Updated Guide for Medicolegal Investigators
NIJ has released an updated technical guide for conducting collaborative death scene investigations. The 2024 guide accounts for key changes in the field, including advances in DNA, communication, and documentation technology, procedures for drug, child, and infant death investigations, and collaboration between investigators and professional partners, families, and the media.
Officer Trainings Improve Victim Wellness, Case Closures
A new article published in Police Chief examines NIJ-supported studies on trauma-informed training techniques for engagement with assault victims. The studies show that these trainings not only improve case closure rates and enhance victims’ emotional wellbeing, but also increase trust in law enforcement.
Intelligence-Led Policing Strategy Helps Reduce Gun Violence
In 2006, New Jersey initiated a comprehensive gun violence reduction strategy, becoming the first in the country to create a long-term, statewide, multi-jurisdictional program that relied upon the integration of data and intelligence from multiple sources. NIJ-sponsored criminologists evaluated the initiative and determined the multi-pronged approach helped reduce gun violence and generate more violent crime leads.
Term of the Month — Short Tandem Repeats
Short tandem repeats are repeating DNA sequences that can be used to identify people and remains. Forensic investigators compare short tandem repeats to distinguish among individuals and match DNA profiles, which can help solve missing persons cases and identify people convicted of or arrested for crimes.
Criminal Justice Data Archives
The National Archive of Criminal Justice Data archives data on crime and justice and contains data from over 2,700 curated studies or statistical data series. The website is home to several large-scale datasets, including the National Crime Victimization Survey, FBI's Uniform Crime Reports and National Incident-Based Reporting System, and the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods.
List of Compliant Ballistic Resistant Body Armor
NIJ certifies torso-worn ballistic resistant body armor for law enforcement that complies with the requirements our Compliance Testing Program. If you’re in the law enforcement profession, review a newly updated list of all compliant armor, searching by manufacturing company, gender, threat levels, and other factors.
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CrimeSolutions Program and Practice Ratings
PSYCHOPATHY.COMP (Portugal)
This is an individual compassion-focused, therapy-based intervention adapted from traditional compassionate-focused therapy to reduce psychopathic traits in youth in a correctional setting in Portugal.
Police Body-Worn Cameras (Boston, Massachusetts)
This involves police officers wearing cameras on their uniforms to improve the civility of their interactions with citizens.
Imprisonment for Individuals Who Committed a Drunk Driving Offense (New South Wales, Australia)
This involves prison time for individuals who have committed drunk-driving offenses to reduce their risk of recidivism upon their release.
The First Step Act
The First Step Act of 2018 aims to reform the federal prison system and reduce recidivism. NIJ is working to assess and develop an existing risk and needs assessment system for incarcerated individuals, and develop recommendations regarding effective evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and activities.