Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our 2020 Fall Educational Conference has been canceled. MNIAI President Nik Smith has rescheduled to fall of 2021. See information below in 2021 Conference News.

Welcome to the MNIAI website!

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Chartered in 1964, the Minnesota Division of the International Association for Identification (MNIAI) holds an annual educational conference devoted to continuing education for the forensic sciences, crime scene investigation and identification fields. Typically held in the fall, the conference is two days long.

2021 Conference News!

President Nik Smith has been successful in scheduling the MNIAI Fall Educational Conference for 2021! It is at the same venue as the canceled 2020 Conference;
The Inn on Lake Superior, Duluth. Conference dates are September 8-10, 2021. Check back often for registration availability and conference agenda.

The MNIAI hopes to see you in Duluth!

Justice Pays Scholarship Contest for 2020/2021

Whether it's legal oriented, or another field, Justice Pays believes in having a solid core education. The scholarship has a grand prize of $1,000 for the student that best showcases their interest in pursuing a degree. For more information, click here.
                      We're on Facebook!
  • Click the Facebook icon found in the upper right corner of this page.
  • Log into Facebook. (The group name is Minnesota Division of the International Association for Identification).
  • Click the 'join' button. You'll be asked to answer two questions in order to join the group.​ ​
​                                        Check it out!

30-45 minute online study for Forensic Latent Print Examiners conducted by Florida International University.
               
​                   Click here for information.

DOJ Notice of Public Comment on
​Advancing Forensic Science.
Click here for information provided by the IAI.

Research Study Opportunity:
Error Rate Estimates for
Palm Impression Comparisons
For information click here.

Handwriting and Footwear Black Box Studies
​Volunteers Needed!
Click here for more information.

MNIAI Charter Member, past MNIAI President, Secretary/Treasurer and Historian
and past IAI President (1970-71)
John Douthit passed away on May 15, 2019; one month and a day after his 99th birthday.
John was the oldest living member of
both the MNIAI and the IAI.
Rest in Peace, John

MNIAI Online Store

MNIAI Challenge Coin
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MNIAI Coin

News and info from the IAI

Begun in 1915, the International Association for Identification (IAI) is the oldest forensic science organization in the United States and one of the oldest in the world. The IAI is dedicated to the development of the forensic sciences and to the continued education and certification of practicing forensic scientists and crime scene investigators.

IAI Educational
​Conference News

2020 IAI Conference in Florida has been canceled.

     OSAC Standards Bulletin - July 2020

The Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science monthly Standards Bulletin is now available. Learn about the six latest standards added to the OSAC Registry, the forensic science standards currently open for comment, and the new documents being initiated.

READ MORE

​Needs Assessment of Forensic Laboratories and Medical Examiner/Coroner Offices Report to Congress

​The Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations (CFSO) applauds the Department of Justice for the completion of the Needs Assessment of Forensic Laboratories and Medical Examiner/Coroner Offices Report to Congress. Over the past twenty years forensic science has evolved, becoming more reliable and discriminating. Its use to fight crime and exonerate those who are innocent has expanded tremendously. Forensic science is now so routinely used in the courtroom and expected by jurors that the nation’s front line forensic examiners struggle to keep up with the demand. The CFSO is pleased that Congress included their request for this needs assessment in the 2016 Justice for All Reauthorization Act to determine the true cost of providing valid and reliable forensic science testimony by scientists in public laboratories.

CFSO Chair Matthew Gamette stated, “As I remarked in testimony before Congress this year, we need the continued support of the federal government to fund efforts to increase forensic laboratory and medical examiner capacity, capability, and training. Forensic Science Service Providers have significantly decreased backlogs, addressed turnaround times, and advanced forensic science when the resources are available for them to do so. The needs assessment provides a remarkable opportunity for the federal government to make the investment necessary for forensic services in the United States to lead the world. Making this investment now will ensure that the needs of the criminal justice system are met, that the correct people are held responsible for their crimes, and that victims of crime are able to see justice in their cases."

The report concludes there is not sufficient funding to process increasing amounts of forensic evidence. It states that the counties, state, local and tribal crime laboratories and medical examiner/coroner offices have a $640 million deficit for normal operations, but the increase of opioid expenditures adds another $270 million to that cost.

The report spent the last two years meeting with key forensic science providers and stakeholders to determine the state of the community and what resources are needed to keep up with the growing demand for forensic examinations. Read report.

AAFS Standards Board Applications
Deadline: July 10, 2020

The AAFS Standards Board (ASB) is currently accepting applications for openings in the consensus bodies.

In order to maintain a specific balance across interest categories, the ASB is soliciting members only in the interest categories listed. Click here for a detailed description of the Interest Categories.

Please download and complete the application by July 10, 2020 and send it to asb@aafs.org.

Anthropology: General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers, User – Non-Government.

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis: General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organizations, Producers.

Disaster Victim Identification: General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers, User – Non-Government.

DNA: General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers, User – Non-Government.

Dogs and Sensors: General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers, User – Non-Government.

Firearms and Toolmarks: General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers, User – Non-Government.

Footwear and Tire Tracks: General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers, User – Non-Government.

Forensic Document Examination: Academics and Researchers, General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers.

Friction Ridge: Academics and Researchers, General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers, User – Non-Government.

Medicolegal Death Investigation: General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers, User – Non-Government.

Toxicology: General Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers.

Wildlife: G eneral Interest, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice, Organization, Producers, User – Non-Government.

The ASB works closely with other SDOs, professional organizations, and committees to ensure that we do not duplicate work undertaken elsewhere to develop standards. We have invited liaisons of such groups to participate in each of the relevant Consensus Body meetings.

All Consensus Body meetings are open to all interested parties, but only members may vote.
Click here for a Calendar of Consensus Body meetings. If you would like to participate in a meeting, please send an email to asb@aafs.org. We will then send you information on how to participate in the web-based meetings.

If you have any questions about the Consensus Bodies, the documents that they are working on, or anything else concerning the ASB, please send an e-mail to asb@aafs.org.

Join the ASB LinkedIn Company Page!

American Academy of Forensic Sciences | Standards Board
Email: asb@aafs.org | Website: www.asbstandardsboard.org

ASB Published Documents

ASB Consensus Body meeting calendar

ASB Consensus Body information and Public Notices
Please click here to read an open
letter from the ​IAI regarding Certifications.