Cold cases

Bill King discusses the operations of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), a program through which firearms examiners at state and local crime laboratories compare tool marks on fired bullets or cartridges found at a crime scene to digitized images of ballistic evidence in a nationwide database.

Deterrence theory dominates the American understanding of how to regulate criminal behavior but social psychologists' research shows that people comply for reasons that have nothing to do with fear of punishment; they have to do with values, fair procedures and how people connect with one another. Professor Meares discussed the relevance of social psychologists' emerging theory to legal theory and practice and how deterrence and emerging social psychology theories intertwine.

Forensic science research and development is critical to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's crime laboratories. Watch how the National Institute of Justice takes an idea from a need to a reality in the laboratory. 

You may also be interested in our video Why Is There an Evidence Backlog?

Practitioners from across the criminal justice system speak to the impact of NIJ's Solving Cold Cases with DNA grant program.

Practitioners from across the criminal justice system speak to the importance of cold case units and the impact they can have.