Publications for Forensic Scientists

Publications containing information on DNA technology and its applications in criminal justice systems.

Increasing Efficiency in Crime Laboratories
National Institute of Justice, January 2008
Many crime laboratories report high backlogs for forensic services. These backlogs can delay court proceedings and case investigation. Laboratories report that they do not have the staff to complete all service requests or the budget to hire new employees. Some laboratories have recently begun addressing these challenges with efficiency techniques—called process mapping, an efficiency forum, and business process management. The NIJ In Short Increasing Efficiency in Crime Laboratories describes how laboratories across the country have successfully used these techniques to reduce backlogs.

Addressing Shortfalls in Forensic Science Education
National Institute of Justice, May 2007
The NIJ In Short Fact Sheet Addressing Shortfalls in Forensic Science Education describes the benefits of an accredited forensic science education program. Many crime labs find that new graduates from forensic education programs are not properly trained. A committee led by the American Academy of Forensic Science has developed an evaluation and accreditation process to help universities improve their curriculum. An accredited curriculum gives employers-such as crime lab directors-standard criteria to assess whether an applicant is qualified.

Identifying Remains: Lessons Learned From 9/11
National Institute of Justice Journal 256, January 2007
Nothing in the history of mass fatality events prepared America's forensic community for the task of identifying those who died when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. To assist in this monumental effort, NIJ brought together a group of experts to advise and support New York City's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner during the identification effort. The Kinship and Data Analysis Panel (KADAP), made recommendations on forensic technologies, policies, and procedures to help identify victims who perished in the World Trade Center.

DNA Projects Target Missing Persons Cases
Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Institute of Justice, October 2006
On any given day, there are as many as 100,000 active missing persons cases in the United States, and every year, tens of thousands of people vanish under suspicious circumstances. Missing persons and unidentified human remains (UHR) investigations-—particularly, if a case goes cold—present a tremendous challenge for financially strapped state and local law enforcement agencies.  The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is working to help local jurisdictions meet these challenges.

By Glenn R. Schmitt, Acting Director, National Institute of Justice. Reprinted from The CJIS Link (Vol. 9, No. 3, October 2006), the newsletter of the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division.

Lessons Learned From 9/11: DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents
National Institute of Justice 2006
Prepared by a group of the Nation's top forensic scientists, Lessons Learned From 9/11: DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents offers a look back—and a look forward. The report reviews the experiences of the Kinship and Data Analysis Panel (KADAP), a blue-ribbon panel assembled by the National Institute of Justice after the 9/11 attacks. The KADAP's role was to support the work of New York City's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the identification—through DNA analysis—of the World Trade Center victims. The report also looks to the future, offering "best practices" guidance (particularly to the Nation's laboratory directors) on preparing a plan for responding to a mass fatality event, whether caused by terrorism or natural disaster.

Report to the Attorney General on Delays in Forensic DNA Analysis
National Institute of Justice, 2003
Although crime laboratories have made enormous progress in reducing the number of unanalyzed convicted offender samples from DNA databases, they continue to be deluged with analysis requests. This report presents the results of a task force, convened by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) at the request of Attorney General John Ashcroft, to assess existing DNA analysis delays and develop recommendations for eliminating those delays. The report details six recommendations that will serve as the foundation of a comprehensive, national DNA backlog reduction strategy.

National Forensic DNA Study Report
Smith Alling Lane, P.S.; Division of Governmental Studies and Services, Washington State University, 2003, with funding from the National Institute of Justice
An NIJ-commissioned independent study to ascertain the size of and reasons for the Nation's backlog of DNA evidence.

The Application of DNA Technology in England and Wales
Smith Alling Lane, P.S.; Division of Governmental Studies and Services, Washington State University, 2003, with funding from the National Institute of Justice
England is widely recognized as having the most effective and efficient approach to the use of forensic DNA technology in the world. This NIJ commissioned independent study reviews the application of DNA technology in England and Wales.

Forensic Science Communications
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Quarterly
A peer-reviewed forensic science journal published quarterly by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory personnel. It is a means of communication between forensic scientists and includes information on DNA-related topics.

The FBI's Combined DNA Index System Program: CODIS
Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2000
Gives background information on the FBI Laboratory's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which blends forensic science and computer technology into an effective tool for solving violent crimes. CODIS enables Federal, State, and local crime labs to exchange and compare DNA profiles electronically, thereby linking crimes to each other and to convicted offenders.

Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases
National Institute of Justice, 2002
A practical resource for law enforcement personnel who review old, cold, or unsolved cases. The report provides legal and practical considerations for applying DNA technology to unsolved cases and delivers a step-by-step process to help investigators select cases that DNA evidence will most likely help solve.

2002 DNA Grantees' Workshop
National Institute of Justice, 2003
Includes the executive summary and research briefings from the 2002 Third Annual DNA Grantees' Workshop. Organizations receiving funding support for DNA laboratory improvement discuss how new technological innovations might be developed and adapted to meet the current and future needs of public crime laboratories.

2001 DNA Grantees' Workshop
National Institute of Justice, 2002
This CD-ROM includes the executive summary and research briefings from the Second Annual DNA Grantees' Workshop, held June 6–8, 2001. Organizations receiving funding support for DNA laboratory improvement discuss how new technological innovations might be developed and adapted to meet the current and future needs of public crime laboratories.

Raising the Bar: The Impact of DNA Testing on the Field of Forensics
National Institute of Justice, 2002
As part of NIJ's Perspectives on Crime and Justice 2000–2001 Lecture Series, Margaret Berger discussed the impact of DNA testing on the field of forensics. Presentations are followed by "question and answer" sessions.

Survey of DNA Crime Laboratories, 2001
Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2002
Reports findings from a survey of publicly operated forensic crime labs that perform DNA testing. The survey included questions about each lab's budget, personnel, workloads, procedures, equipment, and other topics.

Improved Analysis of DNA Short Tandem Repeats With Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
National Institute of Justice, 2001
Explains the value of analyzing DNA samples using time-of-flight mass spectrometry, a technology that can process several thousand DNA samples daily with greater accuracy than conventional electrophoresis methods.

The Future of Forensic DNA Testing: Predictions of the Research and Development Working Group
National Institute of Justice, 2000
This 2000 report, the work of the Research and Development Working Group of the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence, discusses projected 2-year, 5-year, and 10-year milestones for DNA technology.

The FBI's DNA and Databasing Initiatives
Federal Bureau Investigation, 2000
Provides an introduction to DNA evidence and FBI crime lab capabilities, as well as statistics and success stories for DNA-related casework.

Convicted by Juries, Exonerated by Science: Case Studies in the Use of DNA Evidence to Establish Innocence After Trial
National Institute of Justice, 1996
Discusses a study, initiated in June 1995, to identify and review cases in which convicted persons were released from prison as a result of posttrial DNA testing of evidence. As of early 1996, researchers had found 28 such cases: DNA test results obtained subsequent to trial proved that, on the basis of DNA evidence, the convicted persons could not have committed the crimes for which they were incarcerated.