Abstract
This will be a presentation of real crime scenes and the management of efforts bringing together the forensic experts and the investigative personal to solve real cases. Having lead the Homicide Department department unlike CSI and other programs, police fail to collect and properly analysis a crime scene which I will demonstrate. We need to in terpret crime scenes. Sloppy police investigations, lazy forensic personnel team up to reduce the ability to solve cases with solid evidence. The research profession needs to catch up with policing, corrections and juvenile jus tice, and define a role for itself in the problem solving process. The research community needs to find ways to bring its analytical skills, its objectivity, its rigor, its independence, its ability to link theory and practice, into the messy arena of contemporary practice. Although we have made progress, the need is tremendous.
Biography
Anthony Schembri is a respected law enforcement and academic professional with over four decades’ experience in the field. Over the years, he has drawn praise from such varied sources as New York City Mayor, President Jimmy Carter, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and New York Governor Mario Cuomo. First appointed to the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office he advanced to Deputy Chief of the Narcotics Bureau, then to Director of Training at the District Attorneys Police Academy. Anthony Schembri has served as the city’s Deputy Inspector General, investigating cases of major crime and corruption. He was appointed by the Mayor of New York as Corrections Commissioner, a position putting him in charge of 12,000 uniformed officers and 20,000 inmates at 19 separate jail facilities. Today, the Citrus County, Florida, resident serves as a Visiting Professor at Oxford and Sheffield Hallam University and named Outstanding Professor of the Year at the University of Florida.
Abstract
Every criminal investigation begins with evidence, yet every investigation is conducted by human beings whose perceptions are influenced by cognitive shortcuts, emotion, prior experience, and social influence. In today's digital environment, criminal narratives spread globally within minutes, often shaping public opinion long before investigators complete evidence collection. This keynote explores how cognitive psychology, criminology, forensic science, and investigative psychology intersect to influence investigators, witnesses, jurors, media organizations, and the public. Drawing upon contemporary research in cognitive bias, false memory, social identity, algorithmic amplification, and investigative decision-making, the presentation demonstrates why understanding human psychology has become as essential as understanding physical evidence in modern forensic science.
Biography
Dr. Michael Gurley: Confirmed as Lecturer of Criminal Justice at University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM) since 2023. Previously at University of Memphis (2016-2023). Holds Ph.D. from Northcentral University, M.S. from Saint Leo University, B.A. from Ashford University. Has 32 years of law enforcement experience and a graduate of the University of Tennessee National Forensics Academy
Abstract
As Fire investigation requires the reconstruction of an event that has often destroyed or altered much of the evidence required to explain it. Investigators must interpret fire patterns, witness information, electrical and mechanical evidence, fire dynamics and scene conditions to develop and test hypotheses concerning origin and cause. However, the interpretation of that evidence does not occur in isolation. Information received before or during an investigation, preliminary theories and expectations regarding likely ignition sources can influence how subsequent evidence is interpreted.This presentation examines cognitive bias within fire origin and cause investigation and considers how the scientific method can be used as a practical safeguard against premature or unsupported conclusions. Drawing upon contemporary fire investigation methodology and practical case experience, the presentation explores confirmation bias, competing hypothesis development,negative corpus reasoning and the importance of recognising when the available evidence does not support a definitive determination.Although presented through the lens of fire investigation, the discussion has broader application across forensic science, where practitioners are routinely required to interpret incomplete evidence and communicate scientifically defensible opinions.
Biography
Vithyaa Thavapalan is an internationally certified fire and explosion investigator and the Founder andManaging Director of Forensic Origin & Cause Investigations Pty Ltd. She has over 12 years’ experience in fire investigation and has completed investigations across Australia and internationally, including matters involving residential, commercial, industrial, vehicle, plant and equipment, and complex loss environments.Vithyaa holds a Master of Forensic Science, a Graduate Diploma in Fire Investigation, and a Bachelor of Science. She provides origin and cause investigations, technical reviews, expert reports, and training for insurers, legal practitioners, loss adjusters, government, and private clients.Her work focuses on applying a systematic, evidence-based methodology to determine fire origin and cause, while clearly communicating findings, limitations, and expert opinion in a manner that supports defensible causation analysis and expert reporting.
Abstract
The detection of semen at a crime scene can provide crucial investigative and evidentiary information,particularly in cases of sexual assault, where the identification and localization of seminal traces may contribute to the reconstruction of events and guide subsequent DNA analysis. Rapid presumptive testing at the crime scene can therefore facilitate the targeted collection of biological evidence,especially when stains are small, partially degraded, or located on complex surfaces.
STK Spray (AXO Science) is a presumptive forensic reagent designed for the rapid detection of semen on hard surfaces through the detection of acid phosphatase, an enzyme highly concentrated in seminal fluid and associated with a visible color reaction. However, crime scene samples may contain mixtures of biological fluids or be contaminated by household substances, potentially affecting test performance and leading to false-positive or false-negative reactions. This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of STK Spray under controlled conditions and in the presence of common interfering substances.
Biography
Senior Lecturer in Forensic Biology and Genetics and in Forensic Medicine, with consolidated academic experience in undergraduate and postgraduate university programs in Italy and internationally, including Spain, Colombia, Bolivia, Malta, and Costa Rica. Academic activities are primarily focused on university teaching, international scientific collaboration, and participation in multidisciplinary research and applied forensic science projects.Extensive international collaborations have been established across Europe and Latin America,including Italy, Spain, and Chile, involving universities, forensic laboratories, research institutions,and industry partners. These activities have been developed within both academic and applied frameworks and include collaborative research initiatives and projects aimed at technology transfer and methodological innovation in forensic science. This work has contributed to strengthening interactions between academic research, forensic practice, and industrial stakeholders, with particular emphasis on the development and implementation of innovative analytical approaches.Previous professional roles include Director of the Forensic Genetics Department at SIMEF (Italy) and forensic DNA expert consultant for Italian civil and criminal courts, with contributions to forensic casework in collaboration with national and international law enforcement agencies, including Italian Police Forces and UK Police. Additionally, activities include service as expert evaluator for the European Research Executive Agency (REA) of the European Commission.Author of more than 200 scientific contributions, including 84 publications indexed in Scopus, with regular involvement in peer-review activities for international scientific journals and publishers,including Springer, Elsevier, and Taylor & Francis. Scientific evaluation activities also include the assessment of book proposals, research projects, and contributions to editorial activities as Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board Member, and reviewer for international journals in forensic science.Active participation in the organization and scientific development of international conferences,courses, and webinars in forensic science, including roles as scientific committee member, session chairperson, and invited speaker. Participation has also included doctoral examination committees and international scientific award panels.Recipient of several international awards and recognitions in the field of forensic biology and genetic.
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