Following are articles published by the National Institute of Justice
Postmortem CT Scans Supplement and Replace Full Autopsies
As medical examiner and coroner offices nationwide face a severe shortage of forensic pathologists, New Mexico has pioneered the use of CT scans to reduce autopsy numbers and reduce costs.
New Screening Method to Detect Drugs and Poisons Postmortem
The Miami-Dade medical examiner’s office has developed a quick method to screen fluids for hundreds of drugs simultaneously, improving workflow.
The Daunting Task of Strengthening Medical Examiner and Coroner Investigations Across Hundreds of Jurisdictions
After a five-year fact-finding mission, a multi-agency working group has identified a host of problems in the U.S. medical examiner/coroner system, but solutions remain elusive.
Forensic Science Research and Development Technology Working Group: Operational Requirements
Is It an Accident or Abuse? Researchers Develop Predictive Models for Pediatric Head Injuries
NIJ-supported research has enabled biomechanical experts to improve predictive models of head injuries in children, helping physicians and law enforcement to better distinguish between accidental injury and abuse.
Highlighting Significant NIJ Forensic Science Investments: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Site Visit
The Impact of Drugs on Human Decomposition: What Insect, Scavenger, and Microbial Evidence Tells Us
OsteoID: A New Forensic Tool to Help Identify the Species of Skeletal Remains
NIJ-supported researchers developed a free web tool to help forensic investigators and others interested in bone identification.
Supporting Law Enforcement and Prosecution of Opioid-Related Overdose Deaths
An Examination of Cuyahoga County’s Heroin Involved Death Investigation (HIDI) Protocol
Postmortem CT Scans: Can They Effectively Replace Full Autopsies?
Study examines the impact of CT scans on workflow and tallies the cost savings of postmortem CT in lieu of full autopsy.
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.
Multidisciplinary Team Works to Reduce Preventable Deaths of Older Adults
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.
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.
Facilitating Forensic Research in Multiple Fields Using a Unique Computed Tomography Dataset
A new postmortem image database will be a resource for research in forensic anthropology, pathology, and radiology.
New Method for Measuring Human Decomposition Could Significantly Impact Medicolegal Death Investigations
Improving postmortem interval estimation with standardized and simplified protocols could significantly impact medicolegal death investigations by providing more accurate and reliable data for determining time since death.
NIJ Journal Issue 267, Winter 2010
Research-based information that can help inform policy decisions and improve understanding of the criminal justice system.