PRESENT TECHNOLOGY

License plate scan helps fight terrorism but raises privacy issues

Police are using a scanner to create 3D image of crime scenes.

Forensic Accounting

Accounting has been around for centuries and has been used to organize one's financial matters. Unfortunately the people who are supposed to organizing and keeping track of finances are also frequently responsible for stealing money from the company they are working for. This is where forensics comes into play. Forensic accounting is using the abilities of an accountant and a detective to find how and when someone may have stolen money from a company. A brief description of forensic accounting is described in this youtube video (link in title)

Touch DNA Clears Ramseys--a forensic scientist explains how technology helps exonerates Ramseys in the Jon Bonnet Ramsey case.
http://www.comcast.net/video/touch-dna-clears-ramseys/790616852/

x-ray vision
Engineers Develop Technology To See Through Walls
Video: http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/0706-seeing_through_walls.htm
X-ray vision is no longer just for sci-fi movies and superheroes. Now, superhuman powers are closer to real life than you might think. Engineers have developed a new device, called the Xaver that can see straight through walls.The military and law enforcement agencies have orders in for the new technology. And seeing what's behind closed doors could help rescue teams save lives.The new technological gadget boasts visual penetration through wood, plaster, brick and reinforced concrete. The device uses sound waves at a particular frequency and a series of algorithms in the computer software to capture images through a wall or door and create 3D images. The military and law enforcement agencies hope to incorporate the device into their projects.
"A fireman doesn't have a lot of time ý he can go in and not waste time searching parts of the building where no one is, or he can go immediately to someone in a room where's he's found a life," says aerospace engineer John Reingruber

Digital Forensics at Binghamton University featured on FOX News

Binghamton University faculty Jessica Fridrich talks about Digital Forensics on FOX News.

Research links digital images, cameras

Child pornographers will soon have a harder time escaping prosecution thanks to a stunning new technology that can reliably link digital images to the camera with which they were taken, in much the same way that tell-tale scratches are used by forensic examiners to link bullets to the gun that fired them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjgyQN8wSmw

Leave No Trace - Footprint Evidence

This clip demonstrates how footprints can be used by forensics to identify people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlmZZoLGMpM&NR=1

Advances in DNA Technology

The technology of DNA "fingerprinting" has advanced greatly in the past few years. It is now possible to test smaller pieces of biological matter and get a DNA fingerprint. It has also become possible to get a DNA profile from matter which has degraded, or is not fresh. In addition, the tests are faster and the matching easier because there are more and more data banks. DNA evidence is used not only to convict the guilty. It can also be used to free the innocent. In fact, the number of convicted felons found to be innocent after subsequent DNA analysis of evidence, has caused states to reconsider prior cases. Some states have even devised Post Conviction Plans which involve going back and taking another look at cases where DNA evidence still exists, or cases where the DNA evidence would be pivotal.