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Forensic sciences

NIJ’s Intramural Research Initiative

A strong, active science staff is the foundation of a federal science agency, and the Institute is home to a well-trained, multidisciplinary science staff with experience and advanced training in numerous fields relevant to issues of safety and justice. Such expertise is essential in guiding the Institute’s research portfolios; developing new programs of research that capture the lessons learned from previous research; laying out a...

Forensic Science Disciplines

Evidence refers to information or objects that may be admitted into court for judges and juries to consider when hearing a case. Evidence can come from varied sources — from genetic material or trace chemicals ​to dental history or fingerprints. Evidence can serve many roles in an investigation, such as to trace an illicit substance, identify remains or reconstruct a crime.

NIJ funds research and...

NIJ Journal Issue 279: Forensic Science

The NIJ Journal, published several times a year, features articles to help criminal justice policymakers and practitioners stay informed about new developments. The NIJ Journal presents research-based information that can help inform policy decisions and improve understanding of the criminal justice system.

Each issue of the NIJ Journal will now focus on a single theme, allowing the articles to dive into one specific topic from...

Impression Evidence: Strengthening the Disciplines of Fingerprints, Firearms, Footwear, and Other Pattern and Impression Sciences Through Research

June 2010

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.

Transcript
Impression Evidence: Strengthening the Disciplines of Fingerprints, Firearms, Footwear, and Other Pattern and Impression Sciences Through Research
Audio file
Speaking: Gerry LaPorte, National Institute of Justice; and Tom Busey, Professor of Cognitive Science, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington , Speaking: Lynn Abbott, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech , Sargur Srihari, SUNY Distinguished Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

DNA at Our Fingertips

Date Published
July 2019
Agencies
NIJ
Publication Type
Research (Applied/Empirical), Program/Project Description

Forensic and Investigative Sciences

Forensic science is the application of sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering to matters of law.  

NIJ’s forensic science research and development program focuses on basic and applied scientific research with the intent to:

  • Direct the...

David Stoney

Chief Scientific Officer; NIJ Graduate Research Fellow