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Courts

Courts Research Portfolio

NIJ’s Courts Research Portfolio supports research, evaluation, data collection, and dissemination aimed at identifying court tools, practices, and policies that advance criminal justice goals such as public safety, cost-efficiency, and the fair treatment of victims and defendants. 

Courts play a crucial role in the administration of justice, serving as collaborators and intermediaries between defendants, victims, law enforcement, corrections, and the community. With limited...

Statistical and Testimony from the Practitioner and Juror Point of View - Panel Discussion

January 2018

This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.

Review the conference proceedings (pdf, 161 pages).

Statistics and Testimony from the Practitioner and Juror Point of View: Panel Discussion

January 2018

This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.

Review the conference proceedings (pdf, 161 pages).

Likelihood Ratio Testimony - Cross-Examined

January 2018

This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.

Review the conference proceedings (pdf, 161 pages).

Factors Which Influence Juror’s Interpretation of the Value of Forensic Science Testimony

January 2018

This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.

Review the conference proceedings (pdf, 161 pages).

Reality Check - What Is Expected from Expert Witnesses

January 2018

This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.

Review the conference proceedings (pdf, 161 pages).

Challenges Faced by Experts When Communicating Forensic Evidence to Triers of Fact - One Statistician's View

January 2018

This event brought together practitioners and researchers to enhance information-sharing and promote collaboration among the impression, pattern, and trace evidence analysts, law enforcement, and legal communities.

The symposium was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence January 22-25, 2018.

Review the conference proceedings (pdf, 161 pages).

Communicating Conclusions in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

December 2019

The results of a bloodstain pattern analysis are communicated through written reports and courtroom testimony.  Principles of communication science will be discussed and explained to develop the audience’s ability to transfer meaning through writing and verbal testimony.

This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on December 11, 2019.

Game Over: The Prosecution of Mell Hall, Part 3

March 2017

Former Major League Baseball player Mel Hall is known for many things, but his athletic career is shadowed by a severe crime: preying on underage girls. In 2009, Hall was convicted of three counts of sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. In this presentation, survivor Chaz discussed her personal story and the methods Hall used to manipulate her family into trusting him.

Game Over The Prosecution of Mel Hall, Part 2

March 2017

Former Major League Baseball player Mel Hall is known for many things, but his athletic career is shadowed by a severe crime: preying on underage girls. In 2009, Hall was convicted of three counts of sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. In this presentation, survivor Chaz discussed her personal story and the methods Hall used to manipulate her family into trusting him.

Game Over: The Prosecution of Mell Hall, Part 1

March 2017

Former Major League Baseball player Mel Hall is known for many things, but his athletic career is shadowed by a severe crime: preying on underage girls. In 2009, Hall was convicted of three counts of sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecency with a child. In this presentation, survivor Chaz discussed her personal story and the methods Hall used to manipulate her family into trusting him.