CSAFE Learning is offering two webinars in May for forensic practitioners and legal professionals. The first webinar is May 4 and will focus on providing accurate descriptions of DNA results in forensic testimony and reports. The May 19 webinar will describe the computer vision-based techniques of matching class characteristics of crime scene evidence to a database of retail footwear tread photos.
More information about each webinar, including short descriptions and dates, is listed below.
The webinars are free and open to the public, but researchers and members of the forensic science and legal communities are encouraged to attend. Each live session will allow for discussion and questions. To enroll, visit https://learn.forensicstats.org.
CSAFE Learning webinars are sponsored by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through cooperative agreement 70NANB20H019.
Intentional Language in Forensic DNA Testimony and Reporting
May 4, 11 a.m.-noon CT
Tiffany Roy
Forensic DNA expert, ForensicAid
This webinar is a practical training tool for criminal justice training partners and DNA analysts who intend to provide clear and accurate descriptions of DNA results in forensic testimony and reports. Roy will include real-life examples of good reporting practices and poor testimony practices from transcripts with immediate tips on how to avoid making common mistakes.
Attendees will obtain tools to empower DNA results more clearly and concisely in their reporting and testimony. This webinar will be useful for forensic DNA analysts to identify trouble spots in testimony and reporting language, as well as provide tips and tricks for avoiding these trouble spots.
Creating a Forensic Database of Footwear Impressions from Retail Tread Photos
May 19, 1-2 p.m. CT
Charless Fowlkes
Professor of computer science at the University of California, Irvine
Shoe tread impressions are one of the most common types of evidence left at crime scenes. This webinar will describe the development and evaluation of computer vision-based techniques for automatically matching class characteristics of crime scene evidence to a large-scale database of commercial footwear tread photos. Attendees will learn about the application of computer vision and machine learning research to forensic footwear analysis. Learn more about CSAFE’s work on footwear impression analysis at https://forensicstats.org/footwear/.
