George W Adams
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, USA
Keynote: J Forensic Res
The cyclical transformation of forensic science may be conceptualized as being similar to social transformationâ?? from dissonance to integrity and transparency of enlightenment, to the status quo agendas of elitism, to dissonance as reality interjects its trinityâ?? integrity, transparency and truthâ??a precursor to its renaissance (rebirth). The original gestation of forensic science was approximately two and a half centuries. Francis Bacon first planted the principled seeds of forensic science in the early 17th century as a heretic who dared to challenge the insular agendas of elitism with what is known as the â??scientific methodâ? to get as near the truth as possible. Though there were many previous contractions, the birth of forensic science was delivered with Dr. Alexandre Lacassangeâ??s 1889 autopsy of an unidentified murder victimâ?? Tussaint-Augustin Gouff?©. Many forensic science disciplines flourished over the century reaching its pinnacle in 1989 with the DNA case of People v. Castro, when technology became realityâ??s truth crusader and DNA its guidon. As elitism took the leading role as forensic scienceâ??s protectorate, the status quo became an intractable obstacle to the implementation of innovative technologies. The dissonance among all forensic disciplines increased over years; not until 2009 and a National Academies of Scienceâ??s report did that discordance to the daisâ?? excluding DNA. It would be an innocuous request for re-analysis of a DNA sample by a Texas District Attorney that would the catalyst for opening the leading the renaissance of forensic science and opening opportunities for future cutting edge technologies.
George W Adams is a former National Director of National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs, 2011/2015), Program Manager at University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (2005/2011) and the author of “Utilizing Forensic Technologies for Unidentified Human Remains: Death Investigation Resources, Strategies, and Disconnects” (Taylor & Francis, 2015). He holds a Master of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice (UTA -2013) and Bachelor of Business Administration (1972), and a member of Texas Municipal Police Officers Association. His research pursues two vectors– unbiased understanding of forensic DNA application and elevating the empirical nature of criminal investigations.
Email: gwa337687@gmail.com
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