TECHBeat, February 2018

• NCJ Number: 251555
• Date Published: February 2018
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2014-IJ-CX-K404
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description; Newsletter

Annotation

This issue contains five feature articles and a news section on recent and planned activities, products, and programs related to advances and innovative uses of technology in the criminal justice field.

Abstract

One feature article, "ALS Sheds a Different Light on Crime Scenes," summarizes the content of the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence's (FTCoE's) "Landscape Study of Alternative Light Sources," which provides a basic understanding of this technology's uses, benefits, and limitations. It includes a glossary, case studies, and information on products currently available on the market. A second feature article, "Certified Field Search Instructors Share Their Knowledge," profiles the features and benefits of the "Certified Field Search Instructors" (CFSI) program. In the 4 years that Dr. Jim Tanner has been teaching CFSI classes on behalf of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Justice Technology Information Center (JTIC), 129 individuals have earned certification to train their coworkers in the features and uses of Field Search software, which enables users to quickly search a target computer and create a detailed report of the findings. A third feature article, "Institutions of Higher Learning Enthused About Free Active Shooter Video" reports on the availability of an unbranded active shooter training video specifically for higher education institutions. The free video enables institutions to add their own branding and message to the opening and closing frames. A fourth feature article, "State and Federal Prison Population Declined in 2016," features a report on prison admissions in 2016 compared to 2015. A total of 2,300 fewer persons were admitted to prisons in 2016 compared to 2015. The fifth feature article, "Linking Suspects to Crime Scenes With Particle Populations," describes research into the forensic value of "very small particles" in solving crimes.