Jennifer Shen Forensics – Jennifer Shen Forensics

Jennifer Shen Forensics

About Jen

Unmatched expertise in forensic investigations.

Laboratory

mangement

Crime scene

investigation

Unmatched

expertise

Achievements

Recognized expert

Called upon over 200 times to provide expert testimony in criminal trials in municipal, superior, and federal court, and a frequent television guest commentator on matters of forensic science.

Leader

As Crime Laboratory Manager for the Chula Vista Police Department and former Commanding Officer of the San Diego Police Department, managed the Crime Laboratory and all areas of forensics: DNA, Chemistry, Forensic Technology, Latent Prints, Firearms, Trace Evidence, Crime Scene Processing and Reconstruction, Questioned Documents, Polygraph, and the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory task force members.

Professor

As an adjunct professor at Alliant University, teaches students skills in Forensic Psychology. For National University, developed curriculum and taught a master’s level course on crime scene investigation and reconstruction, with an emphasis on blood stain pattern interpretation and trajectory reconstruction, as part of the Forensic Science Program.

Researcher

Oversaw groundbreaking research on DNA analysis of fired cartridge cases, resulting in two scientific publications and San Diego Police Department’s achievement of one of the highest homicide clearance rates in the country.

Experienced

Oversaw the International Accreditation of the Crime Laboratory in 2014 and the ANSI
National Accreditation Board (ANAB) management-centered accreditation in 2019.
Achievements ensure the laboratory is providing the highest quality of work, utilizing best practices.

Innovative

Led implementation of a proactive system of fingerprint analyses that tripled both case output and latent print hits that helped solve cold case homicides.

Efficient

Implemented a new system to track sexual assault kits that resulted in all kits being counted, entered and assessed without the need for additional funding.

Guiding Legislation

As part of the Forensic Alcohol Review committee, co-authored Title 17, the California State law that governs forensic alcohol testing.

Experience

About Jen

Through a combination of leadership, communication skills, vision, and an aggressive pursuit of excellence, Jennifer Shen’s teams have earned the highest level of achievement and respect at the local, state, and national level.

Jen has exceptional written and verbal
communication skills, and the ability to present complex scientific concepts to a non-technical audience, as well as the tools to navigate through the political arena in a high-stress environment.

Experience

Jen’s Work

Jennifer Shen serves as the Crime Laboratory Manager for the Chula Vista Police Department. Jennifer has also served as director of the San Diego Police Department Crime Lab.

She has taught Crime Scene Investigation in the Forensic Science Master’s program at National University, and is currently teaching a course in Forensic Psychology for Alliant University.

Jennifer has been in the field of forensics since 1993, working her way up from laboratory aide to Crime Laboratory Director.

During her tenure, she oversaw the implementation of a new Forensic Technology Section, International Laboratory Accreditation, the publication of a cutting edge DNA extraction process for fired cartridge cases, and the implementation of a one-of-a-kind ShotSpotter program.

Jennifer is available for consulting, media appearances, presentations, and as an expert witness.

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