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Author: Yujiemi Chisholm
Legal Document Repository

Order on Defendant’s Motion to Suppress Re: Genetic Information (State of Idaho v. Bryan C. Kohberger)

The accused was charged with four counts of murder and one count of burglary where four students were found cut and stabbed to death in their residence. After a hearing conducted on the defendant’s motion claiming violations of the Fourth Amendment’s provisions regarding search and seizure, the trial court denied the defendant’s motions to suppress and addressed the following issues in its rulings:
February 2025
Forensics TTA

FY2024 Grantee Orientation Webinar – Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program

This webinar features the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) introducing the Competitive DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR) Program grantees to the overall BJA team that works collectively to administer their award funds including the BJA Policy Office and BJA Programs Office. This webinar provides useful training and information on how to accept awards; how to submit progress reports and Grant Award Modifications; and provides other information/best practices to support the award management and grant monitoring activities of this project. This webinar also introduces the Forensics TTA team and how this TTA program aims to support CEBR grantees.
December 2024
Forensics TTA

Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program Discussion Forum Session #1

Facilitated by the Forensics TTA Team, this Discussion Forum Session, Utilizing the Loan Repayment Option of the Forensics Pathology Fellowships Purpose Area, features guest speakers from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (CT OCME), a Strengthening the Medical Examiner-Coroner (ME/C) System Program grantee. During this Discussion Forum Session, BJA highlights ME/C Program requirements, available funding, and dispersal procedures. The CT OCME shares their insights on the loan forgiveness option and how it benefited their agency and fellowship program. Dr. Cori Clark, current Associate Medical Examiner and former grant-funded Fellow of the CT OCME, shares their perspective on how the loan repayment option and the ME/C Program benefited them during their fellowship. This Discussion Forum Session also features a question-and-answer segment, open discussion, and poll questions to garner ME/C Program grantee needs and challenges that Training and Technical Assistance (TTA) could positively support.
December 2024
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City of Cape Coral, FL

The City of Cape Coral’s uses Coverdell funds to purchase a full-spectral imaging device to support evidence detection and documentation

The City of Cape Coral, Florida utilized Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program funding to purchase a Crime-lite® AUTO for use in homicide investigations. The use of this full-spectral imaging device specifically assisted a neighboring law enforcement agency in detecting and documenting evidence in a homicide case that involved a stabbing. The imaging device’s infrared capabilities aided in revealing bloodstains on a suspect’s black shirt, which can be extremely difficult to detect, enabling the law enforcement agency’s technician to photograph the bloodstains and collect a sample for DNA analysis.
November 2024
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Highlights

Coverdell funding enables the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to increase annual death investigations

Using Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants (Coverdell) Program funding, the Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) contracted with board-certified forensic pathologists which enabled the office to investigate a higher percentage of deaths in Maine without increasing fatigue or burnout of the full-time staff. Prior to the grant period, Maine OCME was processing fewer than 2,000 cases annually. By the end of the grant period, Maine OCME was processing over 2,500 cases annually, demonstrating a 25% increase in the number of death investigations conducted by Maine OCME during the grant period.
November 2024
Legal Document Repository

Harvin v. State of Maryland (2024) Opinion

Appeals Court decision upholding admissibility of process utilizing TrueAllele®, a probabilistic genotyping software (PGS). This process was used to interpret DNA mixtures detected on several items recovered during an investigation of a sexual assault of an 83-year-old female victim. The Court’s opinion includes a helpful discussion on experts in general, as well as a discussion on the use of PGS for forensic purposes. The Court also discusses the recently adopted Daubert standard in criminal cases. The Supreme Court of Maryland denied petition for writ of certiorari on January 29, 2025 (petition number 355).
September 2024

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