Articles Published by NIJ

NIJ-funded researchers create unprecedented gunshot residue dataset to develop a quick, dual-detection method for gunshot residue detection.

The FBI's black box study on latent prints continues to influence the criminal justice system's understanding of the validity and reliability of forensic testimony.

NIJ-supported research offers new workflow for complicated drug analysis, improves upon traditional workflow.

Study examines the impact of CT scans on workflow and tallies the cost savings of postmortem CT in lieu of full autopsy.

Seized drug analysis aided by the development and release of new data interpretation software.

Determining sex, age, and other forensic information from the skeleton of a young person has stymied investigators for decades.

New systems allow high-definition scans of bullets and cartridge cases to be shared and compared virtually.

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.

Researchers have created a more accurate methodology for predicting how things burn

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.

A new postmortem image database will be a resource for research in forensic anthropology, pathology, and radiology.

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.

“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

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-funded researchers are developing a probability model to predict child head injuries in falls.

Two leading funding agencies renew a joint commitment to evaluate and support scientific activities relevant to criminal justice.

Integrating forensic evidence into the intelligence process is an evolutionary next step in reducing, disrupting, and preventing violent crime.

The substances tested in cases involving seized drugs are always evolving. By establishing policies on the most critical samples to test and maintaining ongoing communication with stakeholders, laboratories can more efficiently manage a backlog.

In response to a National Academy of Sciences report calling for more research on the variability of burn patterns, Underwriters Laboratories scientists conducted studies on how ventilation affects fire patterns in residential structures.

Cold case investigations have revealed that, in many cases, those responsible also are responsible for multiple crimes. Therefore, prioritizing cold case investigations can assist in both resolving crimes and preventing future ones.