Following are articles published by the National Institute of Justice
Meeting the Forensic Challenges of Subadult Skeletons
Determining sex, age, and other forensic information from the skeleton of a young person has stymied investigators for decades.
Challenges in Identifying Novel Psychoactive Substances and a Stronger Path Forward
The importance of non-targeted testing to keep pace with a rapidly evolving synthetic opioid market.
Best Practices for DNA Laboratory Efficiency
Introduction to the National Best Practices for Improving DNA Laboratory Process Efficiency
Multidisciplinary Team Works to Reduce Preventable Deaths of Older Adults
How Good Are the Data? Novel Metric Assesses Probability That an Unknown Drug Sample Matches a Known Sample
NIJ-funded researchers developed a novel metric to assess probability that an unknown sample of a drug matches a library sample, with profound implications for standardization of mass spectrometry results.
Applying Modern Investigation Methods to Solve Cold Cases
Forensic Laboratory Needs Technology Working Group — A Channel to Improve Forensics
Study Reports Error Rates for Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
How Prevalent is Violence in Missing and Unidentified Persons Cases?
For cases in which violence is a contributing factor, new research presents the importance of characterizing the NamUs database.
How Things Burn: Developing Realistic Models of How Materials Combust and Degrade in a Fire
Researchers have created a more accurate methodology for predicting how things burn
Crime Scene Documentation: Weighing the Merits of Three-Dimensional Laser Scanning
The reliability, interpretability, and cost-benefit of three-dimensional laser-scanned images for crime scene documentation is assessed.
The Effects of Temperature on Blowfly Colonization of Decomposing Human Bodies
Development of blowflies on a body is a standard forensic measure of time since death, but temperature variations can alter that development and mislead investigators.
Improving the Collection of Digital Evidence
Two NIJ-funded projects introduce new methods and tools for collecting and processing digital evidence in cases involving child sexual abuse materials and large-scale computer networks.
Scientists Seek Connection Between Toxin-causing Bacterium and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Researchers believe a bacterium that causes food poisoning and other diseases may underlie some SIDS cases.
The Search for a Microbial Death Clock
Criminal investigators use physiological changes and insect development to determine how long a body has been dead, but scientists are using the trillions of microbes involved in human decomposition to find more accurate postmortem intervals.
Algorithm Quantifies What Experts See When They Examine Skeletons
Researchers created an open-access computer program for estimating the age of skeletal remains that outperforms current methods. The algorithm is based on 20 age-related skeletal changes identified by experienced forensic anthropologists.
Using Forensic Intelligence Analysts to Drive Gun Crime Investigations
Genetic Variants Linked to Sudden Unexplained Deaths
Researchers improve molecular autopsy accuracy by identifying more genetic variants that could lead to sudden unexplained deaths. These genetic clues may better inform criminal investigations and help prevent deaths in surviving family members.