Education
- Ph.D. in Business Administration-Criminal Justice
- Northcentral University
- M.S. in Administration of Justice
- Virginia Commonwealth University
Research Interests
Current research interests for Dr. Weiss include the challenges law enforcement face now that banks are quickly creating digital images of checks received and destroying the original paper check. In the past, original checks yielded fingerprint evidence crucial to the investigation. Without the original evidence, there is limited opportunity to solve check fraud cases. From this research, she has written an article that was published in May 2017 in the peer reviewed Journal of Forensic, Legal, & Investigative Sciences.
Dr. Weiss is also involved in a research project exploring the emotional stress and health concerns related to law enforcement response to opioid overdose calls. In the future, she plans on conducting qualitative research involving date rape on college campuses.
Positions Held
2015 - Present
Colorado State University
Adjunct Instructor
1996 - Present
Lakeland Police Department, Lakeland Florida
Crime Scene Technician II/Latent Print Examiner
2008 - 2019
St Petersburg College
Adjunct Instructor
2010 - 2016
Westwood College
Adjunct Instructor
2006 - 2013
Everest University
Instructor
2001 - 2006
Polk Community College
Instructor
1991 - 1996
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Forensic Serologist
Intellectual Contributions
An exploratory study of opioid drug overdoses and how law enforcement officers are affected in their personal and professional lives.
Dena M Weiss,Matthew D Loux,Daniel Gutierrez
October (4th Quarter/Autumn) 1, 2022
Salus Journal
Planting the seeds of social justice: Teaching social justice through a case study approach using wrongfully convicted murder cases
Dena M Weiss
April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 1, 2022
Journal of Education and Social Justice
Sex Offender Community Notification Law Reform: A Call for More Active, Consistent, and Detailed Information about High-Risk Offenders
Michelle Beshears,Michael L Beshears,Dena M Weiss
April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 18, 2017
International Journal of Social Science Studies
Reasons for the decrease in the development of suspects in check fraud cases in Central Florida
Dena Marie Weiss
April (2nd Quarter/Spring) 18, 2017
HSOA Journal of Forensic, Legal & Investigative Sciences
Presentations
The Use of Body-Worn Cameras in Policing: Transforming a Profession One Video at a Time
International Criminology Hybrid Conference
September 27, 2023
Planting the Seeds of Social Justice: Teaching Social Justice Through A Case Study Approach Using Wrongfully Convicted Murder Cases
Southern Criminal Justice Association
September 9, 2021
Podcast: What It Takes to be a Crime Scene Investigator
American Public University/EDGE
January 19, 2021
An Exploratory Study of Opioid Drug Overdoses: The Impact on Police Officers' Personal and Professional Lives
Beyond the Horizon: Reimagining Justice & Embracing Change
October 26, 2020
The Value of Using Case Studies in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Disciplines: The Jussie Smollett Case
Southern Criminal Justice Association
September 12, 2019
The Impact of the Opioid Epidemic on Our Communities and The Fight to Save Them
Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society, Kappa Kappa Chapter
November 27, 2018
The Reality of Opioid Abuse & Rising Death Rates
Southern Criminal Justice Association Conference
September 12, 2018
The Reality of Opioid Abuse & Rising Death Rates
Brown Bag Speaker Colloquium
May 1, 2018
Selection process for a career in law enforcement or crime scene investigation
Alpha Phi Sigma, Kappa Kappa chapter Honor Society
March 16, 2018
Sex Offender Community Notification Law Reform: A Call for More Active, Consistent, and Detailed Information About High-Risk Offenders
ACJS 54th Annual Meeting
March 23, 2017
Complacency in Crime Scene Investigations
Florida/Georgia International Association for Identification
October 26, 2014
Media Contributions
Incorporating Humility and Honesty into Forensic Science
American Military University Edge
May 27, 2021
Social Media - Blog
The Urgent Need to Identify Burn Victims of Wildfires
EDM Digest
October 8, 2020
Social Media - Blog
911 Calls for the Homeless Offer Unique Challenges
In Public Safety
September 1, 2020
Social Media - Blog
Rapid DNA Analysis a New Tool for Forensic Laboratories
In Public Safety
August 28, 2020
Social Media - Blog
COVID-19 Virus Mutations: The Danger of Adaptation
EDM Digest
August 26, 2020
Social Media - Blog
Agencies Should Actively Recruit Female Police Officers
In Public Safety
August 19, 2020
Social Media - Blog
Improving the Accuracy of Laboratory Testing of Cannabis
In Public Safety
August 18, 2020
Social Media - Blog
COVID-19 Increasing already dismal backlogs and debilitating court procedures
In Public Safety
August 10, 2020
Social Media - Blog
How case-based learning can build enthusiasm for a forensic science career
InPublic Safety
December 12, 2018
Internet
How case-based learning can build enthusiasm for a forensic science career
Policeone.com
December 12, 2018
Internet
Consequences of the Military Failing to Submit Fingerprints of Convicted Servicemembers
InPublic Safety
August 17, 2018
Internet
The thrill of latent print analysis and the agony of court
Medeo Systems, Inc.
March 28, 2018
Internet
Contributing to Research and Discussion in the Criminal Justice Field
InPublicSafety
March 7, 2017
Internet
The Importance of Collaborative Research in the Criminal Justice Field
InPublicSafety
February 21, 2017
Internet
Technology Offers New Ways to Lift Prints From Crime Scenes
In Public Safety
January 26, 2017
Internet
Crime Scene Investigators Are Essential to Helping Victims Find Justice
InPublicSafety
May 5, 2016
Internet
Officer Training to Improve Crime Scene Processing
InPublicSafety
February 5, 2016
Internet
One Assault, Two Crime Scenes: The Challenge of Handling Sexual Assault Cases
InPublicSafety
April 16, 2015
Internet
Law Enforcement Investigation Tools to Expand DNA to Bacteria
InPublicSafety
January 22, 2015
Internet
Interested in a Career in Criminal Forensics? Perspectives from the Field
In Public Safety
February 20, 2014
Internet
Veteran Forensic Scientist Examines Negligence in the Collection of Evidence Against Amanda Knox
In Public Safety
February 5, 2014
Internet
How one CSI learned to cope with trauma
PoliceOne
August 15, 2013
Internet
Certifications and Licensure
November 7, 2024
CITI - Social & Behavioral Research - Basic/Refresher
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program)
January 21, 2019
CITI - Social & Behavioral Research - Basic/Refresher
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program)
AFIS Certification
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Awards & Honors
July 15,
2022
Unsung Leader Award
APUS
For those whose contributions to Academics come not from title, but from their hard work and their inspiration of others to become better leaders. This individual shows initiative, demonstrates motivation, and makes Academics a more inclusive organization.
June 30,
2021
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Campus Republicans
June 30,
2021
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society
June 16,
2021
2020 University Strategic Initiative – Catalyst – Learning Management System Migration
APUS
During 2020, the earner of this badge made significant contributions to the migration of courses to a new online classroom to improve user experience, promote student-to-student and faculty-to-student interaction, enable a robust mobile classroom, and further differentiate APUS as a leader in online learning.
June 18,
2020
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Campus Republicans
June 28,
2019
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society
June 28,
2019
Outstanding Leadership
APUS
Campus Republicans
June 1,
2015
Distinguished Performance Award
Lakeland Police Department
Award for forensic expertise and case solving.
April 28,
2014
Distinguished Performance Award
Lakeland Police Department
Exceptional crime scene work.
October 27,
2006
Distinguished Performance Award
Lakeland Police Department
Exceptional crime scene work.
September 2005
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
August 2003
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigation work.
October 2002
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
January 2002
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
October 2001
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
October 2000
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
August 1999
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
June 1999
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
March 1999
Meritorious Service Award
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
June 1998
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
March 1997
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.
January 1997
Distinguished Performance Awards
Lakeland Police Department
Awarded for police investigative work.