Forensic sciences

NIJ is seeking applications for funding to research, develop, and demonstrate emerging electronic investigative/forensic and digital evidence recovery technology solutions for law enforcement agencies. Specific areas of interest include cell phone forensics tools, digital evidence forensic examination tools, and computer crime investigative tools.

The goal of NIJ's FY09 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program is to assist eligible States and units of local government to reduce forensic DNA sample turnaround time, increase the throughput of public DNA laboratories, and reduce DNA forensic casework backlogs. These improvements are critical to preventing future DNA backlogs and to helping the criminal justice system use the full potential of DNA technology. Eligible States...

The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program (the Coverdell program) awards grants to States and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services. Among other things, funds may be used to eliminate a backlog in the analysis of forensic evidence and to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel, as needed, to eliminate such a...

NIJ is seeking applications from States wishing to receive funding to help defray the costs associated with postconviction DNA testing of forcible rape, murder, and nonnegligent manslaughter cases in which actual innocence might be demonstrated. Funds may be used to review such postconviction cases and to locate and analyze biological evidence associated with these cases.

NIJ is seeking applications for research and development that can enhance the forensic uses of DNA technology. This solicitation focuses on technologies that result in faster, more robust, more informative, less costly, or less labor-intensive identification, collection, preservation, and/or analysis of DNA evidence collected from crime scenes.

NIJ seeks applications for research and development in trace evidence investigation for criminal justice purposes. This solicitation is aimed at improving the ability to locate and identify trace evidence from crime scenes and to enhance the ability of crime laboratories to analyze trace evidence.

NIJ seeks applications for research and development to enhance crime laboratories' ability to identify, characterize, capture, visualize, and preserve impression evidence. This solicitation focuses, among other things, on tools and technologies that will allow faster, more widely applicable, more rugged, less costly, or less labor-intensive identification, collection, preservation, and analysis of impression evidence at the crime scene or crime laboratory.

NIJ is seeking applications for funding under the fiscal year 2009 Convicted Offender and/or Arrestee DNA Backlog Reduction Program. This program furthers the Department's mission by offering an opportunity for States with existing laboratories that conduct analysis of convicted offender and/or arrestee DNA samples collected by States pursuant to applicable law for databasing purposes ("DNA database samples") to reduce their backlog of such samples through...

Note: Deadline extended from March 23. NIJ is seeking proposals from States and units of local government for projects to improve the efficiency and capacity of public forensic DNA laboratories through the development and adoption of an improved laboratory process. Eligible public forensic DNA laboratories may submit proposals for projects that will increase capacity to meet the mission-critical needs of these laboratories within the scope...

Forensic science, particularly in the area of DNA, has experienced numerous advances over the last decade. Improvements in science and technology have increased capabilities to use DNA in terms of the amount of evidence needed to obtain DNA, the speed of DNA processing, and the range of crimes DNA can help solve. NIJ is interested in stimulating research to examine the impact of these forensic...