In episode nine, Just Science interviews Clarence Jordan, the Vice President of Wellness and Recovery at Beacon Health Options, to discuss stigma and its impact to programs designed to support those with substance use disorder and on individual level outcomes. 

There is no shortage of stigma surrounding the overdose crisis facing our nation. The proliferation of stigma and its impact are constant battles for practitioners and organizations dedicated to combating the problem. Clarence Jordan and the rest of his team at Beacon Health Options enhance their efforts to provide recovery-based principles and behavioral health services through education and community engagement. Listen along as our guest discusses peer support programs, stigma as a barrier to mental health treatment, and the role of education in the de-stigmatization of substance abuse disorder in this episode of Just Science.

This season is in collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Assistance Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program funding to respond to illicit substance use and misuse in order to reduce overdose deaths, promote public safety, and support access to services. 

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

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In episode one of our 2021 Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with author, non-profit founder, and sexual assault survivor Natasha Alexenko to discuss her book, A Survivor’s Journey, and the importance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Every survivor of sexual assault has their own story. Some have experienced successful case resolutions and others have not, but all are on a journey of healing. As Natasha Alexenko says, each survivor is more than just their story. From advocacy to legislation, Natasha works tirelessly to improve the response to sexual assault in our country. Listen along as she discusses the impact of her book, the introduction of new legislation to improve sexual assault response, and recommendations for supporting survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic in this episode of Just Science.

This episode of Just Science is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence [Award 2016-MU-BX-K110].

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In episode two of our Sexual Assault Awareness Month mini season, Just Science sat down with Marya Simmons, founder and CEO of Shift in Notion Consulting, to discuss victim advocacy during a pandemic.  

The arena of sexual assault response reform has seen a shift toward victim-centered approaches over the last several years. At Shift in Notion Consulting, Marya Simmons is at the forefront of this movement. She provides training and technical assistance for trauma informed, victim-centered approaches to victim advocacy, sexual assault investigation, and prosecution. Listen along as our guest discusses the beginning of Shift in Notion Consulting, supporting transgender survivors, and resources available to victims during the COVID-19 pandemic in this episode of Just Science.  

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just Victim Advocacy During A Pandemic_SAAM21_161

In episode one of our 2021 NIJ R&D and Beyond mini season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Frances Scott, a physical scientist in the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences at the National Institute of Justice, to discuss the Seized Drugs and Toxicology research and development portfolio. 

With the introduction of new and more complex substances every year, forensic laboratories need access to the most cutting-edge technology to stay on the forefront of the Opioid Epidemic. Dr. Francis Scott oversees NIJ's Seized Drugs and Forensic Toxicology R&D portfolio in a concerted effort to provide the latest quality research to the public. Listen along as she discusses the addition of the research for publicly funded labs program, the complexity of toxicology analysis, and the NIJ’s research portfolio in the discipline of seized drugs in this episode of Just Science.  

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just Seized Drugs And Toxicology  Portfolio

In episode four of our 2021 NIJ R&D and Beyond mini season, Just Science sat down with Tracey Johnson, a physical scientist and program manager in the Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences at NIJ, to discuss the NIJ Biology and DNA research portfolio.  

Although Tracey Johnson is relatively new to NIJ, she has a depth of professional experience from which she can draw. As a 20-year veteran in the field of forensic DNA analysis, she is no stranger to the needs and gaps in the discipline. Listen along as she discusses her career path, the intersection of forensics and other scientific disciplines, and the NIJ Biology and DNA research portfolio in this episode of Just Science. 

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just The Biology And DNA Portfolio

In episode seven of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Rachel Lovell and Mary Weston to discuss resolving partially tested sexual assault kits.

Partially tested sexual assault kits create a unique barrier when it comes to the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases. However, re-opening these cases and conducting a comprehensive case review can yield positive results, even years later. Mary Weston and Dr. Rachel Lovell led the charge when it came to resolving partially tested kits in Cuyahoga County, resulting in a series of new investigative and prosecutorial leads. Listen along as they discuss the challenges associated with partially tested kits, the importance of a comprehensive case review, and the value of building a good relationship with your forensic laboratory in this episode of Just Science.

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

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Just Partially Tested Sexual Assault Kits

In the first episode of our Workforce Resiliency season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Jennifer Rineer, a program manager and research psychologist in RTI International’s Center for Policing Research and Investigative Science, and Kelly Keyes, a research forensic scientist in RTI’s Center for Forensic Sciences, to discuss workforce resiliency among medicolegal death investigators.   

Medicolegal death investigators face consistent exposure to stress and traumatic events on the job, yet there is limited research on the daily pressures these professionals experience. An NIJ study led by Dr. Rineer surveyed 900 medicolegal death investigators to gain more information on the driving sources of stress among these practitioners, with the goal of developing better interventions to mitigate these stressors. Listen along as these experts discuss the responsibilities of medicolegal death investigators and the difficulty of retaining good staff, as well as their findings on work-related stress within the profession in this episode of Just Science. 

This season is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just Workforce Resiliency For MDIs

Song : Live
Singer/lyrics : Nijjar
Music : Deep Jandu 
Video  : Rupan bal 
Editor : Dilpreetvfx
Female Vocals : Simmy
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Promotions : Kingsofmedia

Live

LIVE (Prod. Deep Jandu)

In episode one of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. José Almirall, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Director of the National Science Foundation-funded Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science at Florida International University, and Dr. Sarah Kerrigan, Professor and Chair of the Forensic Science Department at Sam Houston State University and Director of the Institute for Forensic Research, Training and Innovation, to discuss the inception of the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) and chemistry programs in forensic science. Built on the foundation of the Technical Working Group on Education and Training in Forensic Science, or TWGED, FEPAC became an official standing committee of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and awarded its first accreditation in February 2004. Since then, over 50 undergraduate and master’s level forensic science programs have been accredited in the United States. Listen along as Dr. Almirall and Dr. Kerrigan discuss their roles as founding members and early adopters of FEPAC, training the next generation of forensic chemists, and the importance of expanding the number of forensic science Ph.D. programs. This episode is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just FEPAC Accreditation And Forensic Chemistry Programs

In the eighth episode of our Strengthening the Forensic Workforce season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Peter Stout, President of the Houston Forensic Science Center, Dr. Ray Wickenheiser, Director of the New York State Police Crime Laboratory System, and Matthew Gamette, Director of the Idaho State Police Forensic Services Laboratory System, to discuss their perspectives on forensic science training and recommendations for students and faculty in FEPAC-accredited programs. FEPAC-accredited institutions are preparing students for future jobs in crime laboratories across the United States. Lab directors use these institutional standards to help guide them in their hiring processes. Listen to part one of this two-part episode as our guests discuss crime laboratory accreditation, hiring challenges, and the importance of multidisciplinary training. This episode is funded by the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.

Just the Forensic Laboratory Workforce Part 1

Just Science is a podcast for justice professionals and anyone interested in learning more about forensic science, innovative technology, current research, and actionable strategies to improve the criminal justice system.  This podcast deals with a range of issues, including leadership in the crime lab, new technologies, sexual assault response, and broader challenges for science and public security. We cover every type of forensic discipline, including DNA, fingerprints, trace evidence, toxicology, controlled substances, crime scene investigation, and much more!

Some seasons of Just Science were developed by RTI International through the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence,  a program of the National Institute of Justice, United States Department of Justice and funded in part through cooperative agreement [2016-MU-BX-K110].

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