Just Touch DNA and Sexual Assault Groping Cases
In episode two of our Research and Considerations for Sexual Assault Cases season, Just Science sat down with Dr. Julie Valentine, Associate Dean and Associate Professor at Brigham Young University in the College of Nursing and certified sexual assault nurse forensic examiner, and Heather Mills, Forensic Scientist Manager at the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services, to discuss evidence collection in sexual assault groping cases. \n\nAs touch DNA evidence collection continues to develop, sexual assault nurse examiners and forensic scientists are poised to improve the investigation of sexual assault groping cases. In their recently published article, \u201cEvidence Collection and Analysis for Touch DNA in Groping and Sexual Assault Cases,\u201d Dr. Julie Valentine and Heather Mills explore the application of touch DNA evidence collection to sexual assault investigation, specifically associated with a groping case. Listen along as they discuss their article, the advent of touch DNA technology, and the importance of interdepartmental cooperation in this episode of Just Science. \n\nThis season is funded by the National Institute of Justice\u2019s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence.