartial, competent, and committed to confidentiality is an integral part of that assurance.

PLAN - DO - CHECK - ACT

Laboratory Accreditation demonstrates conformance with international standards, giving the customer of a crime laboratory confidence in the test results.

In this episode we explore the ISO/IEC standards specific to forensic testing and calibration laboratories. These standards apply to labs performing a wide-range of forensic tests: biology/DNA, bloodstain pattern analysis, drug chemistry/ controlled substances, toxicology, firearms, blood alcohol, friction ridge, fire debris and explosives, digital evidence, and many more.

This episode sets foundational knowledge for future episodes that will explore the issues, challenges, and scandals facing many laboratories and how having a robust quality assurance program is essential for driving improvements.

Comments? Feedback? Suggestions? Or if you would like to be a guest?
Email: [email protected]

To learn more about the host, Angela Swarts, visit:
practicalforensics.science

Helpful Links:

https://www.coursera.org/learn/challenging-forensic-science

International Organization for Standardization

ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)

American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)

United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)

 The National Registry of Exonerations

The Marshall Project

The Innocence Project