FORENSICS@NIST

December3-4,2014

DECEMBER4,2014DECEMBER4,2014

8:30 am – 8:45 am

Welcome — Sue Ballou

8:45 am – 12:30 pm

Ballistics/Toolmarks

8:45am – 9:00 am

Introduction: John Murdock

Contra Costa Sheriff’s Forensic Services Division

Martinez, CA 

9:00 am – 9:15 am

Program overview: Rick Silver

Firearm and Toolmark Forensics: A Program Overview

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

9:15 am – 9:40 am 

Robert Thompson — Congruent Matching Cells (CMC)—Theory and 

Application in Firearm Evidence Identification

The Congruent Matching Cells (CMC) method was invented at 

NIST for accurate ballistic identifications. The measured forensic topographies are divided into correlation cells. Three sets of 

identification parameters are devised for identifying correlated 

cell pairs originating from the same firearm. Initial validation 

tests on 780 pair-wise images from 40 cartridge cases fired with 

10 consecutively manufactured pistol slides did not produce any 

false identifications or false exclusions.

9:40 am – 10:05 am 

J. Song — Estimating Error Rates for Image-related Forensic 

Evidence Identification

Reporting an error rate for firearm identification is a fundamental 

challenge in forensic science. Based on the Congruent Matching 

Cells (CMC) method recently developed at NIST, an error rate 

procedure is proposed which can serve as a statistical foundation for estimating error rates of image-related forensic evidence 

identifications, thus emulating methods used for forensic identification of DNA evidence. 

10:05 am – 10:20 am Q&A session

10:20 am – 10:50 am BREAK and POSTER session

TOURS — individuals signed up for the tours please go to the 

registration booth. Your bus will depart or your walking venture 

will commence at 10:30 am.

10:50 am – 11:15 am 

Xiaoyu Alan Zheng — Objective 2D and 3D Analysis of Consecutively 

Manufactured Tools

Consecutively manufactured tools have the highest likelihood of 

possessing similar surfaces that may lead to false toolmark identifications. It’s considered one of the more difficult comparisons 

and exemplifies the worst case scenario in case work. The goal 

of this project is to provide objective mathematical comparisons 

of toolmarks created by 10 consecutively manufactured chisels 

(striated toolmarks) and punches (impression toolmarks).

11:15 am – 11:40 am 

Johannes A. Soons — Development of a Ballistic Toolmark Research 

Database

NIST is developing an open-access research database of bullet 

and cartridge case toolmark data to facilitate the development 

and validation of algorithms, metrics, and quantitative confidence 

limits for objective firearm identification. The database will contain traditional reflectance microscopy images and three-dimensional surface topography data acquired by NIST or submitted 

by database users. Our goal is a collection of datasets that: 1) 

represent the large variety of ballistic toolmarks encountered by 

forensic examiners, and 2) represent challenging identification 

scenarios, such as those posed by consecutively manufactured 

firearm components.

11:40 am – 12:05 pm 

Brian Renegar — Advancements in Polymer Bullet Replication 

Techniques

Building on past research, NIST continues to develop an advanced polymer replication process for the replication of bullets 

and cartridge cases. New techniques being used in the molding 

and casting steps are discussed. Metal deposition coatings are 

also being employed to increase the durability of the polymer 

replicas.

12:05 pm – 12:30 pm Q&A

12:30 pm – 1:45 pm LUNCH and POSTER session

1:45 pm – 4:15 pm 

Statistical Measurements

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm

Introduction: Christine Funk, Esq.

General Counsel, Department of Forensic Sciences, Washington, DC

2:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Program overview: Dr. Antonio Possolo 

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

2:15 pm – 3:00 pm

Simone Gittelson —From Inferences to Decisions in the Analysis of 

Low-Template DNA Traces

Forensic science casework involves making a series of decisions. 

Given the serious consequences that these decisions can lead to 

in the administration of justice, they should be based on coherent 

foundations and take into account the circumstances and objectives of the case at hand. A decision-theoretic approach to these 

decision problems provides a transparent framework for accomplishing this. This presentation illustrates such a decision-theoretic approach to two decision points in the analysis of low-template 

DNA traces: (1) choosing how to designate the genotype of the 

trace’s donor, and (2) choosing how many replicate PCR amplifications to perform. From a broader perspective on forensic 

science, the decision problems treated here are not restricted 

to the domain of low-template DNA traces. They represent the 

two fundamental types of decision problems: one-stage decision 

problems and two-stage decision problems. This theoretical 

framework therefore also lends itself to applications addressing 

decisions in other domains of forensic science.

3:00 pm – 3:45 pm BREAK and POSTER session

TOURS — individuals signed up for the tours please go 

to the registration booth. Your bus will depart or your 

walking venture will commence at 3:15 pm.

3:45 pm – 4:30 pm

Hari Iyer, Soweon Yoon, Elham Tabassi

Statistical Friction Ridge Analysis: Algorithms for Matching Minutiae 

Configurations and Evaluating Likelihood Ratios

Our project is aimed at developing statistical methods for quantifying the uncertainty associated with claims of exact match 

between latent fingerprints obtained at crime scenes and reference prints. As part of this effort we have developed algorithms 

for partial matches of minutiae configurations and for computation of empirical likelihood ratios. In this talk we will discuss 

our approaches, their underlying theoretical rationale, and their 

performance on real data.

4:30 pm – 4:45 pm Q&A

4:45 pm Closing Remarks
DECEMBER3,2014

8:30 am – 8:45 am

Welcome – Dr. Willie May; Acting Director, NIST

Moderator – Ms. Sue Ballou; Manager, Forensic Science Research 

Program

8:45 am – 9:15 am 

Keynote

JED S. RAKOFF

US District Court, Southern District of New York 

 

Are Judges Losing Confidence in Forensic Science?

The honorable Judge Rakoff has served since March, 1996 as 

a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New 

York. Judge Rakoff also holds the position of Adjunct Professor at 

Columbia Law School, where he teaches courses in white collar 

crime, science and the law, class actions, and the interplay of 

civil and criminal law. He has co-authored five books and written 

over 125 published articles.

9:15 am – 12:35 pm

Biometrics/Computer Forensics

9:15 am – 9:30 am

Introduction: Eoghan Casey, Lead Cyber Security Engineer 

The MITRE Corporation

9:30 am – 9:45 am

Program overview: Barbara Guttman 

Overview of Computer Forensics and Forensic Biometrics at NIST 

including an overview of the focus area and summary of accomplishments

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

9:45 am – 10:00 am

Doug White, National Software Reference Library (NSRL)

The NSRL has been providing reference data since 2001. New 

areas of software collection include mobile device apps, historic 

software, and live updates. The NSRL is also providing a research base for new types of software identification.

10:00 am – 10:15 am BREAK

Tours – individuals signed up for the tours please go to the registration booth. Your bus will depart or your walking venture will 

commence at 10:15 am.

10:15 am – 10:35 am 

Mary Laamanen and Alex Nelson, NSRL Next Generation — Diskprinting

The NSRL has focused on software as delivered. Diskprinting 

looks at software as installed. As software in installed, used and 

uninstalled, it leaves traces across the system, including changes 

to the registry, to memory, and to network traffic. 

10:35 am – 10:55 am 

Jim Lyle — Computer Forensics Tool Testing (CFTT)

Update on recent key accomplishments of the CFTT program in 

deleted file recovery and file carving and a look to the future for 

work on memory analysis.

10:55 am – 11:15am 

Rick Ayers, CFTT — Mobile Forensics

NIST recently released Special Publication 800-101 Rev 1. Guidelines on Mobile Device Forensics and has started a new round of 

mobile devices forensic testing with greater emphasis on smart 

phones and tablets. 

11:15 am – 11:35 am 

Ben Livelsberger, CFTT — Federated Testing

It is not feasible for the Computer Forensics Tool Testing (CFTT) 

project to test every digital forensics tool used by law enforcement, much less every version. Federated Testing expands CFTT 

to provide law enforcement with test materials, methodologies, 

and report formats to validate tools themselves and share the 

results. 

11:35 am – 12:00 pm 

Mike Garris — Biometrics Overview

NIST has decades of experience and impact in the innovation, 

evaluation, and standardization of Biometric pattern matching 

technologies. This talk will provide an overview of how this work 

is relevant to the science of forensic patterns.

12:00 pm – 12:25 pm 

Elham Tabassi — Latent Fingerprints

This talk will provide an overview of Statistical Friction Ridge 

Analysis, which is a new project at NIST. The project aims to 

develop a statistical measure of the uncertainty of the decisions 

made on the friction ridge evidence (i.e., evidential value of 

fingerprint comparison). We will present the motivation, scope, 

technical plan and progress so far.

12:25 pm – 12:35 pm Q&A

12:35 pm – 1:30 pm LUNCH on your own

1:30 pm – 5:00 pm 

DNA

1:30 pm – 1:45 pm

Introduction: Jennifer G. Breaux , DNA Technical Leader 

Montgomery County Crime Laboratory, Rockville MD

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm

Program Overview: Peter Vallone

Overview of Forensic Genetics at NIST

TECHNICAL PROGRAM

2:00 pm – 2:25 pm 

Becky Steffen — Update on NIST SRM 2391c PCR-based DNA Profiling 

Standard

The U.S. is in the process of adding more Short Tandem Repeat 

markers (STR) to the current core set of 13 CODIS loci. In parallel, 

NIST is updating the SRM 2391c to include the new candidate 

STR loci, new Y STR loci found in commercial kits and providing 

full sequence information on the markers to support next generation sequencing platforms.

2:25 pm – 2:50 pm 

Mike Coble — Complex DNA Mixture Interpretation

Complex mixtures of two or more contributors can be difficult for 

the forensic scientist to interpret. In 2010, the SWGDAM published Autosomal STR Interpretation Guidelines to provide guidance for labs to establish thresholds for mixture interpretation. In 

2013, NIST conducted an interlaboratory study (MIX13) to gauge 

the consistency in mixture interpretation across the U.S. 

2:50 pm – 3:15 pm — 

Margaret Kline — The Use of Digital PCR for SRM 

Characterization

The current DNA Quantitation Standard (SRM 2372) has 

been characterized by UV absorbance methods. In the 

next 2 years SRM 2372 will be superseded with a new 

material. The candidate SRM 2372a will be characterized for copy number using the technique of digital PCR 

(dPCR). dPCR allows for a count of PCR targets in the 

human genome allowing for a direct determination of 

DNA copy number.

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm BREAK

TOURS — individuals signed up for the tours please go to the 

registration booth. Your bus will depart or your walking venture 

will commence at 3:30 pm.

3:30 pm – 3:55 pm 

Erica Butts — Rapid DNA Typing and PCR Protocols

Rapid PCR protocols decrease DNA amplification times from 

3 hours down to 15 minutes. Fully integrated rapid DNA typing 

instruments employ rapid PCR methods and can type a reference 

sample (buccal cells in a swab) in approximately 90 minutes. 

Results from laboratory and integrated rapid typing methods will 

be presented. 

3:55 pm – 4:20 pm 

Kevin Kiesler — Typing SNPs with Next-Generation Sequencing 

The advent of next generation sequencing has provided an 

instrumental platform for multiplex typing of single nucleotide 

polymorphisms (SNPs). SNP markers can be used for human 

identity testing application such as one-to-one matching, estimation of biogeographical ancestry and externally visible traits such 

as eye/hair color.

4:20 pm – 4:45 pm 

Katherine Gettings — Sequencing STRs: Variation and Nomenclature 

The ability to fully sequence short tandem repeats (STRs) has the 

potential to unlock more information contained within the markers 

compared to traditional PCR fragment-based methods (e.g. 

capillary electrophoresis). The results of typing a subset of NIST 

population samples will be used to illustrate the benefits of new 

sequencing methods.

4:45 pm – 5:00 pm Q&A

5:00 pm CLOSING REMARKS

TOURS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Ballistics Range/Body Armor Test Center - Kirk Rice 

On this tour, visitors will witness a test of ballistic-resistant body 

armor and learn about related NIST research on materials used 

in body armor, as well as test methods, materials, and equipment 

involved in body armor testing. NIST research and its influence 

on national standards help to ensure the continued effectiveness 

of this protection technology. 

National X-Ray Standards for Bulk-Explosives Detection 

Larry Hudson 

National x-ray standards are necessary to insure that security-screening systems for bulk-explosives detection both perform 

technically and handle radiation safely. NIST has facilitated the 

development of a comprehensive suite of national x-ray performance and radiation-safety standards that cover all transportation and commercial venues where explosives are screened: 

checkpoint, checked luggage, cargo, vehicle, and whole-body 

imaging. This tour stop will highlight various test objects and will 

demonstrate x-ray screening for contraband beneath clothing.

3:45PM – 4:45PM

Usability & Fingerprints IPad for latent fingerprint examiners and the 

mobile platforms for FBI – Mary Frances Theofanos 

The biometrics usability team is working to develop efficient, 

effective, and intuitive human to computer interfaces based on 

human-centered design that support mobile biometric acquisition 

and related metadata on handheld devices. For demonstration, 

there are two devices. The first is a latent fingerprint handheld 

device that models a latent fingerprint examiner’s workflow 

including minutia marking and search results comparison. The 

second is a handheld multi-modal biometric collection interface 

developed for the FBI.

Robotic Intelligence Systems - Ann Virts 

NIST is developing a comprehensive set of standard test methods 

and associated performance metrics to quantify key capabilities 

of emergency response robots. These test methods address 

responder-defined requirements for robot mobility, manipulation, 

sensors, energy, communications, operator proficiency, logistics 

and safety for remotely operated ground, aerial (under 2kg), and 

aquatic systems.

Interactive Exhibit Tour – Michael Newman 

Experience through sight and sound the storied past, innovative 

present and exciting future of the nation’s premier R&D institute.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM

Reactor Tour – Dan Neumann 

The NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) is a premier 

neutron research facility in the U.S. and is among the leading 

facilities in the world. At the NCNR, intense beams of subatomic 

particles (neutrons) are used to probe the nanoscale structure 

and properties of novel materials. Research at the NCNR has 

led to advances in systems of technological relevance such as 

magnetic storage media technology, improvements to hydrogen 

fuel cells, rechargeable batteries, advanced coatings, biopharmaceutical preservation and delivery, and biomaterials.

Using the NIST SPHERE (Stimulated Photo Degradation by High Energy 

Radiant Exposure) to Mimic Environmental Exposure Found at Crime 

Scenes – Chris White 

A mock homicide case, where the clothed body was subjected 

to environmental conditions, will be presented. Fibers, foreign 

to the clothing of the deceased were recovered. Fibers from the 

blanket suspected as being the origin of the collected fibers will 

be exposed using the SPHERE device and the resulting information will provide a demonstration of NIST’s rigorous control over 

environmental effects in a nominal amount of time. 

Interactive Exhibit Tour - Michael Newman 

Experience through sight and sound the storied past, innovative 

present and exciting future of the nation’s premier R&D institute 

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

NIST Program for Trace Contraband Detection – Dr. Greg Gillen 

This tour stop will include a discussion of our ongoing research 

and a demonstration of some of the advance metrology tools 

being used to characterize contraband materials. We will 

highlight several forensic related projects including age dating of 

fingerprints, combined chemical and biometric analysis and high 

throughput screening technologies for illicit narcotics. Finally, 

we will show some recent results related to development of new 

standard test materials for trace contraband detection using 

drop-on-demand ink jet printing.

History of NIST - Kristen Frederick-Frost; Museum Curator 

From a 1799 meter bar to polystyrene spheres made in space, the 

NIST Museum displays artifacts and archival materials related to 

the research, creation, and dissemination of standards. The Information Services Office invites you to join the Museum Curator 

for a tour highlighting artifacts that typify challenges in measurement science which NIST has explored since its origins as the 

National Bureau of Standards in 1901.