FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK... Carol Henderson

This issue of It’s Evident marks the end of a year which has been very busy and very productive. Here’s what’s new:

• NCSTL.org's “one-stop-shop” database has grown to over 44,000 records and continues to develop and consolidate forensic-based information;


• To inform NCSTL’s constituency which includes law enforcement agents, legal professionals, scientists, engineers, educators, and technologists, NCSTL representatives attended conferences nationally and internationally and made two keynote addresses: Faux-N-Sics: Is CSI the Cause or the Effect? delivered at the New England School of Law’s Law Review Symposium in Boston Massachusetts and The People Speak: A Forum About Our World – A Discussion About Human Rights, Stetson College of Law, Gulfport, FL;


• NCSTL staff engages in training activities. This quarter a workshop entitled How to Conduct Research on the NCSTL Database was conducted at the ASCLD (American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors) Conference in San Francisco, CA. Several information sessions were presented at many venues including: the U.S. Army Trial Defense Service, Regional Defense Counsel, Continental United States Conference, Orlando, FL at which the NCSTL and Expert Testimony was discussed; a delegation of Russian Judges at Stetson in Gulfport, FL was hosted and engaged in an NCSTL information session; the Forensic Resources and Program Update at the Northeast (NLECTC-N.E.), Rome, NY were presented with information on the NCSTL as was the Forensic Resources and Program Update at The Great American Teach-In, Boca Ciega High School, St. Petersburg, FL;


• NCSTL hosted the second international conference on Science, Technology and the Law from November 2-5, 2006 at the Vinoy Hotel in St. Petersburg, FL. It was well attended. Proceedings from the conference are scheduled to be published on the NCSTL website in the first quarter of 2007.

NCSTL anticipates a very active new year and continued growth. We, at NCSTL, wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Stay tuned ….

RESEARCH FOCUS
S.O.S. for S.B.S.? Not quite…
Catherine Guthrie, Staff Researcher

Despite international controversy over the Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) diagnosis, recent cases illustrate that American courts are still willing to admit evidence of SBS through expert testimony and demonstrative exhibits. Full paper

SPECIAL REPORT
Cyber Forensics: Part One
Dr. Susan Zucker, Director Technology & Distance Education

Advances in technology leading to greater data storage capacity, the development and popularity of the Internet, and the huge increase in the number of computer users have led to a plethora of cyber crime. Full paper

FROM THE RESEARCH DESK ... Database and Reference Collection
Diana Botluk, Director of Research

Happy New Year from the NCSTL Research Department! The last few months of 2006 were busy ones for the NCSTL research staff. The NCSTL database has grown to over 44,000 records …Find out more

TECHNOLOGY AND DISTANCE EDUCATION NEWS
Dr. Susan Zucker is Director Technology & Distance Education and Publisher of It's Evident

Happy New Year! The year 2006 finished up with a bang! More ...

NCSTL ACTIVITIES and PRESS: Find out where NCSTL staff has been and what we’ve been doing, as well as information about our publications, professional associations, and the press coverage we have received.