Welcome

The Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and Law was established at Duquesne University in the fall of 2000.  Through its unique collaborative partnerships, the Institute offers several credit and/or continuing education programs.

Academic Programs

  • Certificate in Forensic Science and Law
  • Master in Forensic Science and Law
  • Master of Science in Nursing - forensic track
  • Certificate in Forensic Nursing

In The News

On Friday, November 5, 2010 the Wecht Institute hosted it's November Forensic Fridays seminar, Medical and Recreational Marijuana:  Scientific, Legal and Societal Considerations.  Read more about it in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

On Friday May 13, 2011 The Wecht Institute held the May Forensic Fridays seminar.  The topic was "The Changing Face of DNA:  The Science, Law, and Ethics of Familial Searching".  To read more about the seminar and this controversial topic, please read one of the two articles below.

Read more about the Institute's past news and events.

Please contact the Wecht Institute at wechtinstitute@duq.edu for additional information on any of our programs or events, or to be added to our email list.

CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS

Forensic Fridays

Forensic Fridays has returned.  May 18th's seminar will be the last of the Spring 2012 season.  It will be a full day seminar on Shaken Baby Syndrom.e  Learn more about Forensic Fridays.

Shaken Baby Syndrome Image

 

 

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES:

Mark your calendars now for the next two Wecht Institute Annual Conferences!

Post Combat Problems in the 21st Century:  Medical, Legal, and Societal Considerations - November 8-9, 2012

Passing the Torch:  A National Symposium on the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy - October 17-19, 2013

SUPPORTING THE WECHT INSTITUTE

Are you interested in supporting the Wecht Institute?  Learn more about our Funding Priorities.
Purchase the video from one of the Institute's past conferences or seminars.

**You can also check us out on Facebook - become a "fan" of the Institute!

RECENT EVENTS

PREDATORS AND THEIR PREY:
A National Conference on the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual and Violent Serial Offenders
October 21-22, 2011
CAUSE OF DEATH:
An Interdisciplinary Look at the State of Forensic Death Investigation
November 19-20, 2010
DOES FORENSICS NEED FIXING?:
A Seminar on the National Academy of Sciences' Report on Forensic Science

*If you were unable to attend these events but are interested in learning more, please contact the Institute directly at 412-396-1330 or wechtinstitute@duq.edu as we are exploring the possibility of  DVDs.*

 

Wecht Institute Spotlight

What is "Shaken Baby Syndrome"
Clinical, Investigative and Legal Considerations
May 18, 2012

"Shaken Baby Syndrome," now known within the pediatric community as "abusive head trama," is the most common cause of death from physical child abuse in this country. As an investigative and legal matter, however, it has not always been clearly understood or carefully applied, proving an often unreliable basis for criminal convictions.

In this full-day, collaborative seminar with Duquesne University's schools of Law and Nursing, the Wecht Institute aims to cut through the controversy and shed more light on the scientific, legal and investigative issues underlying this widely used but mostly misunderstood term.

Please join Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC abusive head trama researcher Dr. Rachel Berger and specialist colleagues Dr. Michael Bell, Dr. Ellen Mitchell and Dr. Ashok Panigrahy; Pittsburgh Homicide Detective Tim Rush; forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht; Westmoreland County Assistant District Attorneys Barbara Jollie and Judith Petrush; and Allegheny Count Public Defenders Lisa Middleman and Rhiannon Sisk for this timely and importan series of presentations and panel discussions.

Continuing education is available for Pennsylvania attorneys, nurses, teachers, and coroners.  For more information visit the continuing education page, or contact the Institute.  Register now!