PLEASE TAKE NOTE:
MEMBERSHIP DUES INCREASE STARTS ON JANUARY 1, 2025.
$5.00 INCREASE FROM $25.00 TO $30.00 ANNUALLY.
Welcome to the MNIAI website!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-three days long.
Asking for support for one of our ownPlease help imprisoned ex-Minneapolis Police Officer rebuild his life. Click this link to donate today.
https://alphanews.org/fundraiser-launched-to-help-imprisoned-ex-minneapolis-police-officer-rebuild-his-life/ Thank you! North Carolina Division needs our help! A number of North Carolina IAI members have been devastated by hurricane Helene and the flooding that impacted much of the state. Please consider giving a donation, if you wish to support the NCIAI members in their storm relief efforts.
Click HERE to help. Thank you! Devastating news about our law enforcement and fire department families in Burnsville! Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the slain and everyone at the Burnsville Police Department and Fire Department.
Click here for the story from Alpha News. Fundraiser launched for the families of the fallen. We're on Facebook!
Click here to see information on other Division's 2025 Educational Conferences.
SAVE THE DATES!!Conference dates and location for our 2025 Fall Educational Conference have been confirmed!
Dates: September 24-26 Location: Breezy Point Resort Conference Registration is now available! 
Confirmed Course Titles and Content
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Sponsors providing door prizes for the
2025 Fall Educational Conference.
Conference Sponsorship Options
To register your presence at our Educational Conference, please click here to go to our Sponsorship Registration page. Complete the form and click on the Submit and Pay button. Payment is made via PayPal and the cost per Sponsor is $300.00.
Another option for Sponsorship is Monetary Only. Click here to go to that page. Complete the form and select your preferred option then click on the Pay Now button underneath your choice. Options range from $100.00-$500.00.
The MNIAI thanks our Sponsors for their participation in whatever capacity they choose to use!
Another option for Sponsorship is Monetary Only. Click here to go to that page. Complete the form and select your preferred option then click on the Pay Now button underneath your choice. Options range from $100.00-$500.00.
The MNIAI thanks our Sponsors for their participation in whatever capacity they choose to use!
And now...a word from one of our Advertisers!
Purchase ad space by clicking here. Options are 12-month ads, 6-month ads and 3-month ads.
Purchase ad space by clicking here. Options are 12-month ads, 6-month ads and 3-month ads.
MNIAI Online Store
MNIAI Challenge Coin
Heads Tails
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.
The IAI
Keeping You Informed
IAI 109th Annual Conference News!
The IAI 2025 Conference will be August 10-16, 2025
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
With over 150 lectures and workshops to choose from, you will be able to fill your week-long calendar with topics related to crime scene processing, photography, collection and examination of latent print, footwear, tire track, bloodstain, biometric and other types of impression evidence. The latest techniques, standards, methods and developments are discussed here every year - don't miss your chance to be brought up-to-date!
This Conference is the most cost-effective and time-efficient investment that you can make in your career this year! See full 2025 Conference Program and Register now.
Remember, workshops fill up fast, so make your selections and sign up for your hands on experience choices today!
Go to Hotel Reservations to book your hotel.
Hope to see you in Orlando!!
The IAI 2025 Conference will be
August 10 - 16, 2025
August 10 - 16, 2025
FULL EDUCATIONAL SESSION DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL, 2025.
The IAI Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience a full week of professional, scientific, and technical lectures in the disciplines of Biometric, Bloodstain Pattern, Crime Scene, Digital, Facial Identification, Footwear and Tire Track, Forensic Art, Photography, DNA, Ten Print and Latent Print Evidence.
The IAI conference is the best place for experts in these fields to stay up to date on the latest techniques, technologies and issues in forensic science, and to learn more about quality assurance, standards developments, and the most comprehensive forensic certification program in the world.
More than being the Theme Park Capital of the World, Orlando offers an unparalleled mix of unique experiences and endless options for excitement. There are more than 5,000 restaurants featuring celebrity chefs and local favorites at every price point and for every taste. Orlando is also home for terrific nightlife and entertainment, world-class shopping and great outdoor opportunities, as well. All that and a lot more is awaiting you in Orlando!!
Hope to see you in Orlando!!
The IAI Conference will be held in Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience a full week of professional, scientific, and technical lectures in the disciplines of Biometric, Bloodstain Pattern, Crime Scene, Digital, Facial Identification, Footwear and Tire Track, Forensic Art, Photography, DNA, Ten Print and Latent Print Evidence.
The IAI conference is the best place for experts in these fields to stay up to date on the latest techniques, technologies and issues in forensic science, and to learn more about quality assurance, standards developments, and the most comprehensive forensic certification program in the world.
More than being the Theme Park Capital of the World, Orlando offers an unparalleled mix of unique experiences and endless options for excitement. There are more than 5,000 restaurants featuring celebrity chefs and local favorites at every price point and for every taste. Orlando is also home for terrific nightlife and entertainment, world-class shopping and great outdoor opportunities, as well. All that and a lot more is awaiting you in Orlando!!
Hope to see you in Orlando!!
Call for Presentations!
The call for presentations is now open! The links for submission of a lecture or workshop can be found on the homepage of the IAI website (theiai.org).
The online submission for Lecture, Workshop, and Poster proposals is OPEN!
Consider taking some time (21:14) to watch Episode 5 of The Real IAI Podcast which features the IAI Educational Program Coordinator, Heather Conner. She shares several insights about the conference and some guidelines for lecture/workshop submissions. Find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIdIUn_vfyc
The IAI conference will be held in Orlando, Florida August 10th, through August 16th, 2025.
Do you have a great case or research project that you would be willing to share? How about a management strategy or casework technique you have worked hard to develop? Do you have a skill that those new in the field could practice, or a new way of doing something that all professionals should hear about?
If so, It is time to submit your idea to the IAI for consideration as a presentation to be included in the 2025 IAI Educational Conference.
• Consider a lecture if your information can be shared visually in 30-60 minutes.
• Consider a workshop if your information is best conveyed through hands-on experience in 2-4 hours.
• Consider a poster if you are more comfortable having one-on-one discussions with attendees about your information and/or for topics with a very specific focus.
Lectures and Workshops proposals may be submitted until February 7th, 2025.
For more information regarding, Lectures, Workshops, and Posters/Photos Contest, go to the IAI Website.
Book your hotel now!
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN ENGAGE IN IS PASSING YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON TO OTHERS!
The call for presentations is now open! The links for submission of a lecture or workshop can be found on the homepage of the IAI website (theiai.org).
The online submission for Lecture, Workshop, and Poster proposals is OPEN!
Consider taking some time (21:14) to watch Episode 5 of The Real IAI Podcast which features the IAI Educational Program Coordinator, Heather Conner. She shares several insights about the conference and some guidelines for lecture/workshop submissions. Find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIdIUn_vfyc
The IAI conference will be held in Orlando, Florida August 10th, through August 16th, 2025.
Do you have a great case or research project that you would be willing to share? How about a management strategy or casework technique you have worked hard to develop? Do you have a skill that those new in the field could practice, or a new way of doing something that all professionals should hear about?
If so, It is time to submit your idea to the IAI for consideration as a presentation to be included in the 2025 IAI Educational Conference.
• Consider a lecture if your information can be shared visually in 30-60 minutes.
• Consider a workshop if your information is best conveyed through hands-on experience in 2-4 hours.
• Consider a poster if you are more comfortable having one-on-one discussions with attendees about your information and/or for topics with a very specific focus.
Lectures and Workshops proposals may be submitted until February 7th, 2025.
For more information regarding, Lectures, Workshops, and Posters/Photos Contest, go to the IAI Website.
Book your hotel now!
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN ENGAGE IN IS PASSING YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON TO OTHERS!
IAI IDNews
With continued efforts, the IAI is going green. As of January 1, 2025, printed copies of the IDNews will no longer be available.
The current issue of the new, IDNews ebook is now available online. Please go to https://theiai.org, login, go to the Member Menu, then click on the IDNews Current Issue eBook (April-June 2025) link to read the issue online. To download the current issue as a PDF, go to Publications in the Member Menu and click on IDentification News - Download current issue as a PDF.
Featured Articles:
Thank you for your continued patronage, and happy reading!!
Regards,
The IAI
The current issue of the new, IDNews ebook is now available online. Please go to https://theiai.org, login, go to the Member Menu, then click on the IDNews Current Issue eBook (April-June 2025) link to read the issue online. To download the current issue as a PDF, go to Publications in the Member Menu and click on IDentification News - Download current issue as a PDF.
Featured Articles:
- The Use of AI in Forensic Science: Is the Expert Still in Control?
- In Memoriam: Pat Wertheim & Kasey Wertheim
- The Controversy of Dye Staining Firearm Evidence
- Latent Print Certification Board Update
- Membership Spotlight - Martin Schouten
- Opportunities to Serve on IAI Committees
- Message from the IAI’s Chief Operations Officer
- Bibliothèque
- Certification Board Reports
Thank you for your continued patronage, and happy reading!!
Regards,
The IAI
Regarding Publication Submissions for 2025
Here is your initial notification that if you plan on submitting an article for the next issue of Identification News, Kelly Ayers ([email protected]) will need your submission before March 1.
ID News is published quarterly; therefore, the first 2025 issue will be for January/February/March 2025. This will also be our first digital issue.
For those overseeing IAI Committees or Boards, please let your respective chairs and secretaries know the importance of disseminating any developments and/or changes via ID News!
For your convenience, the following is a working schedule for each quarterly issue of ID News:
Issue 1 Jan/Feb/Mar: deadline for submissions: December 10
Issue 2 Apr/May/Jun: deadline for submissions: March 1
Issue 3 Jul/Aug/Sep: deadline for submissions: June 1
Issue 4 Oct/Nov/Dec: deadline for submissions: September 1
Technical notes: Approximately 520 of your typed words are equivalent to 1 full page within ID News. If your submission includes photos, please send each separately from your article.
ID News is published quarterly; therefore, the first 2025 issue will be for January/February/March 2025. This will also be our first digital issue.
For those overseeing IAI Committees or Boards, please let your respective chairs and secretaries know the importance of disseminating any developments and/or changes via ID News!
For your convenience, the following is a working schedule for each quarterly issue of ID News:
Issue 1 Jan/Feb/Mar: deadline for submissions: December 10
Issue 2 Apr/May/Jun: deadline for submissions: March 1
Issue 3 Jul/Aug/Sep: deadline for submissions: June 1
Issue 4 Oct/Nov/Dec: deadline for submissions: September 1
Technical notes: Approximately 520 of your typed words are equivalent to 1 full page within ID News. If your submission includes photos, please send each separately from your article.
IAI Forms the Division Interaction and
Affairs Committee
My dear friends and fellow members of the Minnesota Division of the IAI,
The IAI has decided to make the “Division Affairs Committee” a permanent standing committee, per the By-laws:
Section 8.20 Division Interaction & Affairs Committee.
(a.) Purpose. This committee shall advise the President on the support of and advocacy with the
divisions.
(b.) Composition. The committee shall consist of an odd number of members with a minimum of three
(3) to a maximum of seven (7) members. The Chairperson shall be the Division Representative. All other
members shall be appointed by the President by October 1 after assuming office. The term of
appointment for the appointed members shall last until September 30.
(c.) Voting. All the members of the committee, to include the Chairperson, shall have the right to vote at committee meetings.
(d.) Other duties. The Committee shall perform such other duties as the President shall prescribe.
2022-2023 Appointed members
Kelly Ayers, WV, USA - Chair
Larry Stringham, FL, USA
Mike Wisniewski, OH, USA
Jason Cole, VA, USA
Brian Dew, NC, USA
Penny Dechant, AZ, USA
Kasey Gizler, PA, USA
It is my pleasure to have the Minnesota Division to be one of my appointed Divisions to provide outreach too as a member of this committee.
As you can see, the Division Representative (Kelly Ayers) has been assigned as the chairperson for this committee and appreciates your communication with her to include completing the yearly survey of your Division operations, as it is shared with the IAI Board of Directors and Officers at the yearly IAI conference. As the chairperson, Kelly is always happy to provide any communications between the IAI and your Division. Also, as your assigned committee member, I hope to add a more personal touch providing you with any assistance and being an advocate for your concerns to the IAI parent body. Please feel free to reach out to either of us at any time to assist the Minnesota Division in any way we can.
So, what’s new?
With the success of the Inaugural 5k Race/ Fun Run in Omaha, we were able to make a little bit of money to give back to the Divisions. While my initial intention was to assist some Divisions in having a representative attend the IAI Annual Conference, it was thought these funds could better assist the Divisions as their needs dictate. It maybe a few hundred dollars to bring in a special speaker to your conference, or maybe cover a loss due to unforeseen circumstances like COVID, Hurricanes or other natural disasters. Using these funds as more of a pool of money that Divisions can request similar to a Grant process to further your Division in whatever your needs. The process to get these funds is still TBD but we are hoping to have guidance before the new calendar year.
We are currently working with the Chesapeake Bay Division to plan another 5k Fundraiser at next year’s conference In National Harbor. With a more extensive planning timeframe, we are hoping to get more sponsorships and awareness. We still attempt to keep the costs down for participants and want to make sure our liabilities and required cost don’t outweigh the benefits, so this event is still tentative.
At the same time we are attempting to be creative and come up with other fundraising ideas such as “dunk your favorite/or not so favorite, IAI personality” in a dunk tank at the conference. Your input is important to us and we appreciate any constructive feedback or ideas.
So what’s been done?
Beyond monetary support, we are still interested in your concerns and ways to improve the IAI/ Division relationship. In the past year we have also taken the feedback from so many of the Divisions by adding links to how a Division can apply to host the International conference on the conference website, https://www.theiai.org/conference.php
If a Division wants to consider hosting an IAI conference in the future… https://www.theiai.org/docs/Annual_IAI_International_Educational_ConferenceR.pdf
In addition, the IAI Conference Planner, Candy Murray has offered her services to assist any divisions by reviewing any hotel/conference center contracts and provide guidance back to your division. She can be reached at: [email protected]. The IAI Educational planner Heather Connor is also available to provide suggestions for your speaker program: [email protected]
Hopefully the fact that this Special Subcommittee has become a Standing Committee is also a demonstration of the IAIs dedication to improving your Division.
I look forward to continuing assisting your Division in the coming year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with and questions, concerns or comments. I will always do whatever I can to assist your Division.
All the best,
Jason Cole
The IAI has decided to make the “Division Affairs Committee” a permanent standing committee, per the By-laws:
Section 8.20 Division Interaction & Affairs Committee.
(a.) Purpose. This committee shall advise the President on the support of and advocacy with the
divisions.
(b.) Composition. The committee shall consist of an odd number of members with a minimum of three
(3) to a maximum of seven (7) members. The Chairperson shall be the Division Representative. All other
members shall be appointed by the President by October 1 after assuming office. The term of
appointment for the appointed members shall last until September 30.
(c.) Voting. All the members of the committee, to include the Chairperson, shall have the right to vote at committee meetings.
(d.) Other duties. The Committee shall perform such other duties as the President shall prescribe.
2022-2023 Appointed members
Kelly Ayers, WV, USA - Chair
Larry Stringham, FL, USA
Mike Wisniewski, OH, USA
Jason Cole, VA, USA
Brian Dew, NC, USA
Penny Dechant, AZ, USA
Kasey Gizler, PA, USA
It is my pleasure to have the Minnesota Division to be one of my appointed Divisions to provide outreach too as a member of this committee.
As you can see, the Division Representative (Kelly Ayers) has been assigned as the chairperson for this committee and appreciates your communication with her to include completing the yearly survey of your Division operations, as it is shared with the IAI Board of Directors and Officers at the yearly IAI conference. As the chairperson, Kelly is always happy to provide any communications between the IAI and your Division. Also, as your assigned committee member, I hope to add a more personal touch providing you with any assistance and being an advocate for your concerns to the IAI parent body. Please feel free to reach out to either of us at any time to assist the Minnesota Division in any way we can.
So, what’s new?
With the success of the Inaugural 5k Race/ Fun Run in Omaha, we were able to make a little bit of money to give back to the Divisions. While my initial intention was to assist some Divisions in having a representative attend the IAI Annual Conference, it was thought these funds could better assist the Divisions as their needs dictate. It maybe a few hundred dollars to bring in a special speaker to your conference, or maybe cover a loss due to unforeseen circumstances like COVID, Hurricanes or other natural disasters. Using these funds as more of a pool of money that Divisions can request similar to a Grant process to further your Division in whatever your needs. The process to get these funds is still TBD but we are hoping to have guidance before the new calendar year.
We are currently working with the Chesapeake Bay Division to plan another 5k Fundraiser at next year’s conference In National Harbor. With a more extensive planning timeframe, we are hoping to get more sponsorships and awareness. We still attempt to keep the costs down for participants and want to make sure our liabilities and required cost don’t outweigh the benefits, so this event is still tentative.
At the same time we are attempting to be creative and come up with other fundraising ideas such as “dunk your favorite/or not so favorite, IAI personality” in a dunk tank at the conference. Your input is important to us and we appreciate any constructive feedback or ideas.
So what’s been done?
Beyond monetary support, we are still interested in your concerns and ways to improve the IAI/ Division relationship. In the past year we have also taken the feedback from so many of the Divisions by adding links to how a Division can apply to host the International conference on the conference website, https://www.theiai.org/conference.php
If a Division wants to consider hosting an IAI conference in the future… https://www.theiai.org/docs/Annual_IAI_International_Educational_ConferenceR.pdf
In addition, the IAI Conference Planner, Candy Murray has offered her services to assist any divisions by reviewing any hotel/conference center contracts and provide guidance back to your division. She can be reached at: [email protected]. The IAI Educational planner Heather Connor is also available to provide suggestions for your speaker program: [email protected]
Hopefully the fact that this Special Subcommittee has become a Standing Committee is also a demonstration of the IAIs dedication to improving your Division.
I look forward to continuing assisting your Division in the coming year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with and questions, concerns or comments. I will always do whatever I can to assist your Division.
All the best,
Jason Cole