Note:
This awardee has received supplemental funding. This award detail page includes information about both the original award and supplemental awards.
Award Information
Award #
2016-MU-BX-K007
Location
Congressional District
Status
Past Project Period End Date
Funding First Awarded
2016
Total funding (to date)
$30,285,458
Original Solicitation
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $4,700,000)
As submitted by the applicant:
The sheer volume of cases poses one of the greatest challenges to agencies tasked with locating missing persons and identifying remains. Resolving the almost 100,000 combined missing and unidentified person cases in the U.S. is difficult if not impossible without a central clearinghouse for case information. NamUs fulfills this need and allows the public including family members to participate in the search for missing loved ones.
Since 2011, the UNT Health Science Center (UNTHSC) has managed NamUs in collaboration with NIJ. Evidenced by a nearly five-year track record of success, UNTHSC brings an enormous wealth of experience, expertise, and commitment to supporting NamUs stakeholders. UNTHSCs leadership has had a significant impact on case reports and resolutions, and has created a mature organizational structure and strategic plans focused on:
Building and solidifying the NamUs brand
Performing critical upgrades to the existing NamUs software (NamUs 2.0)
Building new technologies to support critical incident response
Expanding the suite of NamUs services
Developing and implementing communication and outreach strategies
Resource forecasting to support NamUs/ growing user base
Under UNTHSCs leadership, NamUs has grown to a full-fledged organization that serves as a force multiplier for law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, and affiliated professionals, providing forensic and investigative support to drive case resolutions. Through NamUs and allied UNTHSC forensic services, all funded by NIJ, stakeholders are provided with forensic odontology, fingerprint examination, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses, and forensic anthropology. UNTHSC will also add a forensic artist to meet the growing demand for facial reconstructions of unidentified decedents under this proposal.
The UNTHSC/NamUs Analytical Unit performs analyses to resolve cases and compiles in-depth program performance reports to NIJ. The UNTHSC/NamUs Communications Division focused on further positioning NamUs with key stakeholders, and developing communications strategies surrounding the NamUs 2.0 upgrade and critical incident solution development. Training, outreach, and awareness remain critical to UNTHSCs NamUs management plan and include staff participation in cost-effective training, outreach, and awareness events.
UNTHSC brings an expert team of forensic, analytical, and Regional System Administrator staff members who have become investigative partners with the stakeholders they serve. The UNTHSC team believes that every victim deserves a voice; every missing person case deserves attention; and collaboration, communication, and connection are critical to resolving missing and unidentified person cases. By bringing people, information, forensic science, and technology together, NamUs and UNTHSC will continue to facilitate resolution of cases across the country.
ca/ncf
Date Created: September 19, 2016