2015 International Forensics Symposium: Oral Presentations

Oral Presentations as Presented

The Keynote and Plenary Sessions listed below were also recorded and archived.
The recorded versions can be found HERE.

• Willie May
• Jo Handelsman
• Steve Wax and Brandon Mayfield

• Gillian Tully
• Scott Shappell
• Itiel Dror

• Alastair Ross
• Bryan Found
• Ralph Kleuskens

• William Thompson
• Lynn Robitaille Garcia

• Crime Scene Errors and Issues - H. Lee
• The Trauma Patient in the Hospital Emergency Department: An Unrecognized Crime Scene - J. Batts
• Avoiding Non-Selective and Destructive Swabbing - R. Bucht
• 3D Laser Scanner Error Sources - M. Shilling
• PANEL - Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) Bloodstain Pattern to Address Error Management in the Field of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis - E. Toomer 

• The Madrid Fingerprint Error: Root Cause and Procedures Implemented - M. Gische
• Quantifying False Individualization in Latent Identification - E. Tabassi
• Mending Justice and Learning from Error: NIJ's Sentinel Events Initiative - T. Feucht
• PANEL - Bridging the Gap Between Black Box/White Box Research and Implementation in Latent Print Casework - T. Roberts
• Policy Decisions in Latent Print Examination Affect Specificity - C. Hall
• Changes in Latent Print Examinations as a Result of Technical Review - M. Montooth
• A Forensic Latent Fingerprint Image Quality Metric for Preprocessing Quality Assurance - H. Guan
• Communicating Measurement Results in the Courtroom: A Matter of Error, Uncertainty and Inference - T. Vosk

• Guidelines for the Use of Root Cause Analysis to Reduce Error and Improve Quality in Forensic Science Lab - J. Hollway
• Corrective Measures Taken in Response to DNA Extraction Failures Using a Newly Validated Method - J. McGrory
• Cultural Aspects of Error Management - V. Weedn
• Errors in a DNA Testing Laboratory - C. Word
• Detection and Mitigation of Medical Errors - T. Schenberg
• The Challenge of Auditing Technical Records Generated During Complex DNA Casework Processes - R. Askew
• Laboratory Management Techniques and Practices for Creating A Culture Where Quality is Top Priority - N. Morgan
• Calculating the True Costs of Errors in Forensic Casework - E. Mayo
• Efficiency Efforts: An Examiner-Friendly Approach to Improving Laboratory Operations - H. Maynard
• Students in the Forensic Laboratory: Fostering Education While Maintaining Quality - C. Baigent
• Implementing the Duty to Correct Error in Forensics - B. Scheck

• Considerations on the Efficacy of Accreditation and Laboratory Performance - E. Steel
• Proficiency Testing Programme in Forensic GSR and Firearm Investigations - L. Niewohner
• Inaugurating Data Integrity in Forensic Science - A. Mozayani
• Error, Error Rates, and Uncertainty: What Are They, How Are They Determined, and Do They Facilitate the Discovery of Truth in the Courtroom? - J. Bono/T. Vosk
• Measuring Criminalistic Uncertainty - J. Kadane
• PANEL - The Use of Statistical Methods for Error Management in the Forensic Sciences - W. Guthrie

July 22

• Forensic Science -The Quality Assurer? - P. DeForest
• Measurement Errors with Point Clouds - G. Walsh
• Pre-flashover Fire Pattern Repeatability on Gypsum Wallboard - D. Madrzykowski
• Error Management in Fire and Explosion Investigations - C. Beyler
• How Fire Investigation Organizations Get in Trouble with Preventable Errors - C. Connealy/J. Lentini
• PANEL - Improving Fire Investigation through Science, Best Practices, and Transparency - L. Garcia

• Arising Issues Implementing Advances in DNA Technology May Tarnish the Gold Standard - A. Jeanguenat
• NIST Concordance Evaluations to Assist in the Improvement of Commercial STR Multiplexes - C. Steffen
• Application of a DNA Quantitation Standard for Human Identity Testing - E. Romsos
• Effect of Drop-in on False Positive and Rank-Order Likelihood Ratios (LR) Calculated for a Mixture of Touch DNA - C. Hughes
• Error Rates in Probabilistic Genotyping Software for DNA Mixtures in Human Identification: How to Compare - H. Miller Coyle
• Objective DNA Mixture Information in the Courtroom: Relevance, Reliability and Acceptance - M. Perlin
• Validating Software for Probabilistic Genotyping - J. Buckleton; Presented by Simone Gittelson
• Interpretation Errors Detected in a NIST Interlaboratory Study on DNA Mixture Interpretation in the U.S. (MIX13) - M. Coble
• A Large-scale Study of DNA Mixture Interpretation: Inter- and Intra-Laboratory Variability - R. Aranda IV
• Defining the Limits of Forensic DNA Profile Interpretation: An Assessment of the Information Content Inherent in Complex Mixtures - K. Inman
• Errors in Interpretation of DNA Profile Data - C. Word

• New Psychoactive Substances (NPS): How to Keep up with the Never Ending Need for New Reference Materials - M. Collins
• Error Analysis of a Forensic Controlled Substance Case - H. Harris
• Positive Identification Starting with a Skull Visualized by a 3D Scanner Using Image Superimposition and the 3D Max Software - D. Humpire Molina
• 3D Fingerprint Targets - N. Paulter
• Error Propagation in Shape Analyses with or without Landmarks - S. Ferson
• Strengthening Forensic Opinions through Objective Assessment of Evidentiary Value: A Prospective for Future Directions in Criminalistics - M. Sigman
• Mitigation of Fire Debris Compound Naming Error through Automation - M. Sasser
• Evaluation of the Degradation of Lotion Components Due to Age and Exposure - J. Dake
• Using Statistical Analysis to Assist with Writer Identification - M. Wakshull

• Forensic Pathology as a Forensic Science: History, Current Challenges, Improving Quality and Understanding Cognitive Bias - A. Baker
• Mitigating DNA Identification Errors in Mass Fatality Response Operations Through Rapid DNA Technology - C. Miles
• Descriptive Frequency Analysis of 110 Bodies Found in Confined Water Spaces and Determination of the Manner of Death, Including Investigative Outcomes - J. Richardson
• Searching for a Standard: The Impact that Method Selection has on Evidence Recovery in Forensic Archaeological Investigations - L. Evis
• Forensic Science Will Greatly Improve Digital Evidence Error Management by Utilizing DICOM and SNOMED CT Standards in Dental and Visible Light Images - A. Casertano
• Medical Examiner Collection of Comprehensive, Objective Medical Evidence for Conducted Electrical Weapons and Their Temporal Relationship to Sudden Arrest - M. Brave
• Investigating Arrest-Related Deaths - D. Ross
• Confirmational Bias and Investigation of Arrest-Related Deaths - S. Karch
• Medical Examiner Mistakes in Tennessee: A Proposed Model for Formal, Comprehensive Death Investigation Peer Review - A. Hawes

• Error Management in Forensic Digital Imaging Should be a Resolution for Throughout the Entire Law Enforcement Community - D. Witzke
• Error Treatment in Forensic Authorship Attribution - P. Juola
• Speaker Detection in a Forensic Environment: Recognizing the Limitations, Improving the Science - A. Martin
• An Overview of Speaker Variability as a Source of Error in Forensic Automatic Speaker Recognition - F. Kelly
• PANEL - Speech Chain Analysis for Speaker Recognition Systems and Likelihood Ratios to Express Score Probabilities Under Competing Hypotheses - P. Higgins

• Cognitive Human Factors and the Use of Signature Features in Questioned/Known Signature Comparisons - M. Merlino
• Cognitive Human Factors and Call Accuracy in Limited-Information Signature Identification Tasks - T. Freeman
• Study on Methods of Quality Control and Evaluation of Fingerprint Identification - S. Liu
• PANEL - Human Factors in Pattern Evidence: How the OSAC Physics/Pattern SAC Subcommittees are Considering Measures to Mitigate the Effects of Bias - M. Gische

July 23

• Crowd Powered Latent Fingerprint Identification: Fusing AFIS with Examiner Markups - S. Arora
• A Novel Approach for Quantifying the Weight of Fingerprint Evidence - H. Swofford
• PANEL - You Want Us To Do What? Conducting a Retroactive Review of Hair Microscopy Cases as a Matter of Shared Ethical and Professional Duty - L. Garcia
• PANEL - Error Management and Forensic Document Examination - E. Wooton

• Congruent Matching - Theory and Application in Forensic Evidence Identification and Error Rate Estimation - J. Song
• Assessing Error Rates for Firearm Identification Based on the CMC Methods - D. Ott
• An Analysis of Correlation Scores Between Cartridge Cases - J. Yen
• Measured Error Rates in Cartridge Case Comparisons - D. Baldwin
• Gunshot Distance Determination, Crystal Ball Reading or Science? - P. Paradis
• Lead Density on a Target, A Significant Indicator of Firing Distance but is it Reliable? - E. Gardner
• Quantitative Metrics for Identifying Characteristic GSR Particles - N. Ritchie
• Uncertainty Associated with the Elemental Analysis and Forensic Comparison of Materials using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry - J. Almirall

• Improving Cyber Forensics and Cybersecurity through Block Chain Technology with Truth-based Systems - K. Zatyko
• Measuring and Mitigating Errors in a Digital Forensics as a Service Environment - H. van Beek
• Measuring Systematic and Random Error in Digital Forensics - A. Nelson
• A Logic Based Model for Error Management in Network Forensics Analysis - A. Singhal
• PANEL - Understanding the Relevance of Error Rates in a Digital World - J. Darnell

• Combating Confirmation Bias: Can Forensic Science Benefit from Importing Eyewitness Identification Procedures? - J. Kukucka
• The "Six Thinking Hats" Method of Removing Bias from Case Review - R. Blackledge
• Mitigation of Forensic Error Rates in Evaluating Pattern-Based Handwriting Evidence Using a Lineup Process - L. Miller
• Development of a Reasonable Minimum Documentation Standard in Latent Print Analysis and Comparison - H. Eldridge
• A Typology of Under-exploitation of Latent Print Evidence - S. Cole
• Objective Classification of Fingerprint Image Complexity - H. Swofford
• Minimizing and Leveraging Bias in Forensic Science - N. Adams
• High Resolution Heat Imaging Technology - A New Approach in Fingerprint Search and Securing - N. Kreuter
• Understanding and Detection, Preventing, Mitigating Errors in Stair Fall-Related Personal Injury Litigation Inspections and Other Legally Mandated Inspections - J. Pauls
• Visual Comparison of Complex Sets of Quantifiable Forensic Data - D. Sorensen

• Forensic Scientific Error and Omission Within the Legal System - Forensic Science in the Courtroom: Can we communicate better? - C. Plourd
• Statistical Issues and Reliability of Eyewitness Identification as a Forensic Tool - K. Kafadar
• Language Barrier - Creating Standard Terminology to Mitigate Forensic Errors in the Courtroom - J. Gabel
• The Use of Blinded Eyewitness Identification as a Forensic Procedure - B. Garrett
• Uncertainty in Forensic Science: A Factor Deliberately Down-Played by Forensic Examiners - C. Spiegelman
• You're Doing a Great Job, But You're Doing It All Wrong - R. Blackledge
• Recognizing Sentinel Events in Forensic Science to Avoid Errors - A. Young
• To Err is Human, but How Might We Measure Error Rates in Forensic DNA Testing and What Would These Error Rates Really Mean? - J. Butler
• The Potential of Blind Collaborative Justice: Testing the Impact of Expert Blinding and Consensus Building on the Validity of Forensic Testimony - C. Wong
• Garbage In-Gospel Out? Moving Forensic Fire Investigations into the 21st Century - V. Brannigan

• Forensic DNA: The Gold Standard or Fools Gold? - K. Reich
• The Value of Regular Benchmarking Studies in Forensic Science to Understand Where Errors Can Occur: Lessons Learned from NIST DNA Interlaboratory Studies - J. Butler
• Automated DNA Examiner Assessment Tool (DEAT): A Software Program to be Utilized in DNA Benchmarking, Training, Proficiency, and Competency Testing - R. Aranda IV
• Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Breath Alcohol Measurement Programs Using Intoxilyzers Such as the Intoxilyzer 8000C - S. Krishnan