The MNIAI supports law enforcement personnel
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!

Jayme Closs Case Study scheduled for 2021!

Detective Jeffrey Nelson from the Baron County, Wisconsin Sheriff's Office, Special Agent Joseph Welsch from the Wisconsin DOJ-Division of Criminal Investigation and Special Agent Jon Hauser from the FBI will present the Jayme Closs murder case involving the murders of her parents.This presentation will take place on Friday, September 10, 2021 from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and will be the only course presented on this date.

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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News and info from the IAI

                    The IAI                         
                       Online Workshops Available 
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The IAI, in an effort to support forensic education during this time of necessary distancing, has elected to offer a select number of workshops in an online format. These workshops will be attended as a limited opportunity, live event, and will require pre-registration as the number of attendees will be limited. Six workshops are now available for registration. These courses have been approved for Certification Credit as listed.  For more information and registration for these courses, visit the Online Workshops Webpage.
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Course Name                    Date                                           Time 
What if I Don’t Agree? Approaches to Conflict Resolution in Latent Print Analysis                   
                                                 
Part 1                        Oct 26, 2020                          12 pm - 2 pm EST
Part 2                        Oct 29, 2020                          12 pm - 2 pm EST                                                    
Instructor(s)
Heather Conner and Penny Dechant

Cost $100

This course has been approved for credit by the IAI Latent Print Certification Board.
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Course Name                    Date                                        Time
Accuracy in Feature Selection                                         
                                    Nov 4, 2020                          11 am - 3 pm EST
                                                                                                 
Instructor(s)
Carey Hall

Cost $100

This course has been approved for credit by the IAI Latent Print Certification Board.
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Course Name                    Date                                        Time
Latent Print Testimony: How to be Transparent without feeling Naked                               
                                   Nov 11, 2020                     10:30 am - 2:30 EST
 
Instructor(s)
Heidi Eldridge

Cost $100

This course has been approved for credit by the IAI Latent Print Certification Board.
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Course Name                  Date                                        Time
New Methods for the Detection of Lead, Copper and Nitrite Residues                      
                                      Nov 18, 2020                      12 pm - 4 pm EST

Instructor(s)
Evan Thompson

Cost $125
This course has been approved for credit by the IAI Crime Scene Certification Board.

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Course Name                      Date                                     Time
Crime Scene Management                                                     
                                        Dec 2, 2020                     12 pm - 4 pm EST

Instructor(s)
Larry Stringham

Cost $100
This course has been approved for credit by the IAI Crime Scene Certification Board.
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Course Name                        Date                                      Time
Meeting the CSI Effect Head On: Crime Scene Diagrams, 360 Degree Panoramas, and Virtual Tours Oh My!
                                        Dec 14, 2020                    12 pm - 4 pm EST
                                                         
Instructor(s)
Stephanie Hoffman 

Cost $100

This course has been approved for credit by the IAI Crime Scene Certification Board.
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We hope to see you online in one of these courses soon, and at our Annual Conference in Nashville TN August 1-7, 2021!
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.
Please join the OSAC Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science Public Update Meeting on September 30, 2020.

OSAC works to strengthen forensic science by facilitating the development of technically sound standards and promoting the use of those standards by the forensic science community. OSAC's more than 550 members and 250 affiliates draft and evaluate forensic science standards through a transparent, consensus-based process that allows for participation and comment by all stakeholders.

This virtual event will feature presentations from the chairs of OSAC's Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB) and five Scientific Area Committees. Each presenter will describe the standards their unit is working on and discuss research gaps, challenges, and priorities for the coming year. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

See the agenda & register
     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.
Please click here to read an open
letter from the ​IAI regarding Certifications.