Following are articles published by the National Institute of Justice
The Forensic Microbiome: The Invisible Traces We Leave Behind
“Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him.” Edmond Locard (1877-1966), forensic science pioneer
Using Forensic Intelligence Analysts to Drive Gun Crime Investigations
Caution Is Necessary When Expanding Field Testing Capabilities
Improving the Analysis and Collection of Trace Evidence Samples
New Methods for Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis of Damaged and Mixed DNA Samples
Identifying individuals through next generation DNA sequencing may involve degraded or mixed samples. A researcher has developed a technique to make fragmented DNA more readable, and a method to help pull individual profiles from mixed samples.
Notes from the Field: A Multijurisdictional Team Moved Cold Cases to the Front Burner
Notes from the Field: Solving Missing Persons Cases in Indian Country
Missing persons cases are overwhelming — not just for families, but for communities as a whole. When someone goes missing and is never found, families lack closure. The impact of the loss can spread through the whole community.
Skin Microbe Colonies Used for Human Identification
Humans transfer trace signatures of unique colonies of microbes on our skin to objects we touch. The tiny size of that signature make it difficult for investigators to identify an individual. Research now has made that identification more likely.
Embracing Next Generation Methods for Forensic DNA Sequence Analysis
The regions of the genome relied on for identification of individuals pose challenges for analysts because they often produce artifacts during processing. NIJ-funded research has led to a solution that lessens the artifact problem.