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IABPA News, Volume X, Number X - Page 1 - IABPA News The official newsletter for the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts Volume 33, Number 2 June 2017 President’s Message Greetings everyone, Before the business news, I wanted to share a story and offer the association’s thanks to our friends from the Pennsylvania State Police. As one of the IABPA officers, answering email and telephone questions is not uncommon. Having a box delivered to my work office and a “Do you want these?” message, is a first. While spring cleaning at the PSP Lab, IABPA member Forensic Scientist Jill Adair and her colleagues came across a treasure trove of old IABPA newsletters, some dating back to the early 1990’s. Instead of showing them the old circular file, Jill and her mates carefully packaged and mailed them to my office in New Jersey. Thank you again Jill and the Pennsylvania State Police. The newsletters are on their way to our Historian Stuart James’s Florida archive vault! As you know, the 6 th European conference in Jachranka, Poland is days away and the annual training conference in Redondo Beach, California is fast approaching. Look for final details regarding the annual conference here http:// www.iabpa.org/2017-training-conference and look for a Jachranka conference summary in our next newsletter. With the successes of the bi-annual European conferences, there have been discussions regarding expanding our objective of promoting bloodstain pattern analysis worldwide. With that, I’m pleased to announce that at this year’s annual conference, members will be presented with a proposal for a supplemental IABPA conference in South America. During the business meeting, full members can vote on the proposal. If approved, the 1 st South American IABPA conference would be official, planned for summer 2018! In committee news, and not to steal their thunder, European Vice president and Chair of the Translation Committee Philippe Esperanca reports that his team recently added to their accomplishments. An Arabic translation of terminology has been distributed to more than 50 agencies in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Congratulations Translation committee! Lynne Herold, chair of the Dan Rahn Research Grant committee, reports that grant application procedures and covenants have been revised. The revision is intended to clarify and enhance functionality of the granting process. These documents are available in this newsletter for member review prior to updating the current posting on the website. Please have a look and contact Lynne with comments or questions. We look forward to meeting this year's Grant recipient, Paris Jones, and seeing her work presented at the 2017 annual conference. I thank our officers and committee members for their work, our conference hosts for their preparations and all of you who are packing your bags to share your casework, research and experiences. We look forward to greeting you and training at our conferences in Poland and California. Best wishes and safe travels, Jeff Scozzafava President Elected Officers and Committees Pacific Region Update 2017 Training Conference General info Program Keynote speaker Workshop abstracts Presentation abstracts 2017 European Conference General info Program Proposed changes to Rahn grant Article—A survey of bloodstain pattern analysts Nomination for Distinguished Member Form Application for Promotion Form Daniel Rahn Memorial Grant Information Basic BPA Course Requirements Training—USA and Canada Training—Europe and Asia Online resources Recently published BPA articles Table of contents

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Page 1: IABPA News News Vol 33 No 2 June... · IABPA News, Volume X, ... comments or questions. ... The South American members are making contributions to the BPA field

IABPA News, Volume X, Number X - Page 1 -

IABPA News The official newsletter for the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts

Volume 33, Number 2 June 2017

President’s Message Greetings everyone, Before the business news, I wanted to share a story and offer the association’s thanks to our friends from the Pennsylvania State Police. As one of the IABPA officers, answering email and telephone questions is not uncommon. Having a box delivered to my work office and a “Do you want these?” message, is a first. While spring cleaning at the PSP Lab, IABPA member Forensic Scientist Jill Adair and her colleagues came across a treasure trove of old IABPA newsletters, some dating back to the early 1990’s. Instead of showing them the old circular file, Jill and her mates carefully packaged and mailed them to my office in New Jersey. Thank you again Jill and the Pennsylvania State Police. The newsletters are on their way to our Historian Stuart James’s Florida archive vault! As you know, the 6th European conference in Jachranka, Poland is days away and the annual training conference in Redondo Beach, California is fast approaching. Look for final details regarding the annual conference here http://www.iabpa.org/2017-training-conference and look for a Jachranka conference summary in our next newsletter. With the successes of the bi-annual European conferences, there have been discussions regarding expanding our objective of promoting bloodstain pattern analysis worldwide. With that, I’m pleased to announce that at this year’s annual conference, members will be presented with a proposal for a supplemental IABPA conference in South America. During the business meeting, full members can vote on the proposal. If approved, the 1st South American IABPA conference would be official, planned for summer 2018! In committee news, and not to steal their thunder, European Vice president and Chair of the Translation Committee Philippe Esperanca reports that his team recently added to their accomplishments. An Arabic translation of terminology has been distributed to more than 50 agencies in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Congratulations Translation committee! Lynne Herold, chair of the Dan Rahn Research Grant committee, reports that grant application procedures and covenants have been revised. The revision is intended to clarify and enhance functionality of the granting process. These documents are available in this newsletter for member review prior to updating the current posting on the website. Please have a look and contact Lynne with comments or questions. We look forward to meeting this year's Grant recipient, Paris Jones, and seeing her work presented at the 2017 annual conference. I thank our officers and committee members for their work, our conference hosts for their preparations and all of you who are packing your bags to share your casework, research and experiences. We look forward to greeting you and training at our conferences in Poland and California. Best wishes and safe travels, Jeff Scozzafava President

Elected Officers and Committees

Pacific Region Update

2017 Training Conference

General info

Program

Keynote speaker

Workshop abstracts

Presentation abstracts

2017 European Conference

General info

Program

Proposed changes to Rahn grant

Article—A survey of bloodstain pattern analysts

Nomination for Distinguished Member Form

Application for Promotion Form

Daniel Rahn Memorial Grant Information

Basic BPA Course Requirements

Training—USA and Canada

Training—Europe and Asia

Online resources

Recently published BPA articles

Table of contents

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2017 Officers

President Jeff Scozzafava [email protected]

Vice President – Pacific Cristina Gonzalez [email protected]

Vice President – Mountain Brittany Nelson [email protected]

Vice President – Central Christine Ramirez [email protected]

Vice President – Eastern Gord Lefebvre [email protected]

Vice President – European Philippe Esperanca [email protected]

Vice President – Oceanic-Asean Janette Psaroudis [email protected]

Sergeant at Arms Celestina Rossi [email protected]

Secretary/Treasurer Norman Reeves [email protected]

Historian Stuart James [email protected]

Certification Research Committee Chair- Don Schuessler Co-Chair - Anthony Mangione Cristina Gonzalez

Colin Hoare Lisa Perry Tina Young Dan Rahn Research Grant Committee Chair- Lynne D. Herold Silke M.C. Brodbeck Martin Eversdijk T. Paulette Sutton Brian Yamashita Translation Committee Chair- Phillipe Esperanca Sabine Hess Silke Brodbeck Celine Nicloux Andrea Berti

Education Committee Chair- Erin Sims Holly Latham Gord Lefebvre Josita Limborgh Reg Mollicone Ethics Committee Chair- Rich Tewes Rob Jones Gillian Leak Matt Noedel Colin Hoare Membership Committee Chair-Norman Reeves Philippe Esperanca Gord Lefebvre Christine Ramirez Cristina Gonzalez Janette Psaroudis Brittany Nelson

Association Committees

IABPA News Jeremiah A. Morris, Editor

[email protected] Publications Committee Stuart James, Barton P. Epstein, Daniel Mabel, Paul E. Kish, Celestina Rossi, Joe Slemko, IABPA News is published quarterly and is an official publication of the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts. IABPA News is committed to the dissemination of information relevant to the Association, its members, and the discipline of bloodstain pattern analysis. Copyright © 2017 by the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts . Neither the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts nor its Editor assume responsibility for the statements and opinions contained within this publication

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As you know the Pacific Region is hosting the 2017 training conference in Redondo Beach, California. You may not know that this is a multi-agency effort. IABPA members from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department and San Diego Sheriff’s County Department are coordinating together to host a memorable conference. Additional details are provided in the newsletter. Aside from the conference, there is news worth noting regarding training. Lauren Sautkulis from San Diego County Sheriff’s Department hosted the Math and Physics for Bloodstain Pattern Analysts Course in February. Canada’s Brain Yamashita and Fons Chaffe taught this course which historically has been given in Florida. This is the first time this course has been taught on the west coast of the United States. It was well received and hopefully it will be offered again on the west coast.

There are also plans to provide bloodstain pattern courses at California State University, Los Angeles though the Forensic Science (training) Institute. The institute has laboratory facilities available for training on the university campus. The institute is housed in the same building where the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department Crime labs are. Mark Reynolds and Ted Silenieks will be teaching the Advanced Fabrics Course in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis at the institute from October 23- 27, 2017. There is also a possibility that the Fluid Dynamics in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis course will be taught at the institute in September or October of this year. Please contact Cristina Gonzalez if you would like more information regarding training at the institute. The South American members are making contributions to the BPA field. IABPA member Antonio Augusto Canelas Neto is in the process of publishing a book on bloodstain pattern analysis. It will be about 330 pages with color photographs. He acknowledges that this is a challenge and a huge undertaking. Mr. Neto has also launched a BPA website in Portuguese: www.bloodtraining.com. We wish him luck in his endeavors.

Pacific Region Update 2017

Organizational Notices

All changes of mailing address need to be supplied by email to our Secretary Norman Reeves ([email protected]). Members also need to update their contact information profiles on the website. The fees for application of membership and yearly dues are $40.00 US each. If you have not received a dues invoice for 2017 please contact Norman Reeves at [email protected]. Also, apparently, non US credit cards are charging a fee above and beyond the $ 40.00 membership/application fee. Your credit card is charged only $40.00 US by the IABPA. Any additional fees are imposed by the credit card companies. IABPA now accepts the following credit cards:

Discover MasterCard American Express Visa

Cristina Gonzalez

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2017 Training Conference Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina

Redondo Beach, California September 25-29, 2017

Conference Contact: Cristina Gonzalez or John P. Bockrath Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Susan Rinehart Los Angeles Police Department Lauren Sautkulis San Diego Sheriff's Department

Conference Site: Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina www.cpredondobeachhotel.com

Rates: IABPA blocked rooms at $169.00/night plus taxes (1 King / 2 Queen Beds) Parking Rates: Self-Overnight $16.00/night; Self-Day $8.00/day; Valet $20.00/day Conference Room Reservations Link (Group Code: 'IAB')

Important Deadlines Presenter Abstract Submission: July 25

Conference Registration Rate Increase: August 21

Registration: Conference Registration and Payment Here

Prior to August 21

Members: $450 ($500.00 after August 21)

Non-Members: $475.00 ($525.00 after August 21)

Students: $350.00 ($400.00 after)

Daily (Tuesday and Thursday): $150.00 ($200.00 after August 21)

Student Daily (Tuesday and Thursday): $100.00 ($125.00 after August 21)

Wednesday Workshops: $200.00 ($250.00 after August 21)

Student Wednesday Workshops: $125.00 ($150.00 after August 21)

Presenters: Presenter Application Form Here

Submission Deadline: July 25, 2017

Travel Information: Nearest airports Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - 7 miles (25 minutes) Long Beach Airport (LGB) – 17.5 miles (35 minutes) Transportation LAX - Super Shuttle – $15.00/ea. one-way or $28.00/round trip www.supershuttle.com LAX – Taxi approximately $40.00 one-way Long Beach Airport (LGB) – Prime Time Shuttle - $30.00/ea. one-way www.primetimeshuttles.com

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2017 Training Conference Crown Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina

Program Listings (subject to change)

Monday, September 25, 2017

Tuesday September 26, 2017

0800-1600 IAI BPA Examination Executive Board Room

1600-1800 Executive Board meeting Presidential Suite

1700-1900 Registration Palos Verdes Room

1900-2100 Vendor Set-up Seascape Ballroom

TBD Hospitality Suite TBD

0700-0830 Continental Breakfast with Vendors Seascape Ballroom

0700-1700 Registration Coral Foyer

0800 Opening Remarks/ President’s Address Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

0810 Opening Ceremony/Presentation of the Colors/Pledge (Redondo Beach Police Department Honor Guard)

Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

0820 Welcome Address - Redondo Beach Police Chief Keith Kauffman Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

0830 Keynote Speaker—Steve Hodel, “Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder”

Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

0930-1000 Speaker-Jeff Gurvis Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1000-1030 Morning Break with Vendors Seascape Ballroom

1030-1100 A Molecular Method to Determine the Wound-of-Origin of Blood-stains – Professor Don Johnson

Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1100-1200 Grim Sleeper Serial Murder Presentation – DDA Marguerite Rizzo Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1200-1330 Lunch on your own Off-site

1330 –1400 Screening for Blood and Bodily Fluids with the Leeds Spectral Vision System—Jake Kurth

Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1400-1430 A Gun too Far: Reconstruction of a Homicide—Alexander Jason Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1430-1500 Afternoon Break with Vendors Seascape Ballroom

1500-1700 Panel Discussion on PCAST Report and “Forensics in the Court-room” – DDA Beth Silverman, DPD Sam Leondar, Judge James Brandlin moderated by Paul Kish

Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1800-2300 Themed Welcome Reception/Karaoke SOL Venue

1930 Dinner on your own Off-site

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Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Thursday, September 28, 2017

0700-0830 Continental Breakfast with Vendors Seascape Ballroom

0700-1700 Registration Coral Foyer

0800-1145 Lessons Learned – A Case Review Workshop (Bockrath, Rine-hart, Sautkulis)

Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

0800-1145 BPA Documentation Basics Workshop – LeeAnn Singley and Paul Kish

Redondo Ballroom

0930-1000 Morning Break with Vendors Seascape Ballroom

1145-1315 Luncheon Harbor Terrace

1315-1700 Pathology of Wounds Workshop – Dr. Matthew Miller Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1315-1700 Fluid Dynamics Workshop – Dr. Raymond, Dr. Kuo, Dr. Pacheco-Vega

Redondo Ballroom

1500-1530 Afternoon Break with Vendors Seascape Ballroom

1700 Dinner on your own Off-site

1800-2200 Bring Your Own Slides—Stuart James et al Bay/Catalina Room

TBD Hospitality Suite TBD

0700-0830 Continental Breakfast with Vendors Foyer to Ballroom

0700-1700 Registration Coral Foyer

0800-0830 Investigating the preponderance of impact spatter on an asstailant’s clothing caused by different impact mechanisms—Paris Jones (Dan Rahn recipient)

Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

0830-0900 Recommendations for Contextual Information Management in BPA – Nikki Osborne

Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

0900-0930 Microscopic characteristics of spatter vs transfer—Ted Silenieks Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

0930-1000 Morning Break Foyer to Ballroom

1000-1100 San Bernardino Terror Attack –Lt Dave Green Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1100-1200 Slugger Slaying Caught on Tape – John Bockrath, Ray Lugo Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1200-1330 Lunch on your own Off-site

1330-1400 A Bumpy Road to Justice—Iris Dalley Graff and Gary Graff Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1400-1430 Inside the DNA Testing Laboratory—Brandt Cassidy Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

1430-1500 Afternoon Break with Vendors Seascape Ballroom

1500-1700 General Membership Meeting/Appeals proceedings Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

Poster Session TBD

1730-1800 Gather for transportation to banquet Hotel Lobby/Valet

1830-2130 Banquet and Show Comedy and Magic Club

2200-TBD Hospitality Suite TBD

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Friday, September 29, 2017

Updated 05/10/2017

0700-0830 Continental Breakfast Foyer to Ballroom

0800-1230 Appeals proceedings continued if needed Peninsula/Pacific Ballrooms

Research presentation on blood substitutes—Theresa Stotesbury

Error and Uncertainty in Bloodstain Pattern Anaysis—Jeremiah Morris

OSAC update – LeeAnn Singley

2018 meeting presentation

International meeting presentation

IAI certification and ASB update – Jeff Gurvis

Panel discussion—call for questions The “Forensics in the Courtroom: A Legal Perspective” discussion panel will explore the effectiveness, clarity, accuracy and perception, of forensic evidence presentations in the courtroom through the eyes of the legal community. A judge, prosecutor and defense attorney, will share their opinions of how well forensic practitioners present scientific evidence in the courtroom. What is done well, what is done poorly and how improvements can be made? Opinions from the NAS report, PCAST report, the role of the OSAC and other forensic science committees, and the future of forensic qualifications, admissibility standards and accreditation of labs, will be discussed. Paul Kish will also participate in the panel discussion as a moderator and a representative of the forensic science community. Questions for the panel are welcome for submission to the conference organizing committee. Please contact any of the following conference organizers to forward questions for this panel:

John Bockrath Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department [email protected] 323-267-6109

Lauren Sautkulis San Diego Sheriff's Department [email protected] 858-467-4605

Cristina Gonzalez Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department [email protected] 323-267-6116

Susan Rinehart Los Angeles Police Department [email protected] 323-415-8827

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2017 Training Conference

Keynote Speaker: Steve Hodel Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder

(Arcade Pub.2003, HarperCollins updated chapters-2004, 2006)

In 1947, California’s infamous Black Dahlia murder inspired the largest manhunt in Los Angeles history. Despite an unprecedented allocation of money and manpower, police investigators failed to identify the psychopath responsible for the sadistic murder and mutilation of beautiful twenty-two-year-old Elizabeth Short. Decades later, former LAPD homicide detective turned private investigator Steve Hodel launched his own investigation into the grisly unsolved crime—and it led him to a shockingly unexpected perpetrator: Hodel’s own father. A spellbinding tour de force of true-crime writing, this newly revised edition includes never-before-published forensic evidence, photographs, and previously unreleased documents, definitively closing the case that has often been called “the most notorious unsolved murder of the twentieth century.” To the above publisher-written overview, I will add what for me was a second and equally shocking discovery. The fact that the Black Dahlia Murder- was not a standalone crime. (Lost in time and perpetuated as myth was the fact that all Southern California law enforcement agencies: LAPD and LASD (police and sheriffs) and the DA’s investigators were aware and actively investigating, at least, five additional murders as probably being connected.) I have dubbed, these —The Los Angeles Lone Woman Murders. All of them committed by one man, my father, Dr. George Hill Hodel. How many? Difficult to say, however, I believe from 1943 to 1949, he committed somewhere between 9 and 20 serial murders in the Los Angeles and Southern California area. In Black Dahlia Avenger I break these suspected murders into separate “categories.” (Category I -Definites,--Category II –Probables and Category III -Possibles.) In a letter, included in BDA’s original publication in 2003, one of the LADA’s most respected Head Deputy DA’s, Stephen Kay, confirmed that in his opinion, at least, two of these murders (Elizabeth Short “Black Dahlia” and the Jeanne French “Red Lipstick”) “were solved.” Head DA Kay went further, indicating that if Dr. George Hill Hodel had still been alive, and had all the witnesses still been available, based on the evidence, he “was confident he could win the case in a jury trial.”

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Workshop Abstracts

Workshop: Lessons Learned: A Case Review John Bockrath, Susan Rinehart, Lauren Sautkulis

Phyllis Theroux said, “Mistakes are the usual bridge between inexperience and wisdom.” In my experience processing crime scenes and working in forensic science over the years, this quote rings especially true for me. I have found that my most valuable learning experiences often came as a result of my greatest perceived mistakes; cases that I messed up, misinterpreted or completely got wrong. The purpose of this workshop is to present cases that became cautionary tales for all, humorous anecdotes for others and humbling experiences for a few. John C. Maxwell said it best, “A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” “Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth. “Richelle E. Goodrich.

Workshop: BPA Documentation Basics Abstract Pending

LeeAnn Singley and Paul Kish

Workshop: Pathology of Wounds Abstract Pending

Matthew Miller M.D.

Workshop: Fundamentals of Fluid Dynamics David Raymond Ph.D., Jim Kuo Ph.D., Arturo Pacheco-Vega Ph.D.

In its 2009 report “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward,” the National Academy of Sciences stated that there is currently a need to improve the educational requirements of bloodstain pattern analysts with increased emphasis on scientific foundation; particularly in the area of fluid dynamics. The fundamentals of fluid dynamics have historically been taught to aspiring engineers through their undergraduate mechanical engineering education. These students typically graduate to careers in fields other than forensic science. Recently, academics in mechanical engineering and forensic scientists have identified potential areas of overlap in the field of fluid dynamics, as it relates to the practice of bloodstain pattern analysis. The field of forensic bloodstain pattern analysis builds upon a fundamental understanding of the dynamics of blood, as a complex fluid, and applies it in a forensic setting. Currently, academic programs in criminalistics and/or forensic science do not require fluid dynamics course-work as part of their curriculum. Adopting engineering courses in fluid dynamics is not practical as prerequisite knowledge in the areas of physics and calculus-based mathematics are typically not emphasized for non-engineering students. This workshop is aimed at educating forensic science practitioner, and others with non-engineering backgrounds, in the fundamentals of fluid dynamics. Topics covered will include: definition of a fluid, fluid responses to various types of forces, blood as a fluid, dynamics of fluid flow, droplet dynamics and surface interactions.

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Presentation Abstracts

Abstract Pending Jeff Gurvis

A Molecular Method to Determine the Wound-of-Origin of Bloodstains

Donald J. Johnson1 and David E. Raymond2 1School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032. 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032. Previous research conducted by the authors on an animal model indicates that bloodstains can contain additional information about their somatic origin in the form of wound cells. The authors demonstrated that bloodstains produced by a gunshot wound to the head could be distinguished from bloodstains produced by a gunshot wound to the chest by testing the stains for a brain microRNA marker. In this study, the effectiveness of the technique was examined on blood drops shed externally from manually and mechanically created stab wounds to the liver of intact rat carcasses. Specifically, investigations were conducted on the liver microRNA marker, rno-mir-122-3p, with the QIAGEN miScript System and real-time PCR analysis. Between the two stabbing methods, 67% of the scalpel blades and 57% of the externally shed blood drops tested positive for rno-mir-122-3p. The amount of the liver cells in the bloodstains appears to be related to the extent of trauma. The results of this study, together with those from the authors’ previous study on gunshot wounds, show the potential of miRNA tissue markers to link non-specific bloodstains to specific wound sites. Moreover, the analysis was accomplished with standard methods of collection and preservation, and with equipment and instrumentation used routinely in forensic laboratories. The results indicate that the molecular detection of wound cell markers is a viable approach to problems that are beyond the capabilities of bloodstain pattern analysis. The technique will have limitations. Based on the authors’ casework and research experience with biological samples, the authors expect success to vary from case to case and from sample to sample, depending on the circumstances. However, the technique could extend the investigative capabilities of forensic laboratories, and therefore is worthy of further research and development.

KEEPING IT “ALL IN THE FAMILY” – HOW A SON AND A PIECE OF PIZZA UNMASKED THE GRIM SLEEPER SERIAL KILLER

Deputy District Attorney Marguerite Rizzo

In January of 2007, a homeless man collecting cans from a dumpster in South Los Angeles came upon a black trash bag containing the nude, lifeless body of 25-year old Janecia Peters. DNA evidence collected from the zip-tie which secured the black trash bag matched the DNA from two earlier slayings, one in 2002, and one in 2003. A LAPD Task Force was established to identify a suspected serial killer because of these case-to-case DNA matches, as well as several other DNA matches to murder cases from the late 1980s.

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From 1985 through 1988, an unknown killer had stalked the streets of South Los Angeles, murdering seven women, and attempting to murder an eighth victim. The murdered women had been shot with a .25 caliber handgun or strangled. The women ranged in age from 18 to 35 years old. The killer preyed on troubled and vulnerable women. A number of the women worked as prostitutes, and most struggled with drug addiction. All of the murdered bodies were found naked or partially undressed, abandoned in back alleys or dumpsters covered with garbage, around Western Avenue in South Los Angeles. One victim survived and provided a blueprint for the killer’s murderous schemes. On November 20, 1988, 30-year old Enietra Washington was walking northbound on Normandie Ave. in South Los Angeles when the suspect, who was driving an orange Pinto, stopped and asked her if she wanted a ride. Washington was hesitant to get in the car at first but soon relented. Washington entered the suspect’s car and sat in the front passenger seat. While driving, the suspect turned and shot victim Washington in the chest. The suspect then stopped the car, and took Polaroid photographs of her as she was fading in and out of consciousness. The suspect subsequently pushed the victim out of his car. Washington eventually made her way to a nearby house belonging to her friend, who called 911. An ambulance arrived and transported victim Washington to Harbor-UCLA Hospital where she underwent surgery. Doctors removed one expended .25 caliber bullet from Washington’s body. A common DNA profile was developed from seven of the victims. Local, state, and national DNA database searches yielded negative results. The same unrecovered .25 caliber firearm used to shoot surviving victim Enietra Washington was also used to kill seven of the murder victims. In 2007, when the LAPD Task Force took a fresh look at the murders and the attempted murder of Enietra Washington, they discovered a decade’s long gap between the killings. This hiatus led a LA Weekly reporter in 2008 to nickname the serial killer the “Grim Sleeper.” The name stuck, leading to a public media campaign and a $500,000 reward for information leading to the “Grim Sleeper’s” arrest. In 2008, the LAPD requested the California Department of Justice to perform a Familial Search of the state convicted offender DNA database. No relatives were identified in that first search. LAPD made another request in 2010. On July 2, 2010, DOJ revealed that the recent search identified a possible relative in the convicted offender database . . . 28 year old Christopher Franklin, who was convicted on a felony weapons charge that had been added to the state database in 2009. Investigators focused on Franklin’s father, Lonnie David Franklin Jr. as a possible suspect. The LAPD Task Force launched an intensive surveillance operation, following Franklin’s every move in an attempt to collect a biological sample they could use to compare Franklin’s DNA directly to the DNA profiles developed from the evidence. Member of the Task force got their break on the afternoon of July 5, 2010 when Lonnie Franklin attended a child’s birthday celebration at John’s Incredible Pizza. An undercover LAPD officer served as a busboy clearing plates and discarded food from Franklin’s table. Soiled napkins, cups, and a discarded piece of pizza were collected. These items were submitted to the LAPD Crime Lab for DNA analysis. A few days later, the DNA results confirmed the Task Force’s suspicions . . .

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DNA from the piece of pizza, the cups, and napkins was matched to the DNA profiles from the evidence. On July 7, 2010, LAPD arrested Lonnie Franklin Jr. at his home in South Los Angeles. Investigators found and collected hundreds of items during the execution of a three day search warrant at his home. Among the items they found was a .25 semiautomatic handgun used to shoot Janecia Peters. Behind a wall in Franklin’s garage, investigators found a Polaroid photograph of victim Enietra Washington. The photograph portrays Washington sitting in the front seat of a vehicle with her blouse ripped open, bleeding, and possibly unconscious. On May 5, 2016 a jury found the defendant guilty of ten murders and one attempted murder. One month later, the jury voted to impose the death penalty.

Screening for Blood and Bodily Fluids with the Leeds Spectral Vision System Jake Kurth

Leeds Forensic Systems produces the Leeds Spectral Vision system (LSV2) a next generation alternative Light Source imaging tool. In this presentation Leeds will highlight some of the interesting blood screening ALS techniques for blood stains that we have encountered in our R&D and sales experience with the LSV2 system.

A Gun Too Far: Reconstruction of a Homicide

Alexander Jason

A woman was found fatally shot. It was either a homicide or a suicide. The primary physical evidence at the scene -- blood spatter and gunshot residue -- was highly significant in making a forensic determination. This case is an example of how an analysis of blood and other evidence can be integrated into a shooting incident reconstruction.

Discussion Panel on “Forensics in the Courtroom-A Legal Perspective” Judge James Brandlin, Deputy District Attorney Beth Silverman, Deputy Public Defender Samuel

Leonard

The "Forensics in the Courtroom-A Legal Perspective" discussion panel will explore the effectiveness, clarity, accuracy and perception of forensic evidence presentation in the courtroom through the eyes of the legal community. A judge, prosecutor and defense attorney will share their opinions of how well forensic practitioners present scientific evidence in the courtroom; What is done well, what is done poorly and how improvements can be made. Opinions from the NAS report, PCAST report, the role of the OSAC committees, and the future of forensic qualifications, admissibility standards and accreditation of labs will be discussed.

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Investigating the Preponderance of Impact Spatter on an Assailant’s Clothing Cause by Different Impact Mechanisms

Abstract Pending Paris Jones (Rahn Grant Recipient)

Recommendations for Contextual Information Management in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Osborne, NKP., Reynolds, ME., Thompson, WC., & Taylor, MC.

The past decade has seen an increase in discussion and research relating to the issue of contextual bias in forensic decision-making. The main concern highlighted by commentators is that information irrelevant to a forensic examiner’s task may unconsciously influence the examiner’s opinion. Some of these studies have found that bias is indeed an issue in bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA), with the provision of contextual information sometimes resulting in erroneous pattern classifications. Contextual information management (CIM) procedures that shield analysts from irrelevant information while still allowing access to the relevant information are recommended as a way to reduce the potential for bias in forensic examinations. Here, we will present CIM procedures for BPA currently being used within a New Zealand and an Australian forensic agency, and will make recommendations that could assist other forensic agencies and practitioners looking to adopt CIM into their workflow.

Microscopic characteristics of spatter vs transfer Abstract Pending

Ted Silenieks

San Bernardino Mass Shooting “Lessons Learned” Lt. Dave Green

On December 2, 2015, 14 people were killed and 22 were seriously injured in a terrorist attack at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, which consisted of a mass shooting and an attempted bombing. The attack was the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. since the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the deadliest terrorist attack to occur in the U.S. until the June 12, 2016, Orlando Nightclub shooting. Lt. Green will share what took place, the response to the event and lessons learned that will be implemented for response to future emergency events.

Slugger Slaying Caught on Tape Abstract Pending

Det. Ray Lugo and John Bockrath

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A Bumpy Road to Justice Iris and Gary Graff

A Bumpy Road to Justice Shortcuts on the road to justice imperil the outcome for the accused, for the victim, and for the discipline of bloodstain pattern analysis. A young mother was found dead on a rural road. Was the bloodstain analysis expertise-driven or scenario-driven? Lessons learned include a vehicle for proper documentation and information management. Inside a DNA Testing Laboratory: Maximizing genetic data recovery through sample choice and

advanced methodologies Brandt Cassidy Ph.D.

This presentation will illustrate the DNA testing process and what happens to sample evidence after it is submitted to a genetic testing laboratory for analysis. After the presentation, attendees will be able to identify sample types suitable for DNA testing, discover the effects of sample degradation and sample inhibition on DNA evidence, and learn about the tools that are available to maximize probative data in complex forensic cases. Two cases, one from a recent transport accident and one from an identification case from a 20th century military conflict will be presented to show the lab process for difficult samples obtained from crime scenes and mass disasters. As a result of both the improved recovery of DNA from crime scene samples and increases in the sensitivity of forensic DNA testing systems there is an increasing understanding of the robustness of DNA testing from degraded samples. Frequently these samples are highly degraded and have been exposed to multiple PCR inhibitors from various environmental conditions. Attendees will learn about blood, bone, and tissue preparation methods that can improve downstream success and in the above cases led to positive identifications. To improve the ability to maximize recovery from complex blood, tissue, and bone samples, a specialized workflow has been developed; combining efficient extraction and recovery and subsequent analysis using commercially available technologies including next generation autosomal STR marker systems, a highly sensitive quantification system, mitochondrial analysis, and an Alu-based maker system designed for highly degraded samples. This talk will detail this workflow; including sample preparation, analysis and interpretation. This presentation will also identify and share best practice methods that enable results to be generated from highly compromised samples that would have been unlikely to produce probative results. Familial reconstructions will also be shown to demonstrate how identifications can be made using family reference samples from both closely related and distantly related relatives.

Abstract Pending Theresa Stothebury

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Error and Uncertainty in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Jeremiah Morris

Error and uncertainty are two concepts which have gained significant attention in forensic science in recent years. Uncertainty is generally applied to quantitative conclusions in the form of uncertainty of measurement while error can involve quantitative values but most often deals with qualitative statements by forensic scientists. Daubert admissibility standards require the consideration of a method’s known error rate. This presentation will provide a general introduction to the concepts of error and uncertainty as well as the differences between them. It will then apply these concepts to quantitative and qualitative aspects of bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA). The presentation will also discuss how the quality of stains within a pattern, the quantity of these stains, as well as characteristics of the substrate, can increase or decrease the uncertainty of pattern classification. Past research on these topics will also be discussed.

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2017 IABPA European Conference Jachranka, Poland

June 21-23, 2017

Conference Website: http://iabpa2017warsaw.eu/

Conference Venue: Hotel Windsor

80 EURO/night, includes breakfast.

Secondary 'Budget' Hotel:

Lawenda Park Hotel

Transportation Infor-

mation:

Transportation from the airport with train S3 to the end of the line (Wieliszew Station). From the

train to the hotel shuttles will be arranged.

Conference Sched-

ule:

For Lectures and/or Workshops, please contact Philippe Esperança [email protected]

Registration: Fees prior to May 26, after +25 EURO

300 EURO IABPA Members

325 EURO Non-IABPA Members

250 EURO for the Presenters

275 EURO for Students

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IABPA European Conference Program agenda

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

1700-1900 Registration and Welcome

0800-0900 Registration and Welcome

0900-1000 Opening ceremony

1000-1030 Polish history of BPA, Anna Damueiwicz (Poland)

1030-1100 Coffee break

1100-1130 ISO Accreditation, Philippe Esperanca (France)

1130-1200 Platoform for 3D bloodstains securing on the crime scene, Kamil Januszkiewicz

(Poland)

1200-1230 Crime scene investigation using FARO system, Steeve Rosset (Switzerland)

1230-1400 Lunch

1400-1430 Securing and analysis of implact patterns, Kamil team (Poland)

1430-1500 Formation of bloodstains on apparel fabrics, Theresa de Castro (New Zealand)

1500-1530 Coffee break

1530-1600 Typical Polish case, Kacper Chomoranski (Poland))

1600-1630 Use of CT scanner and SEM to determine the effect of fabric density on the flow of

blood within a fabric, Clare Knock (United Kingdom)

1630-1700 Investigation of road traffic accidents – a case report, Dr. Younis Albalooshi (Dubai)

1700-1800 Bloodstain pattern analysis in the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Almazrouei

1900 - ? Gala dinner

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Thursday, June 22, 2017

Friday, June 23, 2017

0900-0930 Dynamics and pattern of blood in forensic applications, Fiona Smith (France)

0930-1000 Stabbing phenomena, Esben Bager (Denmark)

1000-1030 Development of a robust method for creating arterial bloodstain patterns, Nathan

1030-1100 Coffee break

1100-1130 Sequence determination, Josita Lomborgh (The Netherlands)

1130-1200 What are the relevant features for impact pattern classification?, Karla de Bruin (The

Netherlands)

1200-1230 Effect of pre-laundering of apparel fabrics on bloodstain visibility using near infrared

imaging, Tess Mercer (Australia)

1230-1400 Lunch

1400-1730 Workshops

· Math, physics and computer – Brian Yamashita and Andy Maloney · BLUESTAR – Jean-Marc Lefebvre-Despeaux (CEO) · Sequence determination – Josita Lomborgh (The Netherlands)

1900 - ? Gala dinner

0900-0930 Quality criteria for BPA in decisive reports at court, Silke Brodbeck (Germany)

0930-1000 Reactivating coagulation of blood pools with citrate, Céline Nicloux (France)

1000-1030 ENFSI, a member of the ENFSI BPA subgroup

1030-1100 Coffee break

1100-1130 Next 2017 training conference

1130-1200 2019 European meeting

1200 - ? IABPA conclusion

IABPA European Conference Program agenda

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1. A grant of up to, but not exceeding, $3000US may be awarded. A. The amount awarded depends on the project budget and travel expense to attend a meeting for

presentation purposes that is put forth in the proposal. B. Up to, but not exceeding $2000US of the grant may be used for travel expense (e.g. airfare). C. There is no limit on the amount of the funds that may be spent on material, supplies, etc. as long

as the total amount including travel does not exceed the $3000US. D. Any cost overages are the responsibility of the person awarded the grant. E. Any funds not spent shall be returned to the IABPA treasury. F. The grantee shall supply a full accounting with receipts for the funds spent to the IABPA

Treasurer at the end of the project presentation. 2. In addition to the funds in Item #1 above, a grantee shall also be award meeting registration and hotel

rates for the meeting at which the project results are presented. A. Hotel rate will be covered include the days of the meeting with arrival the day before the start of

the meeting and departure the next morning after the meeting conclusion. Any additional time spent in the area is at the expense of the grantee.

B. Meeting registration coverage includes one banquet ticket. Additional banquet tickets shall be at the expense of the grantee. Any meals that are not included in the routine meeting registration shall be at the expense of the grantee.

3. The grantee shall provide at least 2 progress updates to the head of the Rahn committee at approximately 1/3 and 2/3 time points during the grant period.

A. The expected dates will be communicated to the grantee at the beginning of the project period. (These dates are not specified in advance of the grant being awarded to allow for flexibility in the funding start date and projected completion date which can vary with each application.)

B. It is the responsibility of the sponsoring full member/mentor of the grantee to communicate any problems with adequate progress of the research to the Rahn Grant committee chair in a timely manner. It is suggested that the sponsor comment at least when the grantee progress reports are submitted as to confirm the status of the project.

4. The grantee shall submit a research paper manuscript based on the funded project for publication in The Journal of IABPA.

A. The prepared submission for publication shall be delivered to the editor of The Journal at the conclusion of the project or the conclusion of the presentation of the research at an IABPA meeting.

B. The Journal is peer reviewed and the decision to publish and editorial changes required for publication per the assessment of the editor and their peer review staff shall be accepted as needed and mutually agreed to by the grantee to accomplish publication.

5. Although not mandatory, it is desirable and the intent of IABPA and the Rahn Grant committee to have a presentation of the research project and results by the grantee at one of the regularly scheduled training meetings, hence the available funding for travel and registration of the grantee.

A. Presentation notwithstanding, the research must still be published as a research report and not simply an abstract of the proceedings of the meeting.

B. If a grantee is unable to physically attend a meeting then an alternate presenter (e.g. research supervisor or mentor) or alternate means of presentation (e.g. video conferencing) will be considered.

C. Presentation time for the Rahn Grant presentation is typically 1 hour but can easily be adjust longer/shorter as needed. The Rahn Grant committee declines to set a presentation format so that the grantee and sponsor/mentor can choose the appropriate format to best relay the developed information and results. The Rahn Grant will provide format assistance if asked to do so by the award recipient.

Rahn Grant Terms and Conditions For review and comments by the membership

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1. If the Grant applicant is not an IABPA full member: A. the applicant shall apply for membership at the appropriate level within the organization B. the applicant shall provide a CV with the grant application C. be sponsored and mentored by an IABPA full member in good standing which should be noted

with the application by way of a separate letter accompanying the application from the sponsor/mentor indicating that they are providing the necessary research support and the extent of that support (e.g. lab space, experimental design, presentation and publication reviews)

2. If the Grant applicant is an IABPA member in good standing this information, including the membership level, should be included in a cover letter with the Grant application.

3. The Grant application shall be sent to the current chair of the Rahn Grant Committee and copied to the IABPA secretary/treasurer.

4. The Grant application shall include: A. An introduction to the research project being investigated and why results from this study are

relevant and useful to the bloodstain pattern community. B. An outline of the experimental design, methodologies and materials sufficient for the Rahn Grant

committee reviewers to determine if this is a sound experimental design that can be reasonably completed within the granting period.

C. A review or bibliography of the literature relevant to the proposed study. D. A proposed budget of expenses including materials/supplies and travel, that will demonstrate the

legitimacy of the funding needs. E. Demonstration that the proposed study and applicant have adequate resources to be performed in

addition to materials covered by funding this application (e.g. lab space, durable goods, expendable supplies). This may, in part, be provided by a sponsorship/mentor letter accompanying the application.

5. The Grant application shall be reviewed and rated by at least 3 Rahn Grant Committee members for funding consideration. The general rating is based on a review of the application for scientific merit as follows:

A. 10 pts max Is the study addressing an issue relevant to bloodstain patterns and/or interpretation?

B. 10 pts max Does the methodology scientifically reasonable and sound? C. 5 pts max Does the application, any supporting documents accompanying the application,

and literature review demonstrate that the applicant has sufficient background knowledge to engage in this study?

D. 5 pts max Are the proposed expenses legitimate for supplies and results presentation? E. 10 pts max Is there sufficient support other than the grant funding, and reasonable time for the

applicant to conclude the study successfully? 6. The decision to the fund the Grant on scientific merit rests with the decision of the Rahn Grant

committee members and their review of applications. 7. Only one Grant will be awarded per year. 8. In the event that there are multiple applications received for one funding year then it is intended that

preference will be given to applicants that have not previously been awarded funding through this grant, and provided that the proposed study is otherwise scientifically acceptable and/or rated by the committee reviewers for funding.

9. The applicant must agree and commit to the additional provisos for allocation of funds, accounting for the funds used, excess funds returned, excess expense not covered, progress reporting, presentation and publication as specified on the accompanying Rahn Grant Terms and Conditions document. The awardee of the Grant will be asked to make this commitment in writing prior to the transfer of funds.

Rahn Grant Application Procedures For review and comments by the membership

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Introduction Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is very much a discipline in transition and we should embrace this process. Our understanding of how various forces interact with liquid blood and how these forces ultimately lead to the static bloodstains at scenes or on evidence has dramatically increased over the past several years. Recent research has opened up whole new worlds for the scientist examining the stains and patterns left behind after bloodshed. High speed video has revealed the complexity of stain formation. A closer look at bloodstains on textiles has sometimes resulted in more questions than answers. Computer software has improved some of our techniques. But we are still learning and growing as a discipline. Many of the foundational issues which other forensic science disciplines dealt with long ago are just now being addressed by bloodstain pattern researchers. Concepts of logic and the scientific method have been applied to pattern classification and reconstruction [1-4]; however, no single methodology has emerged within the discipline. Recent research has underscored the potential for cognitive bias to negatively impact pattern classification conclusions [5, 6] but the discipline may still be struggling with applying the findings of cognitive scientists to the development of a scientifically based methodology which correctly utilizes the information necessary for proper classification and reconstruction. Sometimes it’s good to understand who we are today and what we are doing before we can appropriately decide who we want to be, what we want to do, and how to get to both. This article attempts to provide a recent snapshot of analysts within our discipline, how we go about our examinations, and our current understanding of cognitive science concepts. The information presented here isn’t ground-breaking by any means, but it may assist us in our current transition. Method In 2014, a survey was sent to members of the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (IABPA). The survey was presented as a means to collect information regarding various motivational factors which affect analysts. Members were notified via a mass email and provided a link to the web-based survey. The survey collected various demographic information followed by questions on four different topics: Need for Closure

(NFC), emotional and motivational issues, methodology, and perspectives on cognitive bias. No attempt was made to restrict the number of times an individual could complete the survey. Additionally, no attempt was made to restrict responses to just members of the IABPA. It would have been possible for individuals to complete the survey more than once or to forward the link to non-IABPA members or even non-bloodstain pattern analysts. It is unknown if any of these occurred but it is assumed that any such actions had a negligible effect on the final results. Additionally, the survey was conducted in the second half of 2014 and only reflects the status of the discipline at that time. It is unknown how accurately these numbers reflect the currents status of BPA in these areas. Results and Discussion A total of 142 responses were collected. Most of the responses were complete; however, some respondents did not answer all of the questions in the survey. The discussions regarding the various aspects of the survey will discuss only those responses which answered all questions for that specific area. Demographics Figures 1 to 8 depict the breakdown of the various demographics. As can be seen, bloodstain pattern analysis is currently being performed by a wide variety of individuals regarding age, experience, commission status, science-based degrees, and their assignment to other disciplines within forensic science. The issue of a science-based degree is particularly interesting. In 2014, 70% of respondents reported having a science based degree. This is significant because the minimum pre-training requirements by the Scientific Working Group on Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (SWGSTAIN) did not require a science-based college degree for trainees [7] while other forensic SWGs did make such a requirement [8-10]. Further examination of the data revealed other details. Roughly two-thirds of those who did not have a degree (26 out of 40) were sworn while over 75% of those who had degrees (70 out of 91) were civilians. For respondents who were sworn but did not have a science-based degree, thirty-one of these identified their primary duties as crime scene investigation (CSI) or crime scene reconstruction while only nine identified a non-CSI area as their primary discipline.

A survey of bloodstain pattern analysts – who we are, what we believe, and what we do

Jeremiah A. Morris Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Criminalistics Laboratory

[email protected]

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Figure 1—Respondents grouped by gender Figure 2—Respondents grouped by age

Figure 3—Respondents grouped by sworn status Figure 4—Respondents grouped by forensic experience

Figure 5—Respondents grouped by BPA priority Figure 6—Respondents grouped by forensic discipline

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According to the survey, most BPA is currently being performed by state and local analysts who have BPA as their secondary discipline and either crime scene investigation or biology/DNA as their primary forensic discipline. Need for Closure The second component of the survey was a seventeen item version of the original forty-two item Need for Closure Scale [11]. The Need for Closure (NFC) is an assessment of an individual’s personal aversion towards ambiguity and indecisiveness. NFC has been proposed to address an individual’s preferences for quick and decisive decisions. The concept of NFC has been discussed regarding latent prints [12] and recently in BPA [13]. Appendix A contains the list of questions within this component of the larger survey and how the answers were scored. In order to not skew the results, participants in the survey were not informed their NFC was being assessed; they simply were asked to determine their agreement with certain statements (1 = completely disagree, 6 = completely agree). Based on the questions presented, the range of possible scores would be -4 to 81 with a theoretical median score of 42. A total of 131 individuals completed the NFC survey. The range of scores was 10 to 66 and an average of 41. Table 1 details the range and average NFC scores for different demographics of the respondents. As can be seen, although there is a wide range in scores for most specific demographics, the average score for most demographic groups trended towards the theoretical median score. No evidence was found for a specific demographic class to have generally high need for closure. This corresponds well with the findings of Osborne et al who reported finding no correlation between an analyst’s

NFC and the use or influence of contextual information during bloodstain pattern classification [13]. Emotions and motivations Respondents were asked to provide their general agreement or disagreement for questions which related to motivational or emotional aspects of their jobs (1 = completely disagree, 6 = completely agree). The questions were based primarily on the Maslach Burnout Inventory [14] as well as a study by Holt et al regarding the work environment of forensic scientists [15]. Table 2 contains the specific questions in this component of the survey as and the average scores (on a scale of 1 to 6) for all respondents). Unlike the NFC scores which trended toward the theoretical median, the average scores for the above

Figure 7—Respondents grouped by bachelor’s

degree Figure 8—Respondents grouped by agency type

Table 1—NFC scores for different demographic groups

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questions often trended in one direction or another. Much discussion could be made regarding the motivational cognitive biases which could stem from these answers; however, only answers to two specific questions will be further examined at this time. The statement “I don't really care about the outcome of my cases as long as I know I did the best job possible” touches on our personal connection to the cases we work. It could be hypothesized that analysts from local laboratories may have a stronger connection with cases they work because the cases come from their communities and they can expect to get information about the cases and victim back stories from local media. Analysts from private or federal agencies, who would be expected to be separated from such emotional influences, could be hypothesized to have less concern with the actual outcome of a specific case. Table 3 contains a breakdown regarding the connection individuals have with the outcome of a case based on specific agency types. As can be seen, the average responses do not support either of the above hypotheses. One concern regarding the previously discussed NFC survey is the survey questions deal predominantly with an individual’s personal life rather instead of their professional life. A legitimate question about this scale is whether or not a high NFC score as measured by aspects of one’s personal life would also translate into a high NFC in the professional life. The statement “It bothers me when I cannot provide an answer to a client’s question or when my report statements my findings are inconclusive” touches on this very issue. Although the average score for all respondents was 2.9 – or “somewhat disagree” – a total of

seventeen respondents indicated they either agreed or strongly agreed with this statement. This potentially indicates a high professional need for closure. However, when evaluating the actual NFC results for these seventeen individuals, no such correlation was established. The NFC range for these seventeen individuals was 10 to 65 with an average score of 43. Therefore, a high NFC score based a survey which deals with personal life preferences may not indicate a high NFC regarding professional life situations. Methodology Having a defined methodology – a standard and repetitive practice – is a critical aspect of any scientific investigation, not just forensic science. Multiple individuals have written about logic and the scientific method as it applies to bloodstain pattern analysis and crime scene reconstruction [1-4]. Others have discussed how a defined and transparent methodology can mitigate the negative influences of cognitive bias [16-17]. Unlike some forensic disciplines which have a single, generally recognized methodology (i.e., ACE-V), bloodstain pattern analysts have yet to coalesce around a single methodology.

Table 2—Average responses regarding motivational or emotional aspects of the job

Table 3—Connection with the case outcome by agency type

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The survey addressed three aspects of an individual’s methodology:

The means of reporting out conclusions when the analysis could not exclude all but one pattern type

The use of other bloodstain patterns at the scene during classification

The use of various forms of non-bloodstain contextual information

The results of the survey regarding how patterns are reported when the analysis indicates more than one mechanism could be possible are depicted in Figure 9. As can be seen, no single approach is utilized by the majority of analysts. There are possible implications for each approach. If the “best explanation” approach is used, readers of the report may not know other options could not be completely excluded. Additionally, if multiple patterns are reported but all given equal weight, it may be unknown by the readers if the static characteristics of the pattern provide more support for one over the other, even if both could be possible explanations. The results of the survey regarding the role of other bloodstain patterns at the scene is depicted in Figure 10. While the majority of respondents stated they use adjacent patterns as part of their classification method, a significant number of individuals preferred to classify each pattern in isolation. The effect these differences have on the ultimate classification conclusions is unknown at this time.

Regarding types of information which are not derived from the static patterns, Figures 11 through 21 depict when respondents would prefer to have access to this information. These figures echo the variation found by Osborne et al who studied the influence contextual information had on pattern classification [13]. Their results, as well as this survey results, show variation in the types and order of information accessed by analysts. This variation is significant because multiple studies in human cognition have demonstrated how exposure to information influences decision making. It needs to be noted the survey only demonstrates variation in the methodologies being used by bloodstain pattern

Figure 9—Methods of reporting bloodstain classifications

Figure 10—Role of other bloodstain patterns during

classification

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Figure 11—Use of victim injury information Figure 12—Use of suspect injury information

Figure 13—Use of first responder actions Figure 14—Use of known bloodstain alterations by others

Figure 15—Use of statements made by the suspect Figure 16—Use of statements made by the victim

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Perspective on cognitive bias Finally, respondents were asked to evaluate certain statements which were meant to determine their understanding and perspective about cognitive bias as it affects bloodstain pattern analysis. Specifically, they were asked to indicate the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with certain statements (1 = completely disagree, 6 = completely agree). The statements as well as the average answers for all respondents is shown in Table 4. In general, respondents generally agreed that cognitive bias was a significant issue in BPA; however, there may be a lack of understanding of how to minimize the negative effects of cognitive bias. There was only a slight tendency to disagree about the ineffectiveness of training in cognitive bias but a general agreement that being mentally strong, technically competent, and having more case information will adequately address cognitive bias. Training in cognition has been specifically recommended by Dror and NIST as a means of combating cognitive bias [18, 19] and research published by Taylor et al demonstrated how case information can potentially cause confirmation bias for

Figure 18—Use of other forensic reports Figure 17—Use of statements made by witnesses

Figure 19—Use of theories of police investigators Figure 20—Use of police reports

Figure 21—Use of conclusions from another bloodstain analyst

analysts. The results of the survey should not be construed to imply one method is more correct than another or that certain approaches have higher uncertainties or error rates than others. Answers to those questions require additional studies.

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Table 4—Average responses regarding cognitive bias in BPA

Table 5—Perspectives on cognitive bias based upon science degree

analysts [5-6]. It should be noted that this survey was conducted prior to the publication of the research by Taylor et al. The survey also shows respondents are more likely to believe they are doing a better job at using safeguards against cognitive bias than their agency and their agency is still doing a better job with these safeguards than the broader BPA community. This progression shows the presence of a “bias blind spot” within analysts regarding how well safeguards are being used against cognitive bias. Bias blinds spots are when individuals consistently believe

they are performing better at a task or are less influenced by information than their colleagues [20, 21]. It shows a potential inability to accurately assess ourselves as individuals. Tables 5 through 8 compare the cognitive bias survey results between different demographic groups. Although no statistical techniques were applied to these comparisons, no meaningful differences appear to exist between the averaged responses for the demographic groups being compared. The bias blind spot regarding the adequacy of dealing with cognitive bias is most pronounced for analysts

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with twenty-one years or more of experience (averaged responses of 4.9, 3.8, and 2.9, respectively). Conclusions The results of a 2014 survey of bloodstain pattern analysts reveal bloodstain pattern analysis is a discipline which has significant variability in who is performing the work, the motivations about the work being performed, the

methodology used for patter classification, and views regarding the existence and influence of cognitive bias in examinations. Although the results of the survey do not reveal any specific trends for these issues for specific demographic groups, the survey results do indicate several areas of potential research with the BPA community.

Table 6—Perspectives on cognitive bias based upon sworn or civilian status

Table 7—Perspectives on cognitive bias based upon forensic discipline

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References 1. Gardner RM. “Defining a Methodology for Bloodstain

Pattern Analysis.” Journal of Forensic Identification, Vol. 56, Issue 4, pp 549-557.

2. Saviano J. “Articulating a Concise Scientific Methodology for Bloodstain Pattern Analysis.” Journal of Forensic Identification, Vol. 55, Issue 4, pp 461-470.

3. Latham HM. “Reasoning, the Scientific Method, and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis – Assuring that the Questions are being Answered Correctly.” Journal of Forensic Identification, Vol. 61, Issue 4, pp 333-340.

4. Latham HM. “Using and Articulating the Scientific Method in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis.” Journal of Forensic Identification, Vol. 61, Issue 5, pp 487-494.

5. Taylor MC, Laber TL, Kish PE, Owens G, Osborne NKP. “The Reliability of Pattern Classification in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Part 1: Bloodstain Patterns on Rigid Non-absorbent Surfaces.” J Forensic Sci, Vol. 61, No. 4, pp 922-927.

6. “The Reliability of Pattern Classification in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, Part 1: Bloodstain Patterns on Rigid Non-absorbent Surfaces.” J Forensic Sci, Vol. 61, No. 4, pp 922-927.

7. Scientific Working Group on Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: Guidelines for the Minimum Educational and Training Requirements for Bloodstain Pattern Analysts. I.A.B.P.A Newsletter, Vol. 24, Number 1, pp 15-19.

8. Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study, and Technology. “Document #18 Standard for Minimum Qualifications and Training to Competency for Friction Ridge Examiner Trainees.” Version 2.0, Issue date: 11/16/2012.

9. Scientific Working Group for Shoeprint and Tire Tread Evidence. “Guide for Minimum Qualifications and Training for a Forensic Footwear and/or Tire Tread Examiner (3/2006).”

10. “Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG) Recommendations.” Version 7.1, 2016-June-9.

11. Roets, A and Van Hiel, A. “Separating ability from need: Clarifying the dimensional structure of the need for closure scale.” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Volume 33, 266-280.

12. David Charlton D, Fraser-Mackenzie PAF, and Dror IE. “Emotional Experiences and Motivating Factors Associated with Fingerprint Analysis.” J Forensic Sci, March 2010, Vol. 55, No. 2, pp 385-393.

13. Osborne NKP, Taylor MC, Healey M, and Zajac R. “Bloodstain pattern classification: Accuracy, effect of contextual information and the role of analyst characteristics.” Science and Justice, Volume 56, pp 123–128.

14. Maslach C and Jackson SE (1996). Maslach Burnout Inventory (3rd ed). Palo Alto, Ca. Consulting Psychologists Press.

15. Holt TJ, Blevins KR, and Waddell Smith R. “Examining the impact of organizational and individual characteristics on forensic scientists’ job stress and satisfaction.” Journal of Crime and Justice, Volume 40, Issue 1, pp 34-49.

16. 16. Triplett M and Schade W. “Practitioner Error vs Deficient Procedures.” Evidence Technology Magazine, Volume 10, Number 3, pp 8-9.

17. Haber RN and Haber L. “Commentary - The culture of science: Bias and forensic evidence.” Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, Volume 2, pp 65–67.

Table 8—Perspectives on cognitive bias based upon years of BPA experience

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18. Dror IE. “Practical Solutions to Cognitive and Human Factor Challenges in Forensic Science.” Forensic Science Policy & Management, Volume 4, pp 1-9.

19. National Institute of Standards and Technology/National Institute of Justice. 2012. Expert working group on human factors in latent print analysis. Latent print examination and human factors: Improving the practice through a systems approach. Washington, DC: US Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology.

20. Pronin E, Lin DY, and Ross L. “The Bias Blind Spot: Perceptions of Bias in Self Versus Others.” Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Volume 28, Number 3, pp 369-381.

21. Pronin E, Gilovich T, Ross L. “Objectivity in the Eye of the Beholder: Divergent Perceptions of Bias in Self Versus Others.” Psychological Review, Volume 111, Number 3, pp 781–799.

Appendix – Need for Closure Survey Mark the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of these statements using the following scale:

1 = strongly disagree and 6 = strong agree. Add together the scores for questions that are not asterisked. Then subtract the scores for the questions that are asterisked (questions 2, 7, and 8).

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Nomination for Distinguished Member

Nominee ___________________________________________________________________

(LAST) (FIRST) (MIDDLE)

International Time Zone of Nominee _________________________________

The Distinguished Member of the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts is

a position to be held by members of the Association as described in the Constitution and By

Laws Section 2, Article D (Revised October 1995)

“Persons who have rendered significant service to the discipline and/or the Association or

achieved special qualifications in the bloodstain evidence field, may be invited to become a

Distinguished Member.”

Statement of qualifications of nominee and your reasons for their nomination:

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Nominator Signature _____________________________________ Date _________________

Name/Mailing Address/ Phone Number of Nominator

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

MUST BE SUBMITTED 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Send Nomination to:

IABPA

12139 E Makohoh Trl

Tucson AZ

85749-8179

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Application for Promotion

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________

(LAST) (FIRST) (MIDDLE) (Member #)s:

Agency:________________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

E-mail :_________________________________________________________________________

Business Phone: ( )__________________________

International Time Zone ___________________________

Length of Time as IABPA Provisional Member: Years:_______ Months:________

Length of Time in Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation Casework and/or Research:

Years: ___________ Months: __________

Bloodstain pattern interpretation experience (the following is not a requirement for promotion – for general infor-

mation only):

Briefly describe your background in each area; including the approximate number of crime scenes you have exam-

ined, the number of times that you have testified as an expert and any instructing experience. Provide only the ex-

perience that applies to bloodstain pattern interpretation training, crime scene work, testimony, and instructing.

Training Received: ________________________________________________________

Crime Scene Experience: ___________________________________________________

Courtroom Testimony :___________________________________________________

Other Relevant Experience: ________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Teaching Experience: ____________________________________________________

Professional References (list two):

Name/Mailing Address/Phone E-Mail address

___________________________________________ _______________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

Name/Mailing Address/Phone E-Mail address

___________________________________________ _______________________

___________________________________________

___________________________________________

Signature Date

___________________________ ____________

THIS FORM MUST BE SUBMITTED 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Send this request to:

IABPA

12139 EAST MAKOHOH TRL

TUCSON AZ 857498179

Or: [email protected] .

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Daniel Rahn Memorial Grant Daniel J. Rahn 1946-2002

Purpose: The purpose of the grant is to encourage research in BPA and to enable

that research to reach the BPA community. Eligbility: Applicants will either be paid up IABPA full or associate members or

nominees of an IABPA full member. Evidence of application for IABPA membership by the grant submission date will be satisfactory

Preference will be given to those who are not previous recipients of the award

Administration: The grant is administered as a two part award: Part 1: a small start-up grant to the successful applicant. Up to US$2000 will be available to meet the

costs of materials, consumables, literature review and other legitimate project costs Part 2: a travel and publication grant to enable researcher to communicate his/her research results to

the BPA community. Up to US$2000 (depending on the budget for Part 1) will be available to assist the research travel to the annual IABPA conference in order to present research findings in what will be known as the “Dan Rahn Memorial Research Lecture”.

The IABPA's official publication, Journal of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis, reserves first publication rights to this research product. Any publication costs may also be recovered from this part of the award.

Total grant for research costs and travel will not exceed US$3,000. In addition to the award amount, the IABPA will waive the IABPA conference fee for the presenter as well as provide lodging to that presenter commensurate with the duration of the conference attended.

Submission Requirements: The project proposal should be structured under the following headings:

1. Statement of the problem be investigated and hypotheses to be tested. 2. Literature review. 3. Methods, including a discussion of any issues relating to the harvesting, handling, transport

and/or disposal of human body fluids. These must be dealt with explicitly within the proposal and should meet the accepted protocols for the jurisdiction in which the research is being conducted.

4. Resources, including any additional funding available from other sources. 5. Evidence of ethics committee approval if relevant. 6. Project budget, including the amount requested from the IABPA under Parts 1 and 2 of the

grant. 7. Current curriculum vitae of researchers including contact information and cites for current or

previous Daniel Rahn Grants awarded to any of the research applicants. 8. Contact details of applicants including e-mail addresses. 9. Evidence of IABPA membership status or a letter of nomination from an IABPA full member.

Application deadline: September 01

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Proposals should be submitted in electronic form to the Secretary/Treasurer of the IABPA at [email protected]. Applicants will be notified the following month (October) Interim and final reports are due to the IABPA according to the timetable The grant recipient is strongly encouraged to present the project results at the annual IABPA meeting All submissions should be in .pdf electronic format All other correspondence will be by e-mail only An IABPA PowerPoint template will be provided for the Dan Rahn Memorial lecture presentation Application Assessment: Proposals will be judged on the following criteria:

Timetable: September 01 → Applications due. Proposals should be sent by email to the Secretary/Treasurer of

the IABPA at [email protected]. The deadline of September 01 is firm with no extensions. October (at IABPA conference) → Successful applicant announced. Select one of the two alternative timetables; November 01 or February 01 → Start-up grant money transferred to successful applicant. January 15 or April 15 → Interim Research report #1 due. April 01 of July 01 Interim Research report #2 due. October (at IABPA Conference) → Final report submitted in publication format. Conference

presentation: Dan Rahn Memorial Research Lecture. Reimbursement upon production of expenditure receipts.

November → Publication submitted to the Journal of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Criterion Points Description

1. Is the problem being investigated relevant and useful to BPA?

10 Statement of problem - what needs to be investigated and why

2. Does the researcher know the rele-vant BPA/forensic background?

5 Literature - demonstrate your knowledge of what has been done on this topic and where your research fits in to the ongoing investigation of the problem

3. Is the experimental design sound? 10 Method - overview of how you plan to investigate the problem

4. Does the researcher have adequate support to complete the project?

5 Support – demonstrate you have adequate resources to complete the project including any collaborative assis-tance and/or supervision

5. Are there legitimate expenses to complete the project?

5 Expenses – An accounting of how you plan to utilize the funding?

6. Is there a plan to present the re-search findings at the annual IABPA conference and publish in the journal of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis?

10 Presentation of Results – Demonstrate an intent to at-tend the annual conference, including a statement of the likely presenter of the findings In addition indicate your plan for publication of the results of the research.

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Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Basic Course

Course Requirements Purpose. A course of instruction designed for investigators, crime scene technicians, forensic technicians, and others involved in criminal and medical-legal investigations and crime scene analysis. The course is intended to develop a fundamental knowledge of the discipline of bloodstain pattern analysis. The course should illustrate to the student basic principals of bloodstain pattern analysis and the practical application of the discipline to actual casework. The course syllabus is not intended to create an “instant” expert. Course Objectives. Upon completion of the course the student should:

Demonstrate knowledge of the development, history and advancement of bloodstain pattern analysis.

Demonstrate knowledge of the inherent limitations of bloodstain pattern analysis.

Recognize key bloodstain patterns and understand the mechanism by which they are created.

Determine impact angles for individual bloodstains.

Determine a probable point (area) of convergence for a group of bloodstains.

Demonstrate the ability to combine point (area) of convergence with impact angle to locate the probable point of origin for a given blood spatter event.

Recognize proper protective measures to follow in a bloodstained scene.

Demonstrate knowledge of the methods of documenting bloodstain scenes, both photographically and in written format.

Demonstrate an ability to evaluate a basic bloodstain pattern scene. Course Length. The course of instruction should be a minimum of forty hours in length. Course Content. The course should include instruction in the following areas: I. Introduction to Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. A discussion and lecture designed to introduce the student to the basic tenets of bloodstain pattern analysis, its function and purpose as a forensic discipline, as well as a historical review of its development. This section should include lecture directed at: 1. The purpose and function of bloodstain pattern analysis in a modern investigation.

2. The history of bloodstain pattern analysis, including the formation and purpose of the International

Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts.

3. The application of basic scientific method in bloodstain pattern analysis. To include: a. What scientific method entails. b. How to develop objective case oriented experiments.

4. A discussion of biohazards associated with bloodstain patterns and the appropriate personal protection

techniques.

5. Characteristics of liquid blood and blood droplets under force: a. The general nature of liquids and in particular the incompressibility of liquids. b. The effects of surface tension on individual droplets and pools of blood. c. The effects of terminal velocity on free falling droplets.

6. Characteristics of blood droplets on impact:

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a. The effect of the volume on individual droplets. b. The effect of target surface characteristics. c. Limitations of determining distance fallen for individual droplets. d. The relationship of angle of impact to stain shape.

7. Limitations in bloodstain pattern analysis conclusions. a. General conclusion information (consistent, inconsistent). b. Impact angle determinations. c. Point of origin determinations. d. Pattern transfer determinations (consistent v. identification).

II. Recognition and Creation of Basic Stain Patterns. A combination of lecture and practical designed to lead the student through a primarily hands-on process of the cause and effect relationships that exist with regard to the creation of bloodstain patterns. This section should include lecture and practical directed at understanding: 1. Passive Stains:

a. Drip Patterns. b. Flow Patterns. c. Pools. d. Saturation stains.

2.Projected and Impact Spatter stains: a. Impact Patterns. b. Splashes. c. Cast-off Patterns. d. Arterial Spurt and Gush Patterns. e. Expirated Bloodstain Patterns.

3. Transfer Stains: a. Wipe Patterns. b. Swipe Patterns. c. Transfer/Contact Patterns.

4. Misc. Patterns:

a. Void Patterns. b. Fly Spot Patterns. c. Bubble Rings. d. Perimeter/Skeletonized Bloodstains.

III. Point (Area) of Origin Determinations. Lecture and practical exercises that lead the student through the process of establishing the probable point (area) of origin for an impact pattern and the various methods available to an analyst to make the point (area) of origin determination. This section should include at the minimum, both lecture and a pass or fail practical that requires each student to: 1. Evaluate and select appropriate stains for inclusion (considering stain shape, stain location in the pattern, and

number of stains).

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2. Evaluate and determine the impact angle for a variety of well-formed bloodstains, to an acceptable error level of +/- five degrees.

3. Recognize and determine directionality in a variety of bloodstain shapes.

4. Evaluate and determine point (area) of convergence.

5. Apply “stringing” and/or mathematical methods for point (area) of origin determinations.

6. Understand the limitations of point (area) of origin determinations, recognizing when point (area) of origin determinations are either impractical or impossible.

7. Discuss and if possible use, forensic software designed for making point (area) of origin determinations. IV. Correlation of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis With Other Forensic Evidence. Lecture and demonstration with examples of how bloodstain pattern analysis must fit with other known evidence, using a holistic approach. This section should include at a minimum: 1. The use and limitations of presumptive tests for blood.

2. The importance of identification of bloodstain patterns to a specific source through DNA/Serology

technology.

3. The correlation of bloodstain patterns to wound pathology.

4. The sequencing of bloodstain pattern events. V. Documenting Bloodstain Patterns. Lecture and practical demonstrating current methods of photography, report writing, diagramming and the function of additional enhancement techniques (e.g. luminol). This section should include: 1. Demonstration of photography techniques, illustrating the use of overall, mid-range and close-up photographs

to document bloodstain patterns.

2. Proper use of scale and other photography enhancement devices (e.g. ABFO scales, Roadmapping techniques, stain labeling)

3. General discussion of latent blood visualization using chemicals.

4. Report writing techniques.

5. General discussion of presenting bloodstain pattern analysis testimony at legal proceedings. VI. Associated Practical Exercises. The course at a minimum will include the following practical exercises: 1. Stain Shape as a Function of Impact Angle. Production of stains at varying angles between 10-90 degrees

on different surfaces. Demonstrating the reproducibility of the various stain shapes and the effect of surface

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characteristics on those shapes.

2. Diameter of Individual Stains as a Function of Distance Fallen and Droplet Volume. Production of a variety of droplets from various distances and of different droplet volumes and surface characteristics, illustrating the limitations present in evaluating distance fallen.

3. Creation and Causation of Cast-off Patterns. Production of cast-off patterns by various objects. Illustrating the mechanism and limitations in evaluation of cast-off pattern stains.

4. Creation of Impact Spatter Resulting From Blunt Trauma Force. The creation and evaluation of spatter resulting from force associated with physical blows. The practical should demonstrate clearly the correlation of force to spatter size and its effect on: variance in the range of stain sizes for a given pattern, preponderant stain size, and stain distribution.

5. Creation of Impact Spatter Resulting From Explosive Force. The creation and evaluation of spatter resulting from gunshot. The practical should show the correlation between spatter dispersion and source-to-target distance and the differences between forward spatter and back spatter.

6. Creation of Projected Blood Patterns. Creation of spurt and gush type stains both on vertical and horizontal targets.

7. Creation of Transfer Patterns. The creation of a variety of transfer pattern stains using various objects. Demonstrating the limitations present in the recognition and individualization of transfer patterns.

8. Creation and Recognition of Blood Trails. Creation of blood trails under various conditions, showing the correlation of horizontal motion of blood at various speeds to the resulting individual stain shapes.

9. Drying Times of Blood. A practical demonstrating the process of blood droplet drying times in relation to stain size.

VII. Administrative Requirements. The course should provide or include the following: 1. A pretest designed to test the students understanding of the key objectives.

2. A practical based or written examination process designed to test the student’s comprehension of the key

objectives.

3. A course handbook or manual, which describes the practical exercises and provides space for writing notes and observations.

4. The creation of individual standards of key bloodstains patterns, by each student.

5. A certificate of completion describing the dates of training, the number of hours completed, the name of the instructor(s) and the location of training.

6. A course evaluation form, maintained by the instructor.

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Bloodstain Training United States and Canada

Toronto Police Forensics Conference June 6-9, 2017 Toronto, ON

Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis June 12-16, 2017 West Palm Beach, FL Instructor: Jan Johnson (Forensic Pieces)

The Fluid Dynamics of Bloodstain Pattern Formation June 19-23, 2017 Edmonton, AB

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Symposium July 20-21, 2017 Northwest Kansas Technical College, Goodland, Kansas

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 1

August 7-11, 2017 Tulsa Police Department, Tulsa, OK Instructor: Everett Baxter, Jr.

International Association of Forensic Sciences Conference August 21-25, 2017 Toronto, ON

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis II August 21-25, 2017 Loveland Police Department, Loveland, CO Instructor: Bevel, Gardner & Associates

Advanced Bloodstain Pattern Analysis August 28 – September 1, 2017 Round Rock, TX Instructor: Jan Johnson (Forensic Pieces)

Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Course September 4-8, 2017 Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Bunnell, FL Instructors: Stuart H. James and Anna Cox

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis I September 11-15, 2017 NESPIN, Franklin, MA Instructors: Bevel, Gardner & Associates

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis I September 18-22, 2017 Yukon Police Department, Yukon, OK Instructors: Bevel, Gardner, & Associates

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis II October 2-6, 2017 Denton Police Department, Denton, TX Instructors: Bevel, Gardner & Associates

Basic Bloodstain Pattern Recognition

October 16-20, 2017 Canadian Police College, Ottawa, ON

Basic Bloodstain Pattern Recognition

October 16-20, 2017 Canadian Police College, Ottawa, ON

Basic Bloodstain Pattern Recognition Course

December 4-8, 2017 Lee County Sheriff's Office, Fort Myers, FL Instructor: Craig C. Moore

Introductory Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Workshop December 4—8, 2017 Miami-Dade Public Safety Training Institute, Doral, FL Instructor: Toby Wolson

Documenting, Reporting, and Presenting Bloodstain Evi-dence

December 11-15, 2017 Lee County Sheriff's Office, Fort Myers, FL Instructor: Craig C. Moore

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Bloodstain Training Europe and Asia

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Course June 14-18, 2017 Naples, Italy

Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (English language instruction) August 28-September 1, 2017 Usingen, Germany Instructor - MD Dr. Silke Brodbeck

Advanced Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (English language instruction) October 9-13, 2017 Usingen, Germany Instructor - MD Dr. Silke Brodbeck

Advanced BPA Training October 17-21, 2017 Thames Valley Police Training College, near Reading, UK

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Training Course October 23-27, 2017 Loci Forensics B.V.

Bloodstain Pattern Study (Advanced) November 13-17, 2017 Marseille, France Instructor: Philippe Esperança

Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (English language instruction) November 27 - December 1, 2017 Usingen, Germany Instructor - MD Dr. Silke Brodbeck

Scientific Working Group on Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Recommended guidelines and resources for BPA Bloodstain Pattern Analysis subcommittee of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science Development of standards and guidelines related to bloodstain pattern analysis Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Video Collection High speed digital video analysis of bloodstain pattern formation from common bloodletting mechanisms. BPA-related Presentations at the 2012 Impression Pattern Evidence Symposium Recorded webinar on presentations on approximation of blood drop trajectory, contextual bias, collection of pattern evidence from a body, reasoning and the scientific method in BPA, and developing and implementing BPA SOPs. Bloodstain Documentation and Collection Methods Recorded webinar on a methodology for the documentation, collection, and preservation of blood evidence. Swipes, Wipes and Transfer Impressions Recorded webinar on the different types of these patterns and recognizing the value of them. Error & Uncertainty in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Recorded webinar on a general introduction to the concepts of error and uncertainty and how these concepts apply to quantita-tive and qualitative aspects of bloodstain pattern analysis.

Online Resources

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Recent BPA Articles Published in the Scientific Literature

Theresa Stotesbury, Mike Illes, Paul Wilson, Andrew J. Vreugdenhil, The application of silicon sol–gel technology to forensic blood substitute development: Investigation of the spreading dynamics onto a paper surface, Forensic Science International, Volume 275, June 2017, Pages 308-313. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073817301317 S. McShine, K. Suhling, A. Beavil, B. Daniel and N. Frascione, The applicability of fluorescence lifetime to determine the time since the deposition of biological stains, Anal. Methods, 2017,9, pages 2007-2013. DOI: 10.1039/C6AY03099H http://pubs.rsc.org/-/content/articlelanding/2017/ay/c6ay03099h#!divAbstract José F.Q. Pereira, Carolina S. Silva, Maria Júlia L. Vieira, Maria Fernanda Pimentel, André Braz, Ricardo S. Honorato, Evaluation and identification of blood stains with handheld NIR spectrometer, Microchemical Journal, Volume 133, July 2017, Pages 561-566. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0026265X16306208 Ramsthaler F, Kröll AK. & Kettner M. “Duration and intensity of chemiluminescence of different luminol kits - Effect of varied storage times on bloodstain identification.” Rechtsmedizin (2017), pp 1-6. doi:10.1007/s00194-017-0150-5 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00194-017-0150-5 Klein A., Gehl, A., Reicherdt, L. et al., Interpretation von Schleuderspuren im Rahmen der Blutspurenmusteranalyse Tradierte Ansätze und ihre „pitfalls“ (Interpretation of centrifugal stains within the framework of bloodstain pattern analysis – Traditional approaches and their “pitfalls”) Rechtsmedizin (2017) 27: 93. doi:10.1007/s00194-017-0146-1 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00194-017-0146-1 Xingyu Li X, Jingyao Li, Stephen Michielsen. “Effect of yarn structure on wicking and its impact on bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) on woven cotton fabrics.” Forensic Science International, Volume 276, pp 41–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.04.011 Yuen, S. K.Y., Taylor, M. C., Owens, G. and Elliot, D. A. (2017), The Reliability of Swipe/Wipe Classification and Directionality Determination Methods in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. J Forensic Sci. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.13298 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1556-4029.13298/full Ramsthaler, F., Kröll, AK., Verhoff, M. et al. “Effect of anticoagulation therapy on drying times in bloodstain pattern analysis.” Int J Legal Med (2017). doi:10.1007/s00414-017-1599-1 http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00414-017-1599-1 Isabella Aquila, Matteo A Sacco, Santo Gratteri, Ciro Di Nunzio, Pietrantonio Ricci. Sudden death by rupture of a varicose vein: Case report and review of literature. Medico-Legal Journal. Vol 85, Issue 1, pp. 47 – 50. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0025817216678712