Forensics TTA

Is your state highlighted? This map represents all grantees of the Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program from 2020 to date. COLD provides funding to prosecute violent cold cases and to decrease the number of violent cold cases awaiting prosecution. You can also see on the COLD Program webpage the state or local agencies that have applied for and received this grant: https://ow.ly/gzJk50TvglP

Today, we celebrate National First Responders Day. This day honors first responders who put their lives on the line every day to protect us and our communities. We especially thank those who work within and alongside the criminal justice system. We appreciate and honor your commitment to keep us safe. Thank you for all that you do!

Did you know the DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program has funded 141 unique agencies to date? Learn more about how grantees can use these funds to increase capacity to process DNA samples for CODIS upload and as a result, solve more cases: https://ow.ly/1fgg50TveNO

Meet the FTTA Team! Dustin Driscoll has over 16 years of experience working in the field of missing and unidentified casework. His work includes in-depth cold case reviews, investigative and intelligence analysis to assist in long-term missing and unidentified person cases, and forensic advisory for violent cold case investigations, advanced DNA testing and Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG). Dustin serves as a TTA Coach for BJA’s Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program. In August, Dustin attended the 2024 International Association for Identification Annual Conference in Reno, Nevada, where he gave a presentation on ‘Leveraging Funding Streams for Missing & Unidentified Human Remains Investigations.’ He highlighted the MUHR program as a potential funding source and other organizations that support unidentified human remains investigations. Meet other members of the team: https://ow.ly/ekBX50SS8A0

Check it out! This map represents all grantees from 2020 to now of the Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program. The Postconviction program provides funding to agencies interested in postconviction DNA testing. The program ensures cases where a convicted individual who may be innocent gets a fair and thorough review by the justice system. Scroll down to this same map on the Postconviction program webpage to see which state or local agency in your state applied and received this grant: https://ow.ly/pzuz50TvaX9

Did you know the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program has funded 105 unique agencies to date? Learn more about the program and the six different ways grantees use these funds to improve the quality of their forensic science and medical examiner/coroner services: https://ow.ly/J4H050TvanE

From the FTTA Vault: Oftentimes, unidentified human remains are recovered fully or partially skeletonized with no close biological relatives in CODIS to facilitate identification. However, combining non-traditional DNA testing with genealogical methods and research has become a powerful tool to bring closure to families. Listen to this ‘Just Science’ podcast episode from 2022 to learn more about Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) and how it differs from searching a DNA profile in CODIS, the limitations that exist when using DNA technologies to identify unknown human remains, and the importance of familial reference samples: https://ow.ly/wUSS50Tv9Ke

Today, we recognize Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We celebrate Italian Americans, and the Italian ancestors and elders who once voyaged and immigrated to the U.S. in pursuit of opportunity and the American Dream. On this day we also honor the culture of Native Americans, and the perseverance of their communities in the face of historical and ongoing oppression and mistreatment. We commemorate the hope and bravery of both Native and Italian Americans, and the contributions they have made to our society.

Check out the National Institute of Justice’s 2024 MDI MythBusters Webinar Series! This free, five-part series provides information on various emerging topics in the medicolegal death investigation (MDI) profession, including how to communicate with families, best practices for locating next-of-kin, rapid toxicology testing, utilizing of MDI data, and improving diversity in the field. The first webinar took place in September, but each webinar will present new topics. Register for the next one here: https://ow.ly/je6t50TsawN

New Resource Alert! The National Institute of Justice’s Death Investigation Guide, last published in 2011, has been revised and updated with the latest information about issues confronting medicolegal death investigators as of 2024. Advances in communication, photography, and documentation technology are outlined in the guide, as well as procedural updates in drug and child-death investigations. Access the guide here: https://ow.ly/aMhW50Ts4fX