Yujiemi Chisholm, Author at Forensics TTA

National Institute of Justice

National Best Practices for Improving DNA Laboratory Process Efficiency

DNA forensic laboratories are at a crossroads. Faced with a rising demand for analysis and constrained by limited financial resources, laboratories must find new and innovative ways to reduce backlogs and increase productivity. The recommendations in this National Institute of Justice-produced guide, authored by experts in forensic science and laboratory management, are aimed at improving efficiency in a multitude of essential tasks that DNA forensic laboratories routinely perform. These tasks range from hiring and training personnel to formulating and enforcing case acceptance policies, implementing existing and new technologies and methodologies, managing casework and tracking laboratory workflows, analyzing data, and compiling final reports that nonscientists can comprehend. This guide’s recommendations are also designed to help laboratories anticipate changes — including technological advances and new legislation — that may affect their caseloads [Description provided by the NIJ website].

May 2022

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence

BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Award Management

This presentation provides information about the main life cycle of award management and award administration basics [Description provided by the FTCOE website].

March 2022

FTCOE

BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Award Management

This webinar provides information about the main life cycle of grant management and award management basics, including compliance, requirements, modifications, and award closeout. This is the final part of the three-part BJA Forensic Grants 101 series, which also delivered insight into the administrative, programmatic, and financial aspects of BJA grant administration requirements.

March 2022

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence

BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Grant Application and Award Acceptance

This presentation reviews application submission and the peer review process for competitive grant programs [Description provided by the FTCOE website].

March 2022

FTCOE

BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Grant Application And Award Acceptance

This is the second webinar within the three-part BJA Forensic Grants 101 series. This webinar highlights the initial steps of applying for BJA grant opportunities, as well as the application submission and peer review process for applying to these various forensic science grant opportunities. This webinar concludes with next steps if a project is selected for funding and what is involved in accepting the award.

March 2022

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence

BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Forensic Grant Opportunities

This presentation outlines over $100 million in forensic science grant opportunities funded by BJA [Description provided by the FTCOE website].

March 2022

FTCOE

BJA Forensic Grants 101 – Forensic Grant Opportunities

This webinar is the first within a three-part series hosted by the BJA, BJA Forensic Grants 101, which outlines the various forensic science programs available at BJA, including their history and examples of relevant projects offered by BJA, in addition to an overview of the $100 million federally funded forensic science grant opportunities offered by BJA.

March 2022

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence

ASCLD Train the Director – Toxicology: Instrumentation, Methodology, and Workflows

This presentation discusses advances and the logistics of transitioning from the legacy workflows of multiple serial analyses to parallel LC/MS/MS and QTOF methods. Key points include budgeting, procurement of equipment, available grant funding, validation, data systems integrations, and methods to transition to new technology [Description provided by the FTCOE website].

February 2022

Dark grey-filled circle with a woman holding a sword and a justice scale inside

Highlights

Maricopa County receives $3 million in federal funding to help solve crimes

The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) announced that it would receive about $3 million in grants from the Department of Justice to help victims of crime. MCAO’s $500,000 Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program grant will enable additional DNA testing, the creation of a countywide database of cold cases, hiring of a data analyst, and an increase of resources available for prosecutors who specialize in cold case homicide investigations. This is the first time MCAO has been awarded this grant, and their goal is to increase the number of successful prosecutions of cold cases throughout Maricopa County and provide closure to the victims of violent crimes.

February 2022

Highlights

Denver Police solve four related cold case homicides that occurred between 1978 and 1981

The Denver Police Department and law enforcement partners today announced that through the continued determination of investigators, DNA evidence, investigative genetic genealogy and familial DNA search, the suspect in three Denver cold case homicides and an Adams County cold case homicide has been identified as Joe Michael Ervin (DOB: 6/25/51), who is deceased. The murders of three women and a teenage girl occurred in separate incidents between 1978 and 1981. The four cases were linked together and solved through several significant investigative developments beginning 35 years later. The final identification of the suspect in these four murders through Investigative Genetic Genealogy and familial DNA research was a result of Denver’s Integrated Cold Case Project. This project is funded in part through a 2020 Genetic Genealogy & Familial Match Searching grant, awarded to the Denver Police Department by the Bureau of Justice Assistance for a total of $470,000.

January 2022

Author: Yujiemi Chisholm