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IBPC Technical Colloquium: Quantifying the Weight of Forensic Evidence

NIST is organizing a technical colloquium on the topic of Quantification of the Weight of Forensic Evidence. The purpose of the technical colloquium is to facilitate a technical discussion about theories and current approaches and practices for assigning the weight of evidence. Issues related to statistical methods for quantifying the weight of evidence and their introduction into courts of law, are of great interest and importance in forensic science.

Mathematically speaking, it has been argued that the Likelihood Ratio (LR) is the optimal approach for quantifying the weight of evidence. However, there are still a great deal of unknowns surrounding the implementation and computation of LRs across specific forensic domains. There is also ongoing debate about the interpretation of LR values in courtroom testimony.

The technical colloquium aims to address different mathematical or statistical methods for quantifying the weight of evidence, their scientific underpinning, pros, cons, limitation as well as the criteria for applying such methods, and development of guidelines for the forensic science community. We encourage participants to review the bibliography posted prior to the technical colloquium.

The technical colloquium which is part of the IBPC2016 will be held May 5-6 at NIST in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Final Agenda (pdf) Updated 4/14

Courtyard Gaithersburg Washingtonian Center
204 Boardwalk Place
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
800-321-2211
$204/night
Includes Breakfast, Guest Wifi, Shuttle to and from NIST
Book by April 4, 2016
Book your group rate for NIST IBPC Room Block May2016

If you are not registered, you will not be allowed on site. Registered attendees will receive security and campus instructions prior to the workshop.

NON U.S. CITIZENS PLEASE NOTE: All foreign national visitors who do not have permanent resident status and who wish to register for the above meeting must supply additional information. Failure to provide this information prior to arrival will result, at a minimum, in significant delays (up to 24 hours) in entering the facility. Authority to gather this information is derived from United States Department of Commerce Department Administrative Order (DAO) number 207-12. When registration is open, the required NIST-1260 form will be available as well. *New Visitor Access Requirement: Effective July 21, 2014, Under the REAL ID Act of 2005, agencies, including NIST, can only accept a state-issued driver's license or identification card for access to federal facilities if issued by states that are REAL ID compliant or have an extension.Click here for a list of alternative identification and further details>>

Created March 11, 2016, Updated September 26, 2016