Revisiting Strengthening the National Institute of Justice

An ad hoc committee will conduct a study and prepare a report that will review the progress made by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to advance forensic science research since the 2009 report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward and the 2010 report, Strengthening the National Institute of Justice. Specifically, this study will focus on: (1) the role of the agency to lead critical areas of forensic science research; and (2) efforts to strengthen NIJ's role as an independent scientific entity, particularly regarding forensic science. The review will examine the ways in which NIJ develops its forensic science research priorities and communicates those priorities as well as its findings to the scientific and forensic practitioner communities in order to determine the impact of NIJ forensic science research programs and how that impact can be enhanced. The committee will assess NIJ's progress to date and make recommendations for areas where continued improvement is needed. nca/ncf