Technology

Michael Brown To effectively undermine the cartels and curtail the flow of fentanyl, it is crucial to disrupt their financial supply chain. In 2022, there was a slight increase in drug overdose deaths in the US following two significant spikes during the pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials report that the numbers remained stable for the majority of the year. It is uncertain whether this indicates that the deadliest drug overdose crisis in US history is approaching…

Recent NIJ funded research reveals how long DNA is detectable on various surfaces under different conditions. This article is based on the grantee report, “Persistence of Touch DNA for Forensic Analysis,” by Meghan Ramsey. Since the first use of DNA evidence in a criminal case in 1986, forensic scientists have considered biological material (such as hair, skin and bodily fluids) to be relatively reliable physical evidence. While early technology required a substantial amount of biological material to extract enough DNA…

Jake Ganor What are some of the recent developments and advancements in technologies aimed at enhancing ballistic protection? April 2023 marked the launch of Kevlar® EXO™, a product which DuPont heralds as the most groundbreaking aramid fiber innovation in over half a century. Currently, specifics about its performance characteristics are still under wraps, but, in an interview with one of its inventors, it has been disclosed that Kevlar EXO is a chemically modified form of aramid, with improved hydrogen bonding…

Ballistic Shield Technologies Jake Ganor In Part One, we covered the characteristics and construction details of ballistic shields and reviewed general “best practices” for their use. Emerging trends in ballistic shield development look like they’re soon going to lead to improved tactics and more widespread shield use. With that, there are a number of emerging shield technologies which are worth highlighting. New Materials The first advance on the horizon is the most general and the most straightforward: New ballistic materials…

John G. Peters, Jr., Ph.D., and Darrell L. Ross, Ph.D. ©2023. A.R.R. The G.L.O.V.E. is a conductive distraction and de-escalation device integrated into a glove which enables users to quickly bring individuals into compliance or restrain them from further violence. Following a 2019 incident, two law enforcement officers were charged with manslaughter by their state’s Attorney General’s office after an inmate suddenly died. The officers were attempting to gain control of the inmate after he had “turtled” (placed both arms…

Ward W. Brien © 2021 A little bit of the science behind precision shooting helps to explain a lot. Riflescopes, spotting scopes and binoculars share a similar purpose. The optics are designed to magnify the image of an object you are looking at. Lenses are designed to focus or concentrate a large amount of light into a narrow beam of light through the center of the lenses so that, upon exiting, it will match the size of your pupil. This…

Dr. Stephenie Slahor What priority does traffic enforcement have in your agency compared to other activities involving life, property and community service? A low priority might reflect a statement such as, “We’re too busy with other work.” Maybe, it is the lament of, “We don’t have enough staff to do traffic.” Perhaps your current employment scene is seeing the retirement or resignations of too many staff. Or, perhaps there’s a perception that traffic enforcement will lessen the harmony between the…

Dr. Stephenie Slahor Mobile device forensics is an evolving specialty in the field of digital forensics which goes beyond devices that provide simple voice communication and text messaging capabilities. No doubt about it – technology rules the crime scenes involving computers, tablets, external hard drives, smart devices, E-mails, SMS (text messages), social media, the cloud, data, and even electronic medical records. And, within all that lies more technology to retrieve, study, report, and use data for investigations and for the…

Stephenie Slahor, Ph.D. Like most endeavors in science, forensic technology develops new techniques to solve problems and improve processes. Here are some of those recent examples. Drones Ground-based crime scene analysis can be effective, of course, but adding in the help of drone-mounted assistance may mean better efficiency and speed in analyzing a scene. And, unlike ground-based techniques (i.e., taking photos, creating maps and charts, sketching, laser scanning) which might contaminate a crime scene because someone has to walk through…

James Bushey Starting a drone program is a significant undertaking and may be intimidating if you have no experience launching a new technological program. There are many considerations at every step of the journey – from equipment startup costs to figuring out how many batteries you’ll need and where you’ll operate in terms of airspace. These factors take time and resources, even for experienced operators. Starting a drone program requires dedicated supplies, support and experience. Here, I’ll walk you through…