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SWGDVI

Scientific Working Group on Disaster Victim Identification. SWGDVI. Funded by the National Institute of Justice. What is a SWG? . FBI developed concept in early 1990’s

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SWGDVI

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  1. Scientific Working Group on Disaster Victim Identification SWGDVI Funded by the National Institute of Justice

  2. What is a SWG? • FBI developed concept in early 1990’s • Adams DE, Lothridge KL.  Scientific Working Groups.  Forensic Science Communications 2000;2(3). www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/july2000/swgroups.htm • Created to improve discipline practices in forensic science • Develop mutual agreements between US federal, state, and local forensic community partners

  3. SWG functions • Develop and disseminate best practices • Encourage research areas (gap analysis) • Bring together pertinent organizations and subject matter experts • Foster cooperation with national/international organizations

  4. Current SWGs • Facial Identification (FISWG) • DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) • Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG) • Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology (SWGFAST) • Fire and Explosives (SWGFEX) • Imaging Technology (SWGIT) • Materials Analysis (SWGMAT) • Gun Shot Residue (SWGGSR) • Forensic Anthropology (SWGANTH) • Digital Evidence (SWGDE) • Forensic Document Examination (SWGDOC) • Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (SWGSTAIN) • Shoe Print and Tire Tread Evidence (SWGTREAD) • Forensic Toxicology (SWGTOX) • Disaster Victim Identification (SWGDVI) • Firearms and Toolmarks (SWGGUN) • Dog and Orthogonal Detector Guidelines (SWGDOG) • Medicolegal Death Investigation (SWGMDI) • Wildlife Forensics (SWGWILD)

  5. SWGDVI Objectives • Assemble organizations and individuals actively involved with DVI to exchange ideas regarding scientific analysis methods, protocols, training, and research related to DVI. • Discuss, develop, disseminate, and advance consensus guidelines and best practices, studies, and other recommendations and/or findings for DVI. • Generate and disseminate guidelines, best practices, and recommendations for quality assurance and quality control. • Encourage and evaluate research and/or innovative technology related to DVI.

  6. Standards, Guidelines, Best Practices SWGDVI is not a regulatory body, no enforcement authority.  • Standards: Are enforceable established rules or requirements.  Standards are considered minimal--what you have to do.   • Guidelines:   A community norm.  These are what you should do.  Deviations should be justified.  In order to be effective, community must agree to them.   • Best Practices:  Best practices are the things you could do if you had all the resources and support available – aspirational goals.  

  7. SWGDVI Board • 30 members representing a broad spectrum of DVI expertise • US federal, state, and local jurisdictions • International organizations • Academia • Agencies/institutions named as Permanent Members • Permanent members appoint individuals to represent the agency • Ensures agency involvement throughout SWG process • Individual Members serve based on individual qualifications

  8. SWGDVI Board • Permanent Members • Federal Bureau of Investigation (4) • National Transportation Safety Board (2) • Department of Health & Human Services (1) • Department of Defense • Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (1) • Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (1) • National Association of Medical Examiners (1) • International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (1) • Interpol DVI Steering Group (2) • International Commission on Missing Persons (1) • International Committee of the Red Cross (1)

  9. SWGDVI Board • Individual Members (15) • Robert Barsley, DDS, JD; LSU School of Dentistry • Dennis Dirkmaat, PhD; Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute • Lyle Konigsberg, PhD; University of Illinois • Dennis McGowan ; University of Tennessee • Yvonne Milewski, MD; Office of the Medical Examiner, Suffolk County • Gary W. Reinecke, Boston University • David Senn, DDS; University of Texas Health Science Center • Victor Weedn, MD, JD; Maryland Office of Chief Medical Examiner • Jason Wiersema, PhD ; Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences • 6 positions vacant

  10. Why is it essential for the SWGDVI Board to maintain permanent international representation? • 16 aviation accidents (1996 – 2009) • 20 – 265 victims • 3-33 nationalities • 4 US domestic • Avg. 4/flight • 12 international • Avg. 11/flight

  11. SWGDVI Committees • Committees are formed to examine targeted issues • Two SWGDVI Board members serve as co-Presiding Officers for each committee • Committees are populated by US and international Advisory Members • Participate in drafting guidelines, best practices, and other products

  12. SWGDVI Committees ADMINISTRATIVE • Membership FUNCTIONAL • DVI Management • Search and Recovery • Pathology • Anthropology • Odontology • Friction Ridge Analysis • Molecular Biology/DNA • Data Management • DVI Reconciliation and Quality Assurance • Victim Information Center/Family Assistance Center • Ethics

  13. DVI Community Input • Committee Advisory Members • 5-10 per committee • Open forum review/discussion of draft documents • Release on website for public comment - 60 day period • Committee discusses comments & revises • Board discussion & majority vote • Public invited to submit comments and propose changes at any time • Website feedback forum • Sunsetting after 5 years • Open sessions at annual meetings (AAFS, NAME…)

  14. Is SWGDVI re-creating work already accomplished?

  15. Is SWGDVI re-creating work already accomplished? • Assemble DVI community • International perspective • Interagency perspective • Scientific perspective • Solicit input throughout product development • Deliberative process • Collate existing SOPs and guidelines, evaluate, synthesize • Develop guidelines, & best practices • Gap analysis

  16. Is SWGDVI meeting its objectives? • Assemble members of DVI community to exchange ideas • Biannual SWGDVI Board meetings • Bimonthly SWGDVI web-conferences • DVI Reconciliation and Quality Assurance Committee • October 2010, Washington DC • NYC –OCME/Interpol • February 2011, New York City • AAFS Annual Meeting (2011) • NTSB International Family Assistance Symposium • NAME Meeting (2011) • AAFS Annual Meeting (2012)

  17. Future Perspectives on DVI • US local/state/regional teams and mutual support networks • Training, funding, mobile morgues • Increased attention of US Federal government • Standardization, systems interoperability • Education & training • Interagency coordination • Full-time positions (FBI, NTSB, DHHS)

  18. Success depends on our willingness to foster a collaborative environment within the DVI community.

  19. Questions/Commentswww.swgdvi.orgchair@swgdvi.org

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