Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) is hosting a three-and-a-half day forensic science training starting today in Washington, D.C. This second Forensic Science Symposium will teach approximately 70 federal, state, local, and international prosecutors how to ethically and effectively use forensic science in criminal cases.

The training will explain the science behind disciplines including DNA, latent prints, and firearms/toolmarks; instruct prosecutors about statistics, given its increasingly-common relevance in forensic science; and offer guidance on ethical issues that may arise in cases involving forensic science evidence. Attendees will also learn about some promising federal, state, and local approaches to combating the opioid epidemic.

“Our prosecutors rely on our Department of Forensic Sciences every day to help us investigate and try cases to make the District safer for all our residents,” said NAAG Vice President and District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine. “This conference will help prosecutors across the country learn about cutting-edge techniques for examining and analyzing evidence.”

“Forensic science is a vital part of law enforcement and this training presents an excellent opportunity for prosecutors to stay up to date on the latest science and best practices,” said Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, who is co-chair of the Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial Relations Working Group’s Forensic Science Subcommittee. The Working Group’s mission is to enhance the efforts of federal, state, and local prosecutorial and law enforcement agencies, and to promote and encourage cooperation among the various levels of government.

The Forensic Science Symposium’s co-sponsors are the U.S. Department of Justice and the National District Attorneys Association. The Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial Relations Working Group’s Subcommittee was instrumental in bringing together this partnership.

# # #