Beyond the “Who Done It…”–DNA Interpretation Given Activity Level Propositions

Standard Registration$345.00

Student Registration$195.00

Fee includes breakfast, lunch, breaks and materials.

Description:

There are many misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding the interpretation of DNA evidence given activity level propositions. Yet questions at court often ask about hypothetical DNA transfers. Many people do not realize that by answering in any fashion, they are testifying about activity level propositions. Often these questions, while permissible in the legal arena, are answered in a manner contrary to best scientific practices. This workshop will demonstrate methods to interpret DNA evidence when questions about the evidence relate to what may have happened. These methods allow the expert to share knowledge using a scientifically sound framework and published practices.

Learning Outcomes:

Assign a likelihood ratio for DNA evidence given activity level propositions.
Do a case pre-assessment using the CAI framework.
Use a Bayesian network as a tool for assigning probabilities given activity level propositions.
Formulate activity level propositions in accordance with the ISFG 2020 recommendations.
Understand the difference between Transfer-Persistence-Prevalence-Recovery (TPPR) and an activity level proposition.
Testify on the evidence and not on what happened (i.e., avoid the transposed conditional).
Handle hypothetical questions commonly asked in court.
Recognize poorly worded questions and how to answer them in a scientifically correct manner.

Intended Audience:

No prerequisite knowledge required: an open mind is an asset. This workshop is designed to assist practitioners who regularly testify in court; however, the legal community will also find it of interest. Anyone who thinks “You can’t say what happened!” will benefit from this workshop.

Speakers

Tim KalafutChair

Associate Professor of Forensic Science, Sam Houston State University

After over twenty years as a practicing forensic DNA analyst, most with the US Army Crime Lab, Tim Kalafut made a mid-life career change into the world of academia. His new role allows him to have freedom to take on new projects, and hopefully shorten the learning curve for the next generation of forensic scientists.

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Simone Gittelson

Professor of Forensic Statistics, The George Washington University | DC Department of Forensic Sciences

Simone Gittelson, PhD, is Professor of Forensic Statistics at The George Washington University and works at the DC Department of Forensic Sciences. She is specialized in the development and use of probabilistic models (e.g., Bayesian networks) for the evaluation and interpretation of scientific evidence. Her areas of research include the interpretation of DNA results given sub-source level propositions, probabilistic genotyping, the interpretation of biological results given activity level propositions, and the application of Bayesian inference, Bayesian networks, and decision theory to the evaluation of forensic science results.