ISHI 34 Workshops Announced

Communicating forensic science is an essential aspect of the criminal justice process. Challenges for practitioners include the interrogative structure, varied audiences, specialized language and adversarial narratives. This workshop addresses those challenges using research-driven communication principles to help scientists convey complexity while preserving accuracy. The Alda Method is a unique communication training technique blending improvisational theater with audience-focused design strategies. Driven by the adaptability and active listening central to improvisation and the empathy and connection prescribed by social science research, the Alda Method helps scientists effectively engage with non-expert audiences. Participants should expect active involvement and iterative moot testimony practice.

Practical Application of FIGG in a Case of Unknown Identity: A Guided Interactive Approach Workshop

The purpose and goal of this workshop is to provide a basic understanding of the steps involved in using FIGG to identify an unknown individual.

Speakers have prepared a case that will allow attendees to watch or participate depending upon their level of FIGG experience. Each module will include a presentation followed by a period of directed collaborative research. Solutions will be given at the end of each module enabling attendees to assess their skill level.

Handouts will include module content, flowchart and reference guide.

Preparing for Crime Scene Rapid DNA and CODIS Workshop

The primary goal of this workshop is to begin preparing CODIS laboratories for the FBI’s future vision and implementation of crime scene Rapid DNA for CODIS enrollment. It is estimated that national crime scene Rapid DNA Quality Assurance Standards may be available as early as the first quarter of 2025. Presentation topics include progress on the FBI’s vision, expanding a CODIS Laboratory’s scope of accreditation to locations outside the laboratory to include partner agencies, lessons learned from non-CODIS crime scene applications, and important concepts regarding future national crime scene Rapid DNA Standards and Procedures. The workshop will conclude with a panel discussion with all presenters from the workshop.

Silent Mass Disasters: Evidence Based Strategies for Implementing New DNA Technologies for Missing Persons Programs Workshop

Every year, 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered in the US, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). National databases like CODIS provide a powerful framework for linking repeat crimes and providing leads to the identity of individuals who have left biological evidence at crime scenes. However, the same database is underutilized to identify unidentified human remains (UHRs); only ~1% of cases are resolved. For minority, native and indigenous peoples, particularly women and girls, the statistics are significantly lower because of a combination of database representation and reporting. Despite the advancements in high resolution next generation sequencing (NGS) capabilities and forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG), the vast majority of missing persons cases do not avail of its benefits. As a result, missing persons programs throughout the United States and beyond have relatively low success rates and do not have a cost-effective and standardized approach to address this “silent mass disaster”.

This workshop, consisting of academic experts, forensic practitioners and medical examiners, will review established and emerging methods to associate UHRs to families, discuss considerations and practices for expanding database utility for underserved populations and strategies for operationalizing an end-to-end small, large-scale or national programs for the identification of UHRs.