Chidambaram announces 2010 as 'Year of Forensic Science'

New Delhi, Feb 1 : Underscoring the role forensic science plays in the investigation and trial of crimes, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today declared 2010 as 'the Year of Forensic Science' and announced formation of a two-member panel of consultants to thoroughly examine the state of forensic science teaching and training.


Source: newKerala.com

Faster, More Cost-Effective DNA Test For Crime Scenes, Disease Diagnosis

Scientists in Japan are reporting development of a faster, less expensive version of the fabled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) a DNA test widely used in criminal investigations, disease diagnosis, biological research and other applications. The new method could lead to expanded use of PCR in medicine, the criminal justice system and elsewhere, the researchers say.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090708094837.htm

IFSR TIMES- 2nd Issue Feb2010

Hey Guys... Our IFSR Times E-Newsletter is out... If you do want to download a copy visit :

http://www.box.net/shared/dnqj15y8rp

India to help Maldives with forensic lab, training

ndia Wednesday assured a visiting Maldives delegation of help the Indian Ocean nation in setting up a police academy, forensic science laboratory, corporate fraud cell and as also train its officers in investigating cyber crime and economic offences.

The delegation, led by Home Minister Mohamed Shihab Shihab and including Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh and Deputy Head of Strategic Development Department Yoonus Sobah, visited the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) here.

It also visited the DNA lab, computer forensics and voice spectrograph division, ballistics division and lie-detection division in the CFSL.

Source:
http://www.in.com/news/current-affairs/fullstory-india-to-help-maldives-with-forensic-lab-training-12664711-c9f1391004c13d2aa8e681b543a45ab68fc43d34-1.html

Government appoints team to examine state of forensic science- February 1,2010

New Delhi: In an initiative to improve the state of forensic science in the country, the home ministry has appointed a two-member team of consultants to examine the facilities of training and condition of laboratories.

Addressing his monthly press conference, home minister P Chidambaram today said state of forensic science as well as the state of the Central and State Forensic Science Laboratories "leave much to be desired" hence the year 2010 has been declared as the "Year of Forensic Science".

SOURCE: DNA Article: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_government-appoints-team-to-examine-state-of-forensic-science_1341982#share

Medico-Legal Update

Medico-legal Update is an international journal which bring latest knowledge regarding changing medico legal scenario to its readers. The journal caters to specialties of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Science, D.N.A. fingerprinting, Toxicology, Environment hazards, Sexual Medicine etc. The journal has been assigned international standard serial number (ISSN) 0971-720X. The journal is registered with Registrar of Newspapers for India vide registration numbers 63757/96 under Press and Registration of Books act,1867. The journal is abstracted by Sociological Abstracts, San Diego (U.S.A.) The journal is also covered with EMBASE [Excerpta Medica Data Base] from 1997. The Journal is also cited by INDEX COPERNICUS, Poland.
"The first issue of Medico-Legal Update was published in 1996"


Visit their site: http://www.medicolegalupdate.org/index.html
for more details

Crime wave fuels forensics boom in Mexico

Enrique Ramos slipped a long piece of packing tape into a bowl of purple dye, swished it around and then held it up to a light, looking for fingerprints.
"They use this tape for packaging drugs or for tying you up before they put a bullet in your head," he told a group of forensic science students clustered around him. "You get great fingerprints off it."

As Mexico struggles to stem a wave of drug-related crime, forensic science classes such as Ramos' are multiplying, trying to meet the booming demand for fingerprint collectors, crime scene photographers and ballistics experts to keep up with the body count.

"Forensic science is seeing a boom in Mexico," said Rafael Ruíz Mena, secretary-general for professional training at Mexico's National Institute of Criminal Science. "More and more young people are seeing this as a career opportunity."

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-01-12-mexico-crime_N.htm