FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK... Carol Henderson

This issue of It’s Evident is the third issue in 2007. Here’s what’s new:

• NCSTL.org's “one-stop-shop” database has grown to over 52,000 records and continues to develop and consolidate forensic-based information;
  
  
• URL–based searches have been developed for www.ncstl.org. NIJ will use this feature to make it easier to share research findings with large groups.
  
  
• NCSTL was responsible for organizing and convening a Community Acceptance Panel regarding Riot control agents as a Less Lethal Technology in April in Washington, D.C. Research Attorney, Marian Daggett, presented and Anjali Swienton, Director of Outreach, and I participated.
  
  
• NCSTL Program and Grants Manager, Diane Gustafson, retired in June. She has been an integral part of the NCSTL team and is our colleague and a dear friend. She will be sorely missed by all of us at the NCSTL!
  
  Ricardo Camacho Zapata recently accepted our offer to be the next NCSTL Program and Grant Compliance Manager. Ricardo brings with him a wealth of experience in grant writing and compliance. He has a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry and a Masters in Business Administration with a major in Human Resources. He has administered projects on science and technology. His most recent position was the Associate Director of the Science on Wheels Educational Center at the University of Puerto Rico.
  
  
• To inform NCSTL’s constituency, which includes law enforcement agents, legal professionals, scientists, engineers, educators, and technologists, NCSTL representatives attended conferences nationally and internationally. In April, Research Attorney, Jeff Chesen, presented on a CSI Effect panel at the NIJ Court Technology Technical Working Group meeting, in Garden Grove, CA. Research Attorney, Catherine Guthrie, presented to a Forensic Entomology class, Entomology and Nematology Department, and to the Law Librarians at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. I was part of a CSI Effect panel at the Louisiana Judges Conference in Lafayette, LA and was a commentator at the National Academy of Sciences Forensic Commission Meeting, in Washington, D.C.
  
  In May, I participated in a web conference in conjunction with Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government’s ASH Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation. This program was entitled, “Fingerprint Analysis: The Role of Research in Fortifying the Forensic Sciences”. Diana Botluk, Director of Research, presented NCSTL information to the Northeast Regional Advisory Council of NCLECTC in St. Pete Beach, FL on May 15, 2007. In February, NCSTL’s Director of Outreach and I, made several presentations at the AAFS Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX.

Stay tuned …

RESEARCH FOCUS
Pharmacological Overview of Calmatives
Marian Daggett, Research Attorney

Often termed interchangeably as chemical calmatives, calmative agents, calmative drugs, and chemical weapons, calmatives are a class of drugs that tend to produce a calming or sedative effect. These agents could be considered for law enforcement applications, such as dispersing a crowd, controlling a riot, or calming a non-compliant offender. This article discusses the science behind calmatives. Full Paper

RESEARCH EXTRA
Review of a Community Acceptance Panel
Leeanne Frazier, Research Attorney

On April 30, 2007, the NCSTL hosted a community acceptance panel (CAP). The topic of this CAP specifically examined the viability of using of less lethal chemical alternatives to control crowds. Full Paper

TECHNOLOGY CORNER
Less Lethal Technologies
Dr. Susan Zucker, Director Technology & Distance Education

Less lethal technologies or weapons are developed to assist law enforcement, military and corrections personnel when lethal force is not appropriate, justified, or available for backup. Less lethal technologies may subdue, confuse, delay, restrain, or incapacitate an aggressor in many different conditions such as prison disturbances, hostage rescues, and riots. Full Paper

FROM THE RESEARCH DESK...
Diana Botluk, Director of Research

NCSTL is pleased to announce a new feature for members that will enable them to share their search results with other interested researchers. To use the new Share Feature, simply log in with your user name, go to the database search page and set your search parameters, then save your search. Find out more

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

During the last three months, my efforts have been spent developing various multimedia projects and brand new informational brochures for the NCSTL. Some of you may have seen these very handsome brochures which feature the NCSTL Cold Case Toolkit, the research database and other educational projects NCSTL produces. Find out 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.