Forensic science is the application of sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering to matters of law.
NIJ’s forensic science research and development program focuses on basic and applied scientific research with the intent to:
- Direct the findings of basic scientific research in broader scientific fields applicable to forensic science.
- Apply forensic science research to the development of highly discriminating, accurate, reliable, cost-effective, rapid methods for the identification, analysis and interpretation of physical evidence.
- Expand the scientific basis of forensic methods.
- Produce useful materials, devices, systems or methods that have the potential for forensic application.
- Increase the body of knowledge to guide and inform forensic science policy and practice.
On this page, find links to articles, awards, events, publications, and multimedia related to forensic sciences.
Publications and Grant Reports
- Paper Spray Mass Spectrometry for Rapid Drug and Drug Metabolite Screening Directly from Postmortem Blood Samples
- Naturally-occurring DNA fragment termini correlate with methylation at CpG sites in hair and blood plasma cell-free DNA
- Implementation of NPS Discovery – An Early Warning System for Novel Drug Intelligence, Surveillance, Monitoring, Response, and Forecasting using Drug Materials
The Vicarious Trauma Toolkit – An Evidence-informed Resource For Organizations
Participants will learn about the Vicarious Trauma Organizational Readiness Guide (VT-ORG), an evidence-informed assessment of an organization’s current capacity to address vicarious trauma.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 13, 2018.
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
Small Bloodstains on Textiles – What Can They Tell Us?
This webinar will explore the interaction of blood with the multiple structures that occur within a simple textile and how these structures affect small bloodstains.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on September 12, 2018.
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
3D-ID-Geometric Morphometric Classification of Crania for Forensic Scientists Software Best Practices
Attendees will be introduced to the new features of the new software release, how to maximize results, and how to best interpret results for forensic casework application.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 16, 2018.
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
Identifying Seized Drugs using Mass Spectral Library Searching
The rapid spread of designer drugs has introduced significant identification challenges to the forensic science community. This webinar discusses how Mass Spectrometry and the “Hybrid Search” can be used to get a head start on identifying novel opioids.
This webinar was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on August 7, 2018.
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
NIJ's 50th Anniversary - Looking Back, Looking Forward
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
Development of a Standard for Confirmatory Method Validation in Forensic Toxicology
This recording one of a group of presentations on Analysis of NPS – Practical Considerations and Analytical Approaches, which is session II in the Best Practices Guidance for Advancing Research Initiatives and Combatting the Synthetic Drug Epidemic Online Workshop Series.
The workshop was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 25, 2018.
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
A Working Model for Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Combatting the Synthetic Drug Crisis
This recording one of a group of presentations on The Synthetic Drug Crisis – Identifying NPS in Forensic Casework, which is session I in Best Practices Guidance for Advancing Research Initiatives and Combatting the Synthetic Drug Epidemic Online Workshop Series.
The workshop was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 25, 2018.
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
General Approaches to Toxicological Interpretation in MDI with a Focus on NPS Cases, Robert Middleberg
This recording one of a group of presentations on Interpretative Toxicology for NPS in Forensic Casework, which is session III of the Best Practices Guidance for Advancing Research Initiatives and Combating the Synthetic Drug Epidemic Online Workshop Series.
The workshop was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 25, 2018.
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
Summaries of Case Reports and Drug Concentrations of Major NPS Categories: Opioids
This recording one of a group of presentations on Interpretative Toxicology for NPS in Forensic Casework, which is session III of the Best Practices Guidance for Advancing Research Initiatives and Combatting the Synthetic Drug Epidemic Online Workshop Series.
The workshop was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 25, 2018.
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
Quantitative Method Development and Validation for 18 Fentanyl Analogs and Experience with Casework Samples
This recording one of a group of presentations on Analysis of NPS – Practical Considerations and Analytical Approaches, which is session II in the Best Practices Guidance for Advancing Research Initiatives and Combatting the Synthetic Drug Epidemic Online Workshop Series.
The workshop was presented by the NIJ Forensic Technology Center of Excellence on July 25, 2018.
See the YouTube Terms of Service and Google Privacy Policy
Research Forensic Library
We invite you to also search the Research Forensic Library, a curated collection of publicly-accessible material relating to every discipline of the forensic sciences.
