Using Forensic Intelligence To Combat Serial and Organized Violent Crimes

• NCJ Number: 255358
• Date Published: October 2020
• Author(s): Basia Lopez, Jon McGrath, and Veronica Taylor
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Series: NIJ Journal
• Publication Type: NIJ Journal

Annotation

This NIJ Journal article describes how forensic intelligence works in practice, with a focus on its role in analyzing serial and violent crimes.

Abstract

Forensic intelligence refers to the ways that forensic data can be gathered and used to help identify links, patterns, and trends pertinent to criminal activity. Analysis of these data can produce actionable information for disrupting and preventing crime. This NIJ Journal article describes how forensic intelligence works in practice, with a focus on its role in analyzing serial and violent crimes such as those involving gun violence, sexual assault, illicit drugs, and human trafficking. Because these crimes may span multiple types of activity and multiple jurisdictions, forensic intelligence has the potential to surface unseen connections and new leads in these cases.