This program is eligible for 4 hours of CLE credit in 60-minute states. In 50-minute states, this program is eligible for 4.8 hours of CLE credit. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.
Overview
Forensics and the Law: What the Experts Want Lawyers to Know About Advancements in Criminal Investigations.
Hollywood has made us armchair experts on forensic investigative techniques used at crime scenes, but do you know how the Boy in the Box and the Golden State Killer cases were solved after so many years? Do you know how law enforcement identified the many insurrections who invaded the capitol building on January 6?
It’s entertainment. And a critical element of forensic investigations.
Lady Justice wears a blindfold, but you should not. This program offers an eye-opening introduction to new forensic techniques, from phenotyping and familial DNA to license plate readers and facial recognition technology.
Increase your science literacy.
Temple Law Professor Samuel D. Hodge, Jr. returns to the dais with Ryan Gallagher, Manager of the DNA Unit for the Philadelphia Crime Lab, and Lieutenant William Mitchell with the Major Crimes Unit of the Montgomery County Detectives, to introduce you to crime-solving techniques used in the 21st Century.
- Out with the old, in with the new
- New technologies for crime solving involving DNA.
- How computers are changing criminal investigations.
- Drones
- DNA
- Rapid DNA analysis
- Phenotypic DNA and Genetic Geneaology
- Digitial forensics
- Recovery, analysis, and examination to extract evidence
Faculty
William Mitchell, MACJ
Lt. Mitchell has been in Law Enforcement for over 30 years. He is currently assigned to the Montgomery County Major Crimes Unit where he is responsible for supervising detectives who investigate a variety of criminal activity including organized retail crimes, financial crimes, and cybercrimes. He specializes in Cell Phone Data Analysis and Cell Site Mapping and is certified as an expert in the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. He is also certified In the use and operation of Cellebrite. Lt. Mitchell is an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University, where he teaches Public Safety and Criminal Investigations. He is also an Adjunct Professor at DeSales University, teaching Digital Investigations and Public Safety. He is a graduate of DeSales University (MA, Criminal Justice/Digital Forensics), Neumann University (Public Safety Administration), and Delaware County Community College (Criminal Justice and Corrections.)
Ryan Gallagher, MS
Ryan Gallagher is currently the Assistant Director overseeing Scientific Services within the Philadelphia Police Department’s Office of Forensic Science. Previously, Mr. Gallagher was is responsible for the daily operations of the Criminalistics Unit that processes all of the DNA cases for the City of Philadelphia. Mr. Gallagher earned a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology from Temple University and a master’s degree in Forensic Science from Arcadia University. After working in the field of cancer research, he began his career in forensics with the Philadelphia Police Department in 2006. Prior to his role as the unit manager, Mr. Gallagher worked as an forensic expert in the identification of biological fluids and ignitable liquids, where he analyzed evidence in hundreds of Homicide, Sexual Assault and Arson cases.
Samuel D. Hodge, Jr., Esq.
Professor Hodge is a Professor Emeritus at Temple University where he teaches law, anatomy, and forensic courses. He is also a member of the Dispute Resolution Institute in Philadelphia where he serves as a mediator and neutral arbitrator. Professor Hodge has been named one of the most popular continuing legal education instructors in the country and lectures frequently to attorneys, judges, physicians. and governmental agencies on medical/legal issues and artificial intelligence. He has received multiple teaching awards including being named a Temple University Great Teacher and his Anatomy for Lawyers course was the recipient of the ACLEA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Continuing Legal Education. Professor Hodge is one of the most published authors in the United States on medical/legal matters. His book, Anatomy, and Physiology for Legal Professionals was published by PBI in 2020, and he is also the co-author of the books: Traumatic Head and Brain Injuries, ABA; The Forensic Autopsy, ABA; The Spine, ABA; Clinical Anatomy for Attorneys, ABA; and author of the award-winning book, Anatomy for Litigators, ALI-ABA. He also wrote Law in American Society, McGraw Hill; Law for the Business Enterprise, McGraw Hill; and Thermography and Personal Injury Litigation, Wiley Law. In addition to his authoring multiple books, he has published more than 200 articles in medical and legal journals and in excess of 500 non-referred publications. Professor Hodge is a graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law and the Graduate Division of the Law School. He has received mediation training at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. In addition to writing multiple law review articles on the various applications of artificial intelligence from its use in medicine to the legal profession, he testified before the Pennsylvania Legislature’s Democratic Caucus studying the use of artificial intelligence in a business setting. He is also on the committee making recommendations to the Pennsylvania legislature on proposed legislation on police body worn cameras.

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