To: NCIAI Members

From: Angela Berry, NCIAI Regional Representative

RE: 2017 IAI Conference Recap

Hello Everyone,

At the recent 102nd IAI Educational Conference in Atlanta, GA, I was very proud to represent the
membership of the NCIAI as your Regional Representative. My special thank you to NCIAI
President Bradly Whitaker for having the faith and trust in me to allow me this honor as I take this
responsibility with extreme seriousness and pride.

Below is my recap report of the meetings and of a few of the classes that I was able to attend. If you
have any questions or need clarification on anything I have written please do not hesitate to contact
me, as I will do my best to find answers to your questions!

Sincerely,

Angela R Berry, NCIAI Regional Representative

MONDAY AUGUST 7TH (DAY ONE)

The Opening Ceremony began at 9:00 AM with a welcome by IAI Chief Operating Officer

Glenn Calhoun. After welcoming the sponsors, the 102nd International Association for

Identification was officially opened by IAI President Ruslander.

The presentation of Colors and the National Anthem followed the introduction of dignitaries

from various law enforcement agencies in and around Atlanta

Two surprise dignitaries were U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and The

Honorable Nathan Deal, Governor of the State of Georgia.

1-Governor Deal stated that the State of Georgia raised law enforcement pay for those who

wore a badge and carried a gun by 20% and this was a $82.5 million increase in the

States budget
 2-U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein announced that Attorney General Jeff Sessions

had just appointed Ted Hunt as the Justice Departments Senior Advisor on Forensics and

he announced the formation of a new Forensic Science Working Group. This new groups

first task will be to finalize the Uniform Language for Testimony and Reports so that it can

be implemented in the near future. Citing the Presidents support, he further stated that the

Attorney General firmly believes that forensic analysis can help find solutions to todays

problems.

Several vendors were given recognition plaques and the IAI members who died during the

year were announced

The Keynote speaker was introduced as Kevin Briggs, The Guardian of the Golden Gate

Bridge.

Kevin Briggs is a former California Highway Patrol officer who, throughout his career,

convinced hundreds of people not to commit suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate

Bridge. He now heads a self-help organization focusing on mental health and suicide

prevention and he has written a book, The Guardian of the Golden Gate.

The ceremony adjourned and the attendees all turned around for the group photo.

Now on to the first days sessions

A panel discussion on the use of the word identification

 The panel consisted of Ron Smith (Ron Smith & Associates), Glen Langenburg (Minnesota

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), Henry Swofford (Defense Forensic Science Center),

Austin Hinklin (Noblis) and John Vanderkolk (Indiana State Police) with Steve Johnson as

the moderator.

Austin stated that people did not like the word because it led others to believe it meant to

the exclusion of all others. He further stated that the problem was that any solutions to not

using the word were no better than the word itself.

Vanderkolk stated that identification does not prove uniqueness but he still uses it as does

the Nature journal.

Swofford stated that it is about what we can demonstrate not about what we believe. If we

state that two prints came from the same source then it means to the exclusion of all others

and we owe it to our science to change

Smith stated that at the end of the day it is just a word used to communicate and no single

word or phrase completely meets the needs of the stakeholders; forensic science,

prosecutors, juries and defense attorneys.

Langenburg stated that he was happy to continue using the word but we had to address error

rates and he also stated that he thinks identification is too broad a term and he wondered if

all forensic disciplines should use the same terminology.

The IAIs Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO) Update

The CFSO was formed in 2000 and is an association representing approximately 21 thousand

members and practitioners of six forensic science professional organizations consisting of the

American Academy of Forensic Sciences; the American Society of Crime Lab Directors; the

IAI; the International Association of Forensic Nurses; the National Association of Medical

examiners and the Society of Forensic Toxicologists. The CFSOs mission is to speak as one

voice about the concerns of the forensic science community and primarily focusing on local,

state, and national policy makers as well as the US Congress. The representing members

speaking today were Mathew Gamette, Ken Molsen, Ken Martin and Beth Lavach.

The CFSO website is www.thecfso.org

The CFSO IAI 2017 PowerPoint is located here www.thecfso.org/advocacy/

One of the many successes the CSFO pointed out in 2016 was the Coverdell Grant funds

were raised to 18.5 million and for the first time ever the grant was part of the White

House budget signed by Pres. Trump in December 2016.

Language was added to the Coverdell grant to include studies in the latent print

discipline

Also added for funding were impression evidence, digital evidence and fire evidence as

well as funding for statistics, contextual bias and uncertainty of measurements

A beginning draft is in the works for the Narc. Bill which includes information on extra

workloads caused by the opioid epidemic to include hazards in the analysis of the new

opioids

The CFSO asks for proactive communication from the membership in efforts we would

like to see put in to place. Any ideas should be forwarded to the IAI President Jorz and

he will forward those thoughts and ideas to the IAI CFSO Representative
 Pointed out the U.S. Department of Justices continuing commitment to advancing

forensic science stating that Senior Advisor on Forensics, Ted Hunts first major tasks

are to form uniformed language and testimony monitoring among Federal forensic

science disciplinesalso to assist in training examiners as well as prosecutors.

TUESDAY AUGUST 8TH (DAY TWO)

OSAC Update #1:

Pattern SAC spokesperson, Austin Hinklin explained that they provide oversight to

the sub-committees representing firearms & tool marks; footwear& tire; friction ridge;

forensic document examination and bloodstain pattern analysis.

Their current focus is on standardizing the language used in stating conclusions and

general terminology; developing guidelines for the standardization that will be used by

all disciplines.

One goal is to make the stated conclusions transparent to all of the stakeholders

(examiners, attorneys, judges, victims, etc.).

They are building on the work started by the SWGs but are improving standards and,

unlike the SWGs the SACs may be able to enforce the use of the guidelines.

Research needs were covered in the various disciplines. A few of them are:

#1- Research in bloodstain pattern analysis should include behavior of blood outside the

body; bloodstain pattern classification and the interaction of blood and fabrics

#2- Research in firearms & tool marks should include blind verification needs

assessment; cognitive bias; assessing the accuracy and reliability of firearms and tool

marks
 #3- Research in footwear & tire should include examiner reliability studies; population

frequency of class characteristics in U.S. footwear and testing/validation of 3D imaging

technologies for footwear & tire impressions

#4- Research in forensic document examination should include hand printing

complexity, comparability, and validation of the conclusion scale

#5- Research in friction ridge should include ACE-V bias, close non-match assessments,

friction ridge statistical modeling and assessing the sufficiency and strength of friction

ridge features

OSAC Update #2

Crime Scene SAC spokesperson, Michael Kessler

Kessler explained that this sub-committee was formed in March of 2016, did not start

with any SWG guidelines like the other sub-committees, and only met every nine (9)

months therefore they were still working on forming guidelines for the central

committee. Kessler gave the following highlights:

The subcommittee cannot enforce anything and cannot make their guidelines mandatory

There are five ways to implement the guidelines:

#1- Self-acceptance (following the guidelines simply because you should)

#2- Forced by an accrediting bodys guidelines

#3- Court system guidelines for testifying

#4 Following professional association guidelines

#5- Federal Govt. funding can be cut if the guidelines are not followed

The crime scene sub-committee has 16 subject matter experts

 The sub-committee has researched and developed a needs/ assessment focusing on what

gaps exist and need to be filled:

#1- More studies on protective equipment

#2- Is there contextual bias

#3- Development of centralized databases to seek information

#4- Development of laboratory techniques for CS documentation

#5- Standardization for education, crime scene processing, and crime scene

reconstruction

#6- CS certifications and accreditation issues

Everyone should be certified or licensed and the laboratory should be accredited

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9TH (DAY THREE)

Crime Scene Certification Board Open Meeting

**The following applies to all certification examinations:

The IAI is working toward completing the accreditation process ISO 17024 that will

cover all of the certified disciplines. The certification program is being standardized

throughout all disciplines; the certification operations manual was rewritten and is

located on the right side of the page under the heading useful information at

https://www.theiai.org/certifications/

In addition, the general qualifications listed in the operations manual apply to all

disciplines.

Hotmail accounts are rejected by the IAIs website so please do not use a Hotmail

account when corresponding with the IAI.

 Credits toward certification/recertification are applied as follows:

An eight (8) hour class = 4 credits

A four (4) hour class = 2 credits

A two (2) hour class = 1 credit

A forty (40) hour (one week) class/conference = 20 credits

A three day conference = 12 credits

At an approved conference (NC IAI or LPE Meeting for example), you can claim the

entire conference or the actual hours of training (with a certificate) but not both and

usually you will get more credits for the entire conference than you will receive for the

actual class hours.

**The following applies to just the Crime Scene Certifications:

The certification for crime scene reconstruction has been discontinued. If you hold this

certification, it will not be renewed upon expiration. There is a letter on the ISI

certification web site from Bob Garrett explaining this discontinuance.

As always stated, you MUST be employed fulltime(at least 30 hours per week) in actual

crime scene processing (going to the scene) in order to take any of the CS certification

exams. This DOES NOT apply to rectifications.

Reading requirements will change on April 1, 2018. If you apply prior to April 1, 2018,

you will test with the current books. (The new books are listed on the IAI certification

website)
 There is NO grace period for recertification. If your certification expires you MUST take

the exam again as a new uncertified person (which means you must meet the

requirements)

Latent Print Certification Board Open Meeting

Changes to the exam are as follows:

#1- One exclusion error (you exclude one that was identified) you can retest in six

months

#2- One erroneous identification (you ID one that is not an ident.) you must wait one

year to retest

#3- Two or more errors and you must wait one year to retest

#4- First time you retake just the comparison exam

If you have issues with the e-cert process contact Ms. Ballen at 954-589-0628

The written test has been updated for anyone who applied for certification after April 1,

2016. The written exam contains 140 multiple-choice questions (no T/F).

There is a digital testing pilot program currently. This digital exam will be tested at

state/division conferences. Once the exam passes the pilot program the exam can be

given at the NCIAI conferences or the person can still take the regular exam

New applicants must have 160 hours of training while basic experience and education

remain the same

There is no longer a courtroom testimony part of the exam but the applicant must have at

least 16 hours of courtroom testimony training

 There is a new requirement to have a letter from a supervisor stating that you have been

trained in a moot court and are able to represent them in court in reference to latent print

comparisons/examinations. * I questioned this requirement because I have proctored

many examiners who were taking the exam on their own and did not want the added

pressure of their supervisors knowing. The answer from the Board was that if there is an

issue with getting the letter you may contact the Certification Board, explain the

situation and they will work with you.

All of the above changes went in to effect the first week in August 2017.

Finding a way forward in the Wake of the PCAST Report (a panel

discussion)

The panel consisted of H. Swofford, H. Eldridge, L. Hammer and J. Cino

PCAST basic overview:

States that the legal admissibility of forensic evidence depends on scientific validity

The good: calls for greater funding to support forensic science; defines and clarifies

general criteria of fingerprint evidence and recognizes the foundation validity of

fingerprints

The bad: concedes a very high error rate on fingerprints; dismisses the merits of prior

research and dismisses the experience and judgement of the practitioner

The impact: practitioner must demonstrate empirical data, the validity of findings for the

case at hand; the fingerprint discipline was not challenged but the quality of evidence for

the case at hand was challenged

 Investigative Lead Reports- AFIS, a New Approach in Managing Latent

Print Cases

Speaker: Tim Schmal the Latent Section Supervisor at the Houston Forensic Science

Center (HFSC).

At the HFSC an AFIS hit is now seen as a preliminary AFIS association

The examiner does the comparison on the computer screen and then writes a standard

report to the detective. The report states that there is a preliminary association between a

latent print from a crime scene and a particular person. The report asks the case detective

if further comparisons are necessary.

This method reduced their backlog significantly with over 85% of the cases not being

revisited.

Schmal stated that the City County Bureau of Identification (CCBI) in Wake County

implemented this method and wiped out their backlog of nine months

The stated benefits are that the information gets to the detective faster, irrelevant

information is quickly weeded out, and the LPE moves on to other cases

Several examiners in attendance were questioning (to each other, not to the speaker)

why this method was any faster than just going ahead and identifying that one hit

before sending it on with a note in the report stating that any further comparisons would

be conducted upon request.

Using NGI to Identify Missing Persons and the Unknown Deceased

Speaker: Susan Tuttle

In April 2017 NGI processed 18,617,237 records; this included 2,376,373 wanted

persons, 89,131 missing persons and 8573 unidentified persons.

 NGI replaced the IAFIS system in 2014 and now has a two hours turnaround time on

criminal responses and a twenty-four hour turnaround time on civilian cases.

Tuttle further stated that the system receives approximately 16,000,000 cards a day and

is an invaluable tool in identifying the unknown.

There are three ways to submit a fingerprint card to be searched:

Electronically via email to spc@leo.gov (must be 600 dpi)

Fax or mail a hard copy to the Special processing Center.

Voice: 304-625-5584 (call for further assistance)

FAX 304-625-5589

THURSDAY AUGUST 10TH (DAY FOUR)

Getting the Most from NIBIN

Speaker: Grant Graham, Fayetteville, NC Police Department

An overview of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), which

is the only interstate automated ballistic imaging network in the U.S.

Pointed out that the system does not match but does provide a possible much like an

AFIS system gives to an AFIS operator prior to the case being seen by a latent print

examiner. A firearms examiner must verify the possible matches in NIBIN however, a

NIBIN hit can be used for probable cause.

Approximately 231 agencies across the country, including the Fayetteville Police

Department (FPD), have NIBIN

The FPD forensic technicians swab all firearms collected on a scene and then secure the

firearm in the NIBIN locker. The NIBIN technician retrieves the firearm, processes it for
 fingerprints, test fires the weapon and then enters the test fire into NIBIN (usually before

noon).

The person who collected the weapon will always be notified of what happened to their

collected weapon and sometimes a lead has been developed before the case is even

assigned to a detective

*This presentation lasted longer than I could stay; I had to leave to attend the

Secretaries/Regional Rep, meeting. The speaker, Grant Graham, is the Secretary of the

Blood Stain Analyst Certification Board (BSACB) and may be contacted via email on

the IAIs BSACB page if you have any question.

Secretary/Regional Representative Meeting

I do not normally include information from this meeting in this general membership

report because it is usually just information the IAI wants to deliver to the Divisions

President & Board of Directors. However, there were a couple of things brought up that

may be of interest to NCIAI members so I thought Id pass the information along.

Certification and recertification exams are currently being tested as ecerts or tests

provided via electronic transmission. These ecerts may be offered at Division

conferences. If you are interested in this process and would like to see the ecert exams

offered at the Division conferences, please contact your Division President with your

thoughts on the subject.

The South Carolina Division is up and running. Please visit their web site for

information on their training conferences. www.sciai.org

 Photography Tips & Tricks Ive Learned: Finding Easier Ways to do

Things

Speaker: Scott Campbell (Ron Smith and Associates)

This lecture was at the end of the day and sounded interesting. Though he had many, I

thought I would pass along some of his tips & tricks! He freely gives out his PowerPoint

presentation so if youd like to have it contact him at scott@ronsmithandassociates.com

Use manual focus whenever possible, as it will let you do so much more!

To focus on the correct item in a frame lock the focus sensor on the object of interest by

pressing the shutter halfway, then recomposing and capturing the image

Focal length can distort a normal perspective, try to use a normal focul length lens

(35-50mm)

When taking a photo through glass make sure you place the lens flat against the glass

before taking the photo (use manual mode)

Slowing the shutter speed down and using time exposure will remove the lines you often

see when taking photos of computer screens

Remove the rainbows caused by the sun using your hand as a shade out in front of the

camera

Do not use auto mode for proper exposure. Manually meter the evidence for better

lighting

FRIDAY AUGUST 11TH (DAY FIVE)

 The IAI Business Meeting is also something that I usually only report back to the NCIAI

President and Officers, however an historical event occurred that directly affected the

NCIAI so I would like to share it with everyone!

I am very proud to announce that at the 102nd IAI Conference the NCIAIs very own

Brian Dew was elected as a member of the IAIs Board of Directors!!!!! I have checked

back over twenty years and cannot find this ever happening before!! We, who know

Brian, have no doubt of the caliber of man he is but just think for a moment that the

IAIs membership is from all over the world and 221 members voted to elect him to the

Board of Directors. I believe that his election speaks volumes for what we have always

known!! WOO HOO BRIAN DEW!!!! Brian is a past NCIAI President, currently on the

NCIAI Board of Directors and he keeps us all updated with the NCIAI Constitution and

By-Laws. Brian is the Latent Print Examiner for the New Hanover County Sheriffs

Office. We are very proud of you, Brian!!

Courtroom Testimony for CSIs

Speaker: Jonesta Nolan with the Dallas, TX PD

Jonesta.nolan@dallascityhall.com

Document, document, document.if it isnt documented it didnt happen

Wear a uniform or business attire

Make sure you have good hygiene and do not wear anything that will stand out such

as purple hair

Be familiar with the courtroom before you go in to testify. Ask where you will be sitting,

which side will you walk to, which hand do you hold up to be sworn in????
 Do not be a swivel head! Answer yes/no questions to the person asking but answer

other questions to the jury

Treat the attorney (no matter which side) with respect

Make sure your testimony and body language is unbiased

If you do not know the answer, say so!! Do not make up an answer!

Be authentic, human and relaxed

Take part in a mock trial and use real attorneys

Welcome peer review and feedback and learn from it!

Are we Contaminating Our Scene of Crime Suits?

Speaker: Dr. Claire Gwinnett, Professor in Forensic and Crime Science Staffordshire

University

Studies show that the suits do become contaminated through fiber transfer from your

cloths to the suit and then to the crime scene

Have you really read the instructions on how to put the suit on? Really? Have you?

If you get fibers from your clothes on the suit then you will deposit these fibers in to the

crime scene to be picked up when collecting trace evidence

We should think of taking control trace samples of areas on the suit referred to as hot

spots. Hot spots are around seams and the torso.

Think of wearing an under suit instead of your own clothing or maybe a double crime

scene suit

Question? Please feel free to contact the speaker at c.gwinnett@staff.ac.uk

 Building the CSI

Speaker: Ted McDonald U.S. Department of Home Land Security

In training the CSI one must first establish what exactly a crime scene investigator

actually does.

Create learning objectives that are student oriented not instructor oriented

The students performance must be measurable and observable

The performance may be evaluated via written exams or practical exercises keeping in

mind that the evidence is only as good as the presentation so these evaluations must

meet both legal and technical standards

The CSI must manage multiple tasks in a controlled environment. One crime scene may

contain elements of all the disciplines such as fingerprints, blood spatter, biological

matter, and firearms

Questions the CSI must consider on the scene are numerous such as whether to process

an item on the scene or back in the lab so teaching the proper sequence of evidence

detection, collection, and preservation is paramount.

Always train to realistic expectations and situations

Closing

The Installation banquet was held on Friday evening, the new IAI President, Vice

Presidents, and Board of Directors members were introduced, and the 102nd IAI

Educational Conference came to a close.

As does this report

Angela R Berry, NCIAI Regional Representative