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National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Just Investigative Support for Indigenous Communities

February 2023
Series
Unidentified Human Remains

In episode three of our Unidentified Human Remains mini season, Just Science sat down with Mark Pooley, founder of Native Search Solutions, and Dustin Driscoll, Research Public Health Analyst at RTI International, to discuss the many barriers faced by indigenous communities when it comes to identifying missing and murdered persons.

Transcript
Just Investigative Support for Indigenous Communities
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Just Investigative Support For Indigenous Communities A , Part B , Part C

JustScience Podcast Season Overview: Unidentified Human Remains

In cases where a decedent’s identity is unknown, forensic scientists can utilize a range of identification methods in order to give a victim their name back and bring closure to their families. However, access to these important resources may vary across communities. In the Unidentified Human Remains mini season, we sit down with experts who explain how teeth, DNA samples, and more can contribute to...

Just Leveraging Databases for Human Identification

September 2022
Series
Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification

In episode three of our Applications of Forensic Science for Human Identification season, Just Science sat down with Lori Bruski and Amy Jenkinson, two research public health analysts at RTI International to discuss inter-agency efforts to compile crime, missing persons and decedent information and comprehensive databases. In the digital age, criminal justice information can be uploaded into databases and organized in a searchable, centralized location, making it more accessible than ever.

Transcript
Just Leveraging Databases for Human Identification
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Final Audio Just Leveraging Databases For Human Identification

National Missing and Unidentified Persons System

Overview

What is NamUs?

Resolving missing and unidentified persons cases is especially complex. Information-sharing across agencies and jurisdictions can be fragmented, paired with limited investigative resources and a high volume of cases. In many instances, significant time has passed since the person went missing. Still, we have a societal responsibility to ensure dignified and lawful outcomes. Each resolution can also uncover links to multiple crimes—and...

NamUs and Tribal Communities

September 2024

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is a national centralized repository and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases across the United States. NamUs recognizes the need for additional support for tribal communities and has dedicated resources to address missing and unidentified Indigenous persons cases.

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Overview of NamUs - the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System

September 2024
Series
National Missing and Unidentified Persons System

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is a national centralized repository and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases across the United States. NamUs helps investigators match long-term missing persons with unidentified remains to resolve cases and bring resolution to families.

See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy

Advancing Justice for the Missing and Unidentified Through Research - 2024 NIJ Research Conference

September 2024

Forensic science research is developing essential knowledge to fill in the holes in death investigations, creating new ways to identify challenging skeletal remains. These methods inform cause of death, time of death, and familial relationships to guide investigations, identify suspects, support prosecutions, and bring justice to families.

See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy

Justice Today podcast logo

Cold Cases and Serial Killers, Part 1

September 2023
Series
Justice Today Podcast

In April 2018, the Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo was arrested. NIJ support helped lead to his arrest, and in the aftermath of the arrest, NIJ Social Science Analyst Eric Martin was among those tasked with finding other cases NIJ helped law enforcement solve. Eric joins the show to talk about some of those cases, and answer some broader questions about serial killers: What is a serial killer? Are they on the rise? How do we know how many serial killers are currently active?

Transcript
Cold Cases and Serial Killers, Part 1
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Cold Cases and Serial Killers, Part 1
Justice Today podcast logo

Tribal Crime, Justice, and Safety, Part 2

July 2022
Series
Justice Today Podcast

Stacy Lee Reynolds and Christine (Tina) Crossland continue their discussion of tribal crime, justice, and safety, including how Native American persons experience crime victimization at higher rates than non-Native people and the jurisdictional complexities in responding to tribal crime, justice, and safety. Read the transcript.

Listen to the first half of Stacy and Tina’s discussion.

Reading and Resources from NIJ

Tribal-Researcher Capacity Building Grants

Transcript
Tribal Crime, Justice, and Safety, Part 2
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Tribal Crime, Justice, and Safety, Part 2

Webinar Transcript: W.E.B. Du Bois Program of Research on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Justice System, Fiscal Year 2021

Following is a transcript of a webinar hosted by NIJ in support of the funding opportunity "W.E.B. Du Bois Program of Research on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Justice System, Fiscal Year 2021."

DARYL FOX: Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to today’s webinar, Funding Opportunities Through NIJ, the W.E.B. Du Bois Program of Research on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in...