DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
Director's Message - NIJ Journal Issue No. 255
Forensic Biology/Forensic DNA
Forensic Biology/DNA analysis has played a critical role in the investigation and resolution of thousands of crimes since the late 1980s. Over time the forensic biology field has expanded to include techniques that target DNA, RNA, or proteins from all types of organisms and technology has improved in quality, sensitivity, and analysis time.
While there...
Probabilistic Genotyping of Evidentiary DNA Typing Results - Module 6: Probabilistic Genotyping in Court
Probabilistic Genotyping of Evidentiary DNA Typing Results - Module 4: Validation of Probabilistic Genotyping Systems for Casework Usage
Probabilistic Genotyping of Evidentiary DNA Typing Results - Module 7: Uncertainty and Limitations of Probabilistic Genotyping Systems
Director's Message: Addressing Sexual Assault Response — Moving Forward and Finding Solutions
This symposium presents a truly unique opportunity for you to participate in an unprecedented event on an important issue facing our nation: sexual assault.
I am pleased to announce that on September 8-9, 2016, through our longstanding commitment to improving sexual assault response, NIJ is hosting Looking Ahead: The National Sexual Assault Policy Symposium, and I invite all to attend. This event will bring...
What Is Research and Evaluation Evidence and How Can We Use It?
This NIJ Conference Panel will explore the development and use of evidence-based policies, programs and technologies to improve effectiveness and efficiencies related to government. Through casual observation, practices and programs may appear to be effective, but under closer scrutiny the results may look much different.
Making Sense of the DNA Backlog - NIJ Conference Panel
Panelists will present findings from two NIJ studies that examined the DNA backlog in law enforcement agencies and crime labs. Panelists will discuss research findings related to new and potential time- and cost-saving approaches.
Director's Message: Making Progress on Understanding and Investigating Sexual Assault
While NIJ is proud of the progress we have made, we know there is still a great deal more to be done to improve sexual assault investigations, provide trauma-informed support to victims, and strengthen the efficiency of sexual assault kit testing.
–Nancy Rodriguez
Sexual assault is a traumatic crime with a wide range of impacts on both the victim and public safety. Over the last...
Director's Message: Shining Light on Wrongful Convictions
Every wrongful conviction is a miscarriage of justice that impacts every level of our society, often leading to questions about the fairness of the justice system. Wrongful convictions have a life-long impact on individuals who have been wrongfully convicted, the original victims of crime, and their families. To provide the wrongfully convicted an opportunity to prove their innocence through DNA analysis and to seek justice...
Forensic Information Data Exchange and the Partnership Between Law Enforcement and Crime Laboratories
NIJ Conference Panel
Impression Evidence: Strengthening the Disciplines of Fingerprints, Firearms, Footwear, and Other Pattern and Impression Sciences Through Research
Forensic examinations involving specific forensic science disciplines are typically dependent upon qualitative analyses and expert interpretation of observed patterns based on a scientific foundation, rather than quantitative results. These disciplines include latent fingerprints, questioned documents, footwear, and other forms of impression and pattern evidence.