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 days long.

2022 Conference News!

President Brad Litke has signed a contract with The Inn on Lake Superior, Duluth for our 2022 Fall Educational Conference. The dates chosen are September 14-16 with the same timing format used during the 2021 Conference. The Conference will begin on Wednesday, September 14 at 10:00 AM and will conclude on Friday, September 16 at 12:00 PM. Look for information to arrive on this web page soon regarding reserving your hotel room and presentations that we will offer. On behalf of the MNIAI Board of Directors, we hope to see you again in Duluth next year!
Message from 2022 MNIAI President Brad Litke
Call for Presenters for the 2022 conference in Duluth, MN!
 
Currently we have several Presenters but would like to add more so we are able to offer concurrent sessions for attendees to choose from so that they receive information regarding a wide range of forensic/crime scene related topics.
 
If you have a topic you feel would be beneficial to those in attendance and you’re willing to present it or offer a workshop, please contact Brad Litke.  Not only does it look great on a resume to say you presented your topic, it will help benefit others in the field as well. 
 
If interested, please contact Brad Litke at brad.litke@burnsvillemn.gov.  Thank you!! 
 
We look forward to seeing you at the 2022 MNIAI!

2021 Conference

The MNIAI 2021 Fall Educational Conference concluded on September 10. It was a very well-attended Conference and from the comments heard, the courses offered were very well-received!

Photos from parts of the Conference are below. The MNIAI Board of Directors thanks all who attended, presented and who participated as Sponsors/Vendors! The 2022 Conference is in the planning stages. Information pertaining to it will be shared on this site in the coming months.
                      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.

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
                                 Heads                            Tails
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.
The IAI 2022 Educational Conference News 

Call for Presentations!

The online submission for Lecture, Workshop, and Poster proposals is OPEN!
The IAI conference will be held in Omaha, Nebraska Jul 31st, through Aug 6th, 2022.

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 2022 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 15th, 2022.
Posters may be submitted until June 30th, 2022.

For more information regarding, Lectures, Workshops, and Posters/Photos Contest, go to the IAI Home Page. 
  
Book your hotel now!
 
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES YOU CAN ENGAGE IN IS PASSING YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON TO OTHERS!
     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.