Exposure to drugs is a concern when considering concentrations in biological samples. Whether intentional, accidental, or medically necessary, exposure can happen in many ways. Understanding how a drug enters the body is essential in understanding how the drug will affect the body. This presentation is designed to discuss exposure toxicology and how exposure to drugs occur and how the body responds.

RENEA DOUGLAS Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States of America Yarrowia lipolytica is a dimorphic, strictly aerobic, non-conventional yeast species that has been the subject of extensive study in recent years; its versatility and notable ability to metabolize a wide range of hydrocarbons and produce citric acid have made it a significant organism across biotechnological, medical, and ecological fields. However, despite its immense importance, its genetic

Human performance, when it comes to driving or operating any vehicle, is important in assuring the safety of individuals. When it comes to determining impairment, there are many things to consider. This webinar will give the participant a better understanding of the test involved in determining impairment, the classes of drug that are evaluated in the test and the analysis of the biological evidence.

ACTIVE EDUCATION FORENSIC, LLC Standard Field Sobriety tests (SFSTs) are a set of roadside exercises designed to assist law enforcement officers in determining whether a driver is impaired on alcohol or drugs. For defense attorneys, understanding SFSTs is critical when representing clients accused of impaired driving. Potential challenges in the administration and interpretation of these tests may lead to issues of reliability and fairness. This presentation will cover the

ACTIVE EDUCATION FORENSIC, LLC The analysis of controlled dangerous substances (CDS) is known as 'forensic chemistry'.An understanding of how this type of evidence is analyzed is an important concept to understand. The many types of drugs and substances found in society are constantly changing, requiring an updated knowledge of the procedures for testing. In this presentation, we will discuss the types of narcotic evidence seen at state/private labs, the different testing

AMARNATH MISHRA, DARPIKA SHARMA, KOMPAL AND B. S. SIKARWAR Associate Professor, Amity Institute of Forensic Sciences, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India Background: Surface tension is a critical physical property of blood that significantly influences bloodstain pattern formation, including droplet spreading, breakup, deformation, and drying. Despite its forensic relevance, limited information is available on the dynamic surface tension of whole blood. Methods

VISHAL JAIGOBIND Science Officer This presentation will be an overview on the Impact of ZEISS SEM at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory, with the main focus highlighting some of the applications currently being utilized by the GFSL in the area of scanning electron microscopy, some future plans of scope extension and assistance to other non-forensic laboratories. This presentation will explore the capabilities, applications, and impact of Zeiss machines across industri

MIRLANDE GERMAIN-TITUS, SHENELL COLLINS Drug Enforcement Administration, Southeast Laboratory, Miami, FL With the landscape of the illicit drug market changing to include an increase of synthetic emerging drugs, innovative comprehensive and reliable analytical methodology is needed to fully capture the complexity of current polydrug samples and aid in the analysis and identification of these newly emerging substances. Differences in federal, state, and local laws impact how

SHAWNA BOLTON Accurate estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) remains a persistent challenge in forensic science, particularly in environments where traditional indicators are highly variable. This study investigates postmortem cartilage degradation as a potential complementary tool for PMI estimation, alongside a preliminary exploration of associated changes in the soil microbiome following tissue deposition. Using pig trotters/limbs as human analogues, controlled d

HILLARY MULLINGS-WILLIAMS Forensic Biology is a branch of forensics encompassing both serological and DNA analyses. These analyses require biological samples that can be defined as any physical material obtained from any living or deceased subject, including but not limited to blood, saliva, urine, semen. The amount and quality of biological material found at crime scenes may be limited. Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) Spectroscopy is a no

GREGORY WILLIAMS University of the West Indies Modern forensic investigations increasingly demand an integrated, multidisciplinary framework that extends beyond traditional evidence-collection practices. This presentation introduces a holistic approach to crime scene management and investigation, emphasizing the coordinated interaction between scientific methodology, investigative strategy, human factors, and legal considerations to enhance evidential integrity and judicial o

ALYSSA C. MOSS Criminal Justice Studies Parenting has been identified as one of the most important mediators in underlying links between interparental relationships and child psychological outcomes,” ( Harold & Leve, 2018). Research has shown that, “substance abuse disorders, have profound implications not only for individuals but also for the communities and systems surrounding them” (Naghavi, 2017). Research has also displayed that, “forensic mental health services prov

RICARDO WILSON New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science The Second GHEP-ISFG exercise for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) was a compelling interlaboratory exercise based on a simulated plane crash scenario (Vullo, et al, 2021). It involved 66 victims with varying levels of fragmentation, including 21 related individuals. In total, 228 post-mortem samples were provided, along with 128 reference samples from 51 nuclear families (including first- and

PETER A. PARKINSON Chief Crime Scene Examiner (INDECOM) To investigate the effects of Temperature, Humidity, Wind Speed and Fabric Composition on the drying times of blood and assess the degree of blood transfer that occur during the drying process. An assortment of fabrics, of different compositions and thicknesses, were collected and stained using two blood volumes and exposed to varying environmental conditions. The conclusion reached was that Temperature, Humidity,

ROXANN SOMMERVILLE-RHODEN Caribbean Maritime University Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in fire investigations presents a groundbreaking opportunity to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and ethical integrity. Automated evidence processing, digital forensic analysis, and fire scene reconstruction enable fire investigators to handle cases more effectively while reducing human errors. By adopting advanced data analysis and pattern recognition, AI aids in identifying fir

DANDA AUGUSTIN EFI Global Inc, USA The lessons learned concept has been around for many decades and has been used in multiple fields to improve future outcomes and avoid repeating errors. This concept allows one to systematically revisit a past experience or incident and understand how certain changes could have influenced a better outcome. In keeping with the theme of the conference “Forensic Science & Public Safety: A Caribbean Journey” we need to ask why isn’t that conce

SHERIKA WHITELOCKE-BALLINGSINGH The Caribbean Poison Information Network, University of Technology, Jamaica Developing countries are often at risk of pesticide poisoning due to widespread use of pesticides in agriculture. Adults may be exposed to pesticides through accidental or intentional exposure. Organophosphorus pesticide poisoning typically presents three primary syndromes: acute cholinergic syndrome, intermediate syndrome, and delayed polyneuropathy. This case repo

KODYE KASHEEMA BOYD University of the West indies This research aims to assess the effectiveness of fingerprint powders on different surfaces. This evaluation can provide critical information to the forensic departments when processing crime scenes. Fingerprint analysis with use of powders is a quick biometrics technique that was developed and has assisted in the solving of many cases. Print enhancement is dependent on the ability of the powder to stick to the moisture of the

ZYRELLE WILLIAMS Forensic Psychologist in training This study investigates the role and application of forensic psychology in the Grenadian criminal justice system, a domain where the discipline remains formally unrecognized despite frequent encounters with mental health and substance use issues. Through semi-structured interviews with 11 key stakeholders, including legal professionals, mental health practitioners, law enforcement officers, and regional forensic experts. The

CHARIS GRIFFITH Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory Legal highs, now more accurately referred to by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) as New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), are unregulated, synthetic substances designed to mimic established illicit drugs (e.g., cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy) while circumventing drug control laws. Other terms used to describe these substances include ‘Novel Psychoactive Substances’, ‘New Synthetic Drugs’, ‘Designe