Yujiemi Chisholm, Author at Forensics TTA

Forensics TTA

FY2024 Solicitation Webinar – Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program

The purpose of this 60-minute webinar is to provide details and guidance for potential applicants to the Fiscal Year 2024 Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) MUHR Program solicitation. The MUHR Program furthers the Justice Department’s mission of increasing public safety by providing resources to locate and identify missing persons and unidentified human remains in the United States. During this webinar, BJA provided a solicitation overview to discuss the purposes, goals, and deliverables of this funding opportunity; reviewed the eligibility requirements, solicitation categories, and permissible uses of funds; provided guidance on how to apply for the program; and addressed frequently asked questions. Additionally, the Forensics TTA Team overviewed the provisions of support offered to BJA Forensics Programs grantees through the Forensics TTA Program.

June 2024

Forensics TTA

DNA 101 & Evaluating Post-Conviction DNA Cases

This webinar was tailored for professionals in wrongful conviction attorney roles and conviction integrity units. It provided a peer-to-peer overview of forensic DNA analysis, encompassing topics such as DNA biology, the forensic DNA process, considerations for case reviews, and the decision on whether to conduct new DNA testing.

May 2024

ME/C Performance Metrics

Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program Fellowship/Purpose Area 1: 61 fellowships funded 43 participants completed fellowship training 10,710 deaths investigated by fellows 11,540 autopsies performed by fellows Accreditation/Purpose Area 2: 148 individuals seeking certification 28 individuals achieved certification 14 organizations achieved accreditation

May 2024

COLD Performance Metrics

Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA (COLD) Program Since 2019, COLD Program funds were used to: Upload multiple suspect profiles to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS/AFIS) Identify 78 suspects who were initially unknown Prosecute 19 cases that have resulted in convictions Identify 30 suspects via

May 2024

Postconviction Performance Metrics

Postconviction Testing of DNA Evidence (Postconviction) Program More than 180,000 cases reviewed and more than 700,000 hours of case review performed More than 2,000 cases where DNA analysis was performed More than 300 profiles uploaded to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and more than 100 CODIS hits 64 exonerations have

May 2024

Coverdell Performance Metrics

Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program From FY2011-FY2021 Coverdell Program funds were used to: Analyze more than 1.7 million backlogged cases resulting in more than 350 agencies decreasing their backlogged cases Support more than 18,000 forensic personnel, more than 2,000 medical examiners/coroners, and more than 30 pathologists (FY2021

May 2024

MUHR Performance Metrics

Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program Since its inception in 2022, MUHR Program funds were used to: Make 24 identifications via Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) associations Make 13 identifications via direct DNA comparisons Make 21 identifications via other methodologies such as fingerprints Repatriate 39 cases to relatives or

May 2024

CEBR Performance Metrics

DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program More than 1.6 million cases completed More than 3.8 million database samples completed More than 676,000 forensic (crime scene) profiles uploaded to Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) More than 3.7 million databasing profiles uploaded to CODIS More than 328,000 CODIS hits

May 2024

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

East Bay Times

Man accused in two 1979 Monterey County homicides cannot be charged due to mental illness

Jurn Norris, 69, formerly from Marina, has been identified as the perpetrator in the killings of Helga DeShon and Uicha Malgieri, both young military spouses slain in their apartments in 1979. According to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, they have not been able to file charges against Norris because he is incompetent to stand trial due to severe mental illness. In 2016, Marina Police Department conducted a review of unsolved homicides that had occurred in the city. Advancements in technology allowed detectives to submit evidence again and they had the opportunity to re-interview witnesses. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office determined that sufficient evidence existed to establish Norris’s identity as the perpetrator of the murders and charges would be filed if he were mentally competent to stand trial. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Task Force received a $535,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice back in January 2022. The grant, titled Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA, provides funding to support forensic testing and investigative cold cases where DNA from a suspect has been identified.

May 2024

Forensics TTA

Overview of Migrant Casework and Challenges at the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner

This webinar featured a brief background on the history of the United States – Mexico border, the creation of migrant policies and enforcement, the increase of migrants deaths and the challenges associated with identification, the importance of partnerships and available resources, and actual case studies from one of America’s busiest medical examiner offices involved in the forefront of migrant deaths.

April 2024

Author: Yujiemi Chisholm