Cuomo Signs Law to Expand New York’s DNA Databank

Albany, N.Y. (WKBW release) — New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo joined by Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on Monday signed into law a historic bill that makes New York State the first “all crimes DNA” state in the nation, by requiring DNA samples be collected from anyone convicted of a felony or Penal Law misdemeanor.

Vikings Brought Mouse To North America, Study Suggests

Scientific American
Four-legged stowaways hitched a ride aboard the wooden 10th- and 11th-century Viking ships that braved the northern seas. The probably numerous passengers aboard hailed from Mus musculus domesticus, the small, fleet-of-foot rodent otherwise known simply as the house mouse.

PA outlines legal case against Israeli prison DNA tests

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — The Palestinian Authority detainees ministry said Sunday it considers Israel’s use of DNA tests on Palestinian prisoners as a violation of international law, and will argue so in a case at Israel’s high court.

JPSO crime lab earns international accreditation

Louisiana
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office’s one-year-old crime lab has earned international accreditation for its forensic testing policies and procedures. Officials from the American National Standards Institute-American Society for Quality were on hand March 6 at the Harvey lab to present certification of the achievement to Sheriff Newell Normand and the lab’s employees.

Rwanda to upgrade its forensic centre

East Africa News Agency
Rwanda’s Inspector General of Police Emmanuel Gasana has told security professionals from the East African Community (EAC) that Rwanda National Police was on course to complete a state-of-the-art forensic facility as part of its efforts to address investigation challenges.

Offutt likely to get famed forensics lab

Omaha Nebraska
After two frustrating failures, local leaders have now likely succeeded in their quest to expand Offutt Air Force Base.
A famed forensics lab that identifies the remains of long-missing American soldiers — and often brings closure to military families after decades of waiting — is expected to move some of its functions to Offutt late this year, according to two sources with knowledge of the move.

To keep the busy Union County lab growing, new director plans to pursue grants for DNA equipment

New Jersey
Donna Hansen, forensic chemist, works inside the DNA extraction room at the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Forensic Laboratory in Westfield in November 2009. The laboratory has hired a new director, Matthew Gabriel.

Buried amid rape kit backlog: Justice for victims

Detroit— For almost two decades, Carol Bart’s untested rape kit collected dust in a police evidence room. Her attacker, who kidnapped her from outside her Dallas apartment and repeatedly raped her at knifepoint, had spent time in prison by coincidence, but not for sexually assaulting Bart.