IFI Highlights
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IFI staff designed, installed and also maintains some 15 imaging systems for crime laboratories around the state of Indiana. The original project was funded by a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
IFI conducted a research project to test the efficacy of using digital cameras during the investigation of domestic abuse incidents. The project involved police and prosecutors in both Marion and Hamilton counties. The results showed a doubling of convictions compared to a control group. The results were published in a national magazine and many jurisdictions from NYPD and LAPD have since instituted operational programs.
IFI conducted a study of school surveillance technology under a grant from the National Institute of Justice. The key findings were that many districts are naive with respect to systems and often install technology that does not really meet their needs. There is excellent technology available today, but care must be taken during installation to make the system truly valuable. Finally, the project supported early research into systems that allow computers to do a preliminary interpretation of what is happening in surveillance videos.
IFI has taught over 2000 students in a variety of courses. These students have come from several states and foreign countries. IFI has also conducted courses in distant cities. IFI is certified by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy to provide courses that carry law enforcement training credit hours. Currently there is a collaborative work in progress to offer courses that carry academic credit through the Purdue School of Science at IUPUI.
IFI holds a seat on the Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technology, operated by the FBI and the guidelines developed by that group are carefully followed in all the training programs offered by the Institute.
IFI staff members have helped a large number of police agencies analyze images that are part of investigations. In a number of cases, the work led to significant gains both in the investigation and during prosecution.
IFI has provided a number of internships to local college and graduate students, some of these counted for academic credit and/or were the basis of thesis's.
IFI staff members have published numerous articles in trade magazines, presented to trade and professional organizations and recently wrote a textbook, "Forensic Digital Imaging and Photography", by Herbert Blitzer and Jack Jacobia, and “Understanding Forensic Digital Imaging”, by Herbert Blitzer, Karen Stein-Ferguson, and Jeffry Huang. Both books published by Academic Press.
IFI has supported a set of multi-year program to improve digital video systems for public safety vehicles. These programs have been managed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Institute of Justice.
IFI has conducted research into the impact on an examiner’s ability to draw conclusions from footwear examinations that are caused by imaging technology used. (“Effect of Photographic Technology on Quality of Examination of Footwear Impression”
Blitzer, Hammer, Jacobia, Journal of Forensic Identification 57(5), 2007\641)
IFI has conducted research into the use of 3-D photography and advanced mathematical statistics to assess the probability of a match between a dental impression and a bitemark. This paper has been selected for publication in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, March 2011.
The mission of The Indiana Forensic Institute is to help improve the effectiveness of the law-related investigations and trials through:
Jennifer Dickinson
Indiana Forensic Institute
9855 Crosspoint Boulevard
Suite 126
Indianapolis, Indiana 46256-3336
Phone: 317.356.0245
E:Mail: jdickinson@wolftechnical.com
DIRECTIONS TO OUR NEW BUILDING
The Indiana Forensic Institute (IFI) was established on the Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus in June, 1995 in response to an increased worldwide concern with crime. Citizens and criminal justice officials strongly expressed a need for operational and technological advances in their fight against crime. Advances in forensic imaging technology were often cited as an important component that would be useful for investigations and in the courtroom.
Starting in 2001, IFI, became an independent 501 (c)(3) cooperation, moved to an off-campus location and developed a strategic alliance with the Indiana University School of Informatics. Over the years, IFI has collaborated with the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, the Hudson Institute and several Criminal Justice agencies. IFI courses are certified by the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.In the fall of 2008, IFI developed a close association with Wolf Technical Services, Inc., a forensic engineering company located in Indianapolis. Also, IFI, which teaches courses for the Purdue School of Science, and started a process to increase its portfolio from just imaging to a broad spectrum of forensic science disciplines. Accordingly, the name was changed from the Institute for Forensic Imaging to the Indiana Forensic Institute. Development of new offerings is now in progress.
The mission of The Indiana Forensic Institute is to help improve the effectiveness of the law-related investigations and trials through:
High-quality training and consulting which can expand and enhance investigators' capabilities assure more probative testimony in hearings and at trials.
Research and development activities, which lead to both publication of scholarly papers, books and manuals, as well as consultations and testing to improve the quality of practical devices