May/June 2008 Vol. 38 — Issue 3 Editor: Kathy Reynolds President’s Message One of the many significant achievements of Bruce presented to the Long Term Planning Committee Goldberger during his tenure as AAFS President for discussion and input and then to the Board of was establishing a procedure for the Academy to Directors, who unanimously approved them. The issue position statements on specific matters of procedures were published in the 2008 March/April national and international importance to forensic Academy News. science. The AAFS is a unique multidisciplinary group which represents the knowledge, experience, One of the issues that prompted the development of and needs of the many disciplines that comprise the this policy was the Ohio class action regarding forensic science community. Most professional retention and disposition of tissue and body parts associations have a mechanism by which such without notice to the next of kin. This is an issue of position statements may be issued. Position great importance which has received extensive statements are a means by which to communicate coverage in the medical and legal literature, as well what we, as an organization and representatives of as the popular media. The implications of cases like Carol E. Henderson, JD the forensic sciences, do or do not support, and also this affect Academy members from almost every provide a valuable public education function. These section. Due to the type of work we are engaged in position statements will only be issued on rare we are sensitive to the concerns of the families and occasions after careful consideration and the friends of the deceased, as well as the needs of law opportunity for input from the Academy enforcement to pursue valuable leads presented by membership. forensic evidence that may have to be retained by the coroners or medical examiners‘ offices. It is During Dr. Goldberger’s presidency he appointed a indeed a delicate balance. committee, chaired by Betty Layne Des Portes, to draft guidelines for developing Academy position We are putting this new policy on position statements on specific issues. These guidelines were statements into action regarding organ and tissue continued on page 4 NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT The Nominating Committee has announced its list of nominees for 2008-09 officers: Joseph P. Bono, MA President-Elect (Criminalistics) Alan R. Felthous, MD Vice President (Psychiatry & Behavioral Science) Barry K. Logan, PhD Vice President (Toxicology) Robert E. Barsley, DDS, JD Secretary (Odontology) Douglas H. Ubelaker, PhD Treasurer (Physical Anthropology) The Nominating Committee is composed of three Members-at-Large designated by the Board of Directors — Bruce Goldberger (Chair), James Young, and Edmund Donoghue, and the immediate past chairs of each of the Academy’s ten sections: Lucy Davis Houck (Criminalistics), Peter Alexander (Engineering Sciences), John Gerns (General), Harry Miles (Jurisprudence), Thomas David (Odontology), Andrew Baker (Pathology/Biology), Michael Warren (Physical Anthropology), Daniel Martell (Psychiatry & Behavioral Science), William Riordan (Questioned Documents), and Robert Midddleberg (Toxicology). In accordance with the AAFS Bylaws, nomination for any elected office of the Academy may be made by petition delivered to the Nominating Committee in care of the AAFS headquarters no later than September 1, 2008. Nomination petitions should state the name of the nominee, the office sought, a certificate stating that the candidate is a Fellow in good standing, and the signatures and printed names of 50 Fellows or full Members. Officers 2007-2008 PRESIDENT Carol E. Henderson, JD Inside This Issue PRESIDENT-ELECT President’s Message..................................................................................................................1 Thomas L. Bohan, PhD, JD PAST PRESIDENT Legislative Corner ....................................................................................................................3 Bruce A. Goldberger, PhD 2008 IAFS Program Information and Registration Available Online ..................................4 VICE PRESIDENTS James M. Adcock, PhD Robert E. Barsley, DDS, JD FEPAC News............................................................................................................................6 SECRETARY Joseph P. Bono, MA A Word From Your 2009 Program Co-Chair ......................................................................8 TREASURER 2009 Program Information......................................................................................................8 Douglas H. Ubelaker, PhD Correction ..............................................................................................................................10 Board of Directors CRIMINALISTICS Did You Know Ralph Turner? ............................................................................................10 Richard E. Tontarski, Jr., MS DIGITAL & MULTIMEDIA SCIENCES Section News ..........................................................................................................................11 Carrie M. Whitcomb, MSFS ENGINEERING SCIENCES FSF Grants Available ............................................................................................................15 Robert N. Anderson, PhD, PE 10th Annual FSF Emerging Forensic Scientist Award Offered ..........................................18 GENERAL John E. Gerns, MFS 2009 Announcement and Call for Papers............................................................................19 JURISPRUDENCE Betty Layne DesPortes, JD FSF Contributors....................................................................................................................24 ODONTOLOGY Robert B.J. Dorion, DDS Contributing Article: The Unscience of Catch Words: A Semantic Divertissement ......28 PATHOLOGY/BIOLOGY Tracey S. Corey, MD In Memoriam ........................................................................................................................30 PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Applicants ..............................................................................................................................31 Norman J. Sauer, PhD PSYCHIATRY & Young Forensic Scientists Forum Newsletter ......................................................................33 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE Daniel A. Martell, PhD Meetings & Conferences........................................................................................................35 QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS John L. Sang, MS TOXICOLOGY Marilyn A. Huestis, PhD Did You Present a Paper at the 2008 AAFS Annual Meeting? The Journal of Forensic Sciences reserves the right of first publication to all previously unpublished AAFS Staff reports and papers presented at the AAFS annual meeting in Washington, DC. Please submit your EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Anne Warren manuscripts to: Michael A. Peat, PhD, Editor DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & ACCREDITATION Journal of Forensic Sciences Nancy Jackson 6700 Woodlands Parkway FINANCE MANAGER Ste 230-308 Debbie Crockett The Woodlands, TX 77381 MEETINGS & EXPOSITIONS Email: [email protected] MANAGER Sondra Doolittle EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & Future Annual Meeting Dates CE COORDINATOR Kimberly Wrasse February 16-21, 2009 February 22-27, 2010 February 21-26, 2011 ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT Denver Convention Center Washington State Convention Hyatt Regency Chicago Tracie McCray Denver, CO & Trade Center Chicago, IL PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR Seattle, WA Kathy Reynolds MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Cheryl Hunter Academy News (ISSN#: 0739-7666) is published bi-monthly for $20 (for members and non-members) per year by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, 410 North 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANT Christie Vigil 80904. Periodicals postage paid at Colorado Springs, CO 80904. Postmaster: Send address change to Academy News, 410 N. 21st Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904. The deadline for inclusion of MEETINGS ASSISTANT & VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR material in the next issue of Academy News is June 2, 2008. Jo Ann Delaware RECEPTIONIST 2 Phyllis Gilliam Academy News Barry A.J. Fisher, MS, MBA Legislative Corner On March 13, 2008, several representatives of the The consensus from the staffers we spoke to was Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations that the National Academy of Sciences Study, due visited Congress. The group included Pete out this summer, will become the basis of Marone (representing ASCLD/LAB), Virginia comprehensive forensic science legislation. Department of Forensic Sciences; Ken Martin Legislation will be prepared for the next session of (representing IAI), Massachusetts State Police; Congress. Most staffers felt that the present budget Earl Wells (representing ASCLD), South Carolina may not pass until late in the year (with the Law Enforcement Division laboratory; Irv Litofsky possible exception of the Defense Appropriations (representing ASCLD), Baltimore County Police Bill). Naturally, we are dealing with political Laboratory; Beth Lavach, and Barry Fisher considerations. In an election year, members of (representing AAFS), Los Angeles County both parties often want to have something to bring Sheriff’s Laboratory. We visited several members’ home to constituents. offices to discuss future forensic science legislation. On this visit, we focused on members The National Academies recently released a of the House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee report on Ballistics Imaging1. The National on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security,