Presentation at the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Annual Meeting
Glenn R. Schmitt, Acting Director, National Institute of Justice
September 27, 2006
Presentation Contents
Slide 1: NIJ Mission and Focus
- NIJ’s mission is to advance scientific research, development, and evaluation to enhance the administration of justice and public safety.
- NIJ provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools.
- NIJ’s research agenda is guided by the needs of the field. NIJ actively solicits the views of criminal justice professionals, policymakers, and researchers to identify the highest-priority research needs.
Slide 2: NIJ Customers
- State and local justice system practitioners
- Policymakers at all levels of government
- Researchers, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) program offices, Department of Justice (DOJ)
- White House and other Federal agencies
- American public
Slide 3: NIJ Manages Many Functions
- Social science research and evaluation
- Technology research, development, testing, and evaluation
- Development of technology standards
- Capacity building (in forensic laboratories)
- Technology assistance to State and local law enforcement and corrections agencies
- Dissemination of knowledge
Slide 4: Major Investment Areas
- Law Enforcement/Policing
- Forensic Sciences
- Crime Prevention
- Courts
- Corrections
- Violence and Victimization
Slide 5: Organizational Structure
U.S. Department of Justice Organizational Chart
Office Justice Programs Organizational Chart
NIJ Organizational Chart
Slide 6: How NIJ Manages Research
- NIJ awards grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts based on national competition
- Quality and technical merit
- Impact of project on the field
- Capabilities of research team
- Budget, cost effectiveness
- Dissemination strategy
- Independent peer reviews by researchers and practitioners
- Managed by NIJ staff—experienced project managers, scientists, and researchers
- Final decisions by the NIJ Director
Slide 7: FY 2007 NIJ Solicitation Topics
Social and Behavioral Research Solicitations
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Science and Technology Research Solicitations
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See NIJ's Funding Opportunities page for all current solicitations and the fiscal year 2007 archive page for solicitations released but closed.
Slide 8: NIJ’s Forensic Science Programs
- The President’s DNA Initiative
- Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act
- General Forensics Research and Development
- Forensic Resource Network
Slide 9: The President’s DNA Initiative: Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
- Announced by Attorney John Ashcroft in March 2003
- A 5-year, $1 billion effort to increase the use of DNA analysis to solve crime, protect the innocent, and identify missing persons
- Six program goals:
- Eliminate all convicted offender sample backlogs and the casework backlogs in the most serious cases
- Build DNA analysis capacity in state and local laboratories
- Develop training for all those who work with this evidence
- Develop new DNA tools and techniques
- Ensure that DNA can be used to its full potential to solve missing persons cases and identify human remains
- Foster the use of DNA in postconviction cases.
- Congress has appropriated more than $300 million to date for the Initiative
Slide 10: The President’s DNA Initiative: Convicted Offender Backlog Reduction Program
- Provides states with the opportunity to have samples from convicted offenders tested in accredited private labs that they select (in consultation with NIJ). Results in less cost and faster turnaround than in most state labs.
- Some sample analyses funded in government labs with costs equal to or below the private labs.
- All analyzed samples analyzed are loaded into the FBI’s CODIS DNA database where they can be matched against DNA samples taken from casework samples.
- In March 2003, DOJ estimated that the number of backlogged DNA offender samples was between 200,000 and 300,000, and that another 500,000 to 1 million samples had yet to be collected from offenders who were required by law to give such a sample. To date, DOJ has paid for the analysis of more than 2.0 million samples.
- Since 2003, the FBI’s CODIS database has grown from 1.3 million DNA profiles of known offenders to more than 3.4 million.
Slide 11: The President’s DNA Initiative: Casework Backlog Reduction Program
- Formula funding to State and local governments' DNA labs to reduce the backlog of cases in which DNA analysis is needed.
- Allocated based on crime statistics (sexual assaults, homicides and kidnappings).
- Funding may be used for analysis in government or accredited private labs.
- In March 2003, DOJ estimated that the backlog of rape and homicide cases was approximately 350,000.
- To date, the Department has provided over $95 million to perform DNA analysis on samples in more than 64,000 cases.
- In fiscal year 2006 (FY 06) included $4 million allocated solely to postconviction DNA testing.
- Since 2003, the FBI’s CODIS database of DNA samples has increased from 52,000 to more than 144,000 unique DNA profiles from crimes.
Slide 12: The President’s DNA Initiative: DNA Laboratory Capacity Enhancement Program
- Improves the infrastructure and capacity of existing State and local DNA labs.
- Increasing this capacity is critical to preventing future DNA backlogs from occurring, and to decreasing State’s reliance on Federal funding.
- Since 2003, DOJ has provided more than $100 million for this purpose.
- This funding has dramatically expanded the capacity of State and local DNA labs.
Slide 13: The President’s DNA Initiative: Forensic DNA Research and Development Program
- NIJ research on tools to analyze smaller pieces of evidence, highly degraded evidence, and to make DNA analysis less costly.
- Since 2003, DOJ has made grants in excess of $26 million for new research on DNA and other forensic tools and techniques.
Slide 14: The President’s DNA Initiative: DNA Training for the Criminal Justice Community
- Law Enforcement Training—Office for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)/NIJ
- Training Prosecutors, Defense Attorneys, and Judges – NIJ
- Training For Probation and Parole Officers and Corrections Personnel—Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)/NIJ
- Training for Forensic Scientists—NIJ
- Training for Medical Personnel—Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)/NIJ
- Training for Victim Service Providers—Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)
Slide 15: The President’s DNA Initiative: DNA Training for the Criminal Justice Community
- In March 2006, NIJ released Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court, an online and CD training tool for judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel. NIJ has funded the American Prosecutors Research Institute to create an online course to assist State and local prosecutors in preparing DNA-related cases for prosecution. This course will be released soon.
- In late 2005, the COPS office developed and released DNA Evidence Identifications, Collection, and Preservation for Law Enforcement. The COPS office has begun a series of training events using this curriculum.
- In 2005, NIJ also re-released an updated version of its CD-based training program, What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know about DNA Evidence.
- This year, NIJ is sponsoring a series of regional training events for law enforcement officers on using DNA evidence to solve cold cases. NIJ is using its 2002 publication, Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases, as the basis for this training.
- In April 2005, OVC and NIJ jointly developed a publication entitled Identifying Victims Using DNA: A Guide for Families, in order to help family members of victims of crime, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters understand how DNA analysis is used to identify family members.
- In September 2004, OVW released A National Protocol for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations. OVW and NIJ have also funded Dartmouth College to develop comprehensive, advanced distance learning courses to enhance the capability of health care professionals, victim service providers, lawyers, and judges regarding the collection, preservation, and use of DNA evidence.
Slide 16: The President’s DNA Initiative: Identifying Missing Persons Through DNA Analysis
- Develops new ways to use DNA to identify missing persons and unidentified human remains.
- Includes outreach and education to medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement officers about how DNA can be used to identify human remains.
- Will develop new tools to collect DNA samples from unidentified bodies and from the families of missing persons.
- Will sponsor a national census, conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics(BJS), of medical examiners and coroners to determine the number of unidentified remains.
- In 2005, DOJ created a National Task Force on Solving Cases of Missing Persons and Unidentified Human Remains to make recommendations on how the Department can better use Federal databases (e.g., DNA, fingerprints, violent crimes, and criminal records) for these purposes.
Slide 17: The President’s DNA Initiative: Protecting the Innocent
- The Initiative encourages the development of programs to allow incarcerated persons to obtain DNA testing in appropriate cases.
- The Initiative supports the use of postconviction DNA testing in cases brought by Federal inmates.
- In FY 2006, Congress appropriated $4 million for a postconviction DNA testing program within the Initiative.
Slide 18: Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act Program
The Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act program provides funds through a two-part grant program consisting of “base” formula awards to States and “competitive” awards to States and units of local government.
Funds are used to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services, to eliminate backlogs in the analysis of general forensic evidence, or to train and employ forensic laboratory personnel to eliminate such backlogs.
- Total amount awarded in FY 2006: $14,821,048
- Base: $11,043,734
- Competitive: $3,777,314
- Total number of awards: 87
- Base Awards: 43
- Competitive Awards: 34
- Base/Competitive Mix Awards: 10
Total funding since 2004: $43.5 million
Slide 19: Forensic Science Research and Development Programs
- Forensic DNA Research and Development
- General Forensics Research and Development
Slide 20: Forensic DNA Research and Development
The goal of the Forensic DNA R&D program is to develop highly discriminating, reliable, cost-effective, and rapid forensic DNA testing methods for use in criminal investigations.
The main focus areas of the Forensic DNA R&D program are:
- Development of tools and technologies that will allow faster, more reliable, more robust, less costly, or less labor-intensive identification, collection, preservation, or analysis of DNA evidence and/or interpretation of DNA results.
- Identification and/or characterization of genetic marker systems that have the potential to reveal additional or more powerful information about the source of the biological evidence.
- Development of technologies to increase the successful analysis of compromised biological evidence.
- Exploration of relevant nonhuman (e.g., plant, animal, insect, bacterial) DNA markers with the potential to provide information about a victim or suspect and/or the circumstances surrounding a violent criminal offense (e.g., determination of postmortem interval using appropriate entomological evidence, trace plant residues found at a crime scene or on a victim or suspect).
Slide 21: Forensic DNA R&D: Project Types
- General tools
- Compromised DNA
- Sperm identification/separation
- Y Chromosome detection
- Mitochondrial DNA
- Automation/miniaturization
- Alternative genetic markers
- Nonhuman DNA (dog, cat, plant)
Slide 22: Forensic DNA R&D: General Tools
- Determination of the age (time since deposition) of a biological stain (University of Central Florida)
- Improving the efficiency of DNA casework analysis through simple, effective PCR-based screening methods (Vermont Department of Public Safety)
Slide 23: Forensic DNA R&D: Compromised DNA
- Development and evaluation of a whole genome amplification method for accurate multiplex STR genotyping of compromised forensic casework samples (Virginia Commonwealth University)
- The use of mini-STRs as tools for the investigation of DNA degradation and inhibition (Florida International University)
Slide 24: Forensic DNA R&D: Sperm Identification/ Separation
- Development of a high-throughput method to isolate sperm DNA in rape kits (Connecticut Department of Public Safety)
- Sperm cell selection system for forensic DNA analysis of the male component (University of Virginia)
- Development of an automated system to detect spermatozoa on laboratory slides (Vermont Department of Public Safety)
- Laser microdissection separation of pure spermatozoa populations from mixed cell samples for forensic DNA analysis (Rosalind Franklin School of Medicine)
- Development of a procedure for dielectrophoretic separation of sperm and epithelial cells for application to sexual assault case evidence (California Department of Justice)
Slide 25: Forensic DNA R&D: Y Chromosome
- Y-STR database compilation and management (National Center for Forensic Science)
- Development of multiplexed SNP assays for Y-chromosome DNA markers for human identity (National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST])
- Validation of Y-chromosome STR multiplexes for operational use (National Center for Forensic Sciences)
Slide 26: Forensic DNA R&D: Mitochondrial DNA
- Mitochondrial DNA analysis by dHPLC for the characterization and separation of mixtures in forensic samples (University of Denver)
- Development of multiplex PCR and linear array probe assay targeting informative polymorphisms within the entire mitochondrial genome (Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute)
- Enhancing the size, sampling, and quality of forensic mtDNA databases (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology)
Slide 27: Forensic DNA R&D: Automation/ Miniaturization
- A handheld DNA-based forensic tool (Cornell University)
- Microfabricated capillary electrophoresis genetic analyzers for forensic STR DNA profiling (University of CA)
- Microfluidic DNA analysis system for forensic applications (NIST)
- Nanotechnology DNA sequencing: Improving DNA processing technologies (Brown University)
- A SNP-based microarray technology for use in forensic applications (Affymetrix)
Slide 28: Forensic DNA R&D: Alternate Genetic Markers
- Gene polymorphism and human pigmentation (University of Arizona)
- Population genetics of SNPs for forensic purposes (Yale University)
- Forensic stain identification by real-time PCR analysis (Vermont Department of Public Safety)
- The determination of the physical characteristics of an individual from biological stains (University of Central Florida)
Slide 29: Forensic DNA R&D: Nonhuman DNA
- Generating more precise postmortem interval estimates with entomological evidence (Michigan State University)
- Mitochondrial DNA reference database for the domestic dog (the George Washington University)
- The development and validation of a standardized canine STR panel for use in forensic casework (University of California)
- DNA-based identification of forensically important Diptera (University of Cincinnati)
Slide 30: General Forensics Research and Development
The goal of the General Forensics R&D program is to enhance the tools and technologies used in the examination of forensic (non-DNA) evidence.
The main focus areas of the General Forensics R&D program include:
- Tools and technologies that will allow faster, more reliable, more widely applicable, more rugged, less costly, and less labor-intensive identification, collection, preservation, and analysis of forensic evidence and/or interpretation of analytical data. These tools can include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Improved methods to locate, identify, collect, and/or transport probative forensic evidence from crime scenes.
- Analytical instruments or equipment for use in preliminary or confirmatory analysis of forensic evidence at crime scenes.
- Tools to improve the resolution and sensitivity of forensic analyses.
- Tools resulting in a reduction of the destructive steps included in the analysis of forensic evidence.
- Tools that can reveal additional or more discriminatory information about the forensic evidence or provide quantitative or statistical data that can increase the power of a match.
- Identification and/or characterization of new analytes with potential forensic use.
Slide 31: General Forensic R&D: Portfolio
Discipline | Active Projects |
Biology | - |
Controlled Substances | 5 |
Crime Scene | 4 |
Firearms/Toolmarks | 4 |
Forensic Anthropology | 4 |
Forensic Engineering | - |
Forensic Entomology | 1 |
Forensic Odontology | 2 |
Forensic Pathology | 1 |
Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology | - |
Friction Ridge Identification | 9 |
Impression Evidence | 1 |
Questioned Documents | 1 |
Toxicology | 5 |
Trace Evidence | 15 |
Other (Scientific Working Group, Forensic Education, Elder Forensics) | 2 |
TOTALS | 54 |
Slide 32: General Forensic R&D: Controlled Substances
- Capillary electrophoretic analysis of clandestine methamphetamine laboratory evidence (Washington State Patrol)
- The development of microfluidic devices for the rapid isolation and detection of drugs of abuse (Florida International University)
- 2005 Graduate Research Fellowship: Differentiation of MDMA from other methamphetamines of mass spectral equivalence (Auburn University)
- Synthesis and analytical profiles for regiosomeric and isobaric amines related to MDMA, MDEA and MBDB: Differentiation of drug and non-drug substances of mass spectral equivalence (Auburn University)
- Synthesis and analytical profiles for regiosomeric and isobaric amines related to MDMA, MDEA and MBDB: Differentiation of drug and non-drug substances of mass spectral equivalence (Auburn University)
Slide 33: General Forensic R&D: Crime Scene
- Development of an optical handheld biological evidence detection system (MicroBioSystems of Utah, LLC)
- Enhanced visualization of bloodstains (John Jay College)
- A new forensics tool: Development of an advanced sensor for detecting clandestine graves (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
- Field detection of drug and explosive odor signatures using SPME-IMS (Florida International University)
Slide 34: General Forensic R&D: Firearms/Toolmarks
- Quantification of tool markings (Ames Laboratory, Department of Energy)
- Standard casing reference material (NIST)
- A statistical validation on the individuality of tool marks due to the effect of wear, environment exposure, and partial evidence (Intelligent Automation, Inc.)
- A statistical validation of the individuality of guns using high resolution topographical images of bullets (Intelligent Automation, Inc.)
Slide 35: General Forensic R&D: Forensic Anthropology
- Evaluation of stature estimates from the database for forensic anthropology (University of Tennessee)
- Geometric morphometric tools for the characterization of human skulls (North Carolina State University)
- Knife and saw toolmark analysis (Mercyhurst College)
- Measuring atomic bomb-derived 14C levels in human remains to determine year of birth and/or year of death (Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona)
Slide 36: General Forensic R&D: Forensic Entomology
- Development of statistical methods for estimating a minimum postmortem interval: An evaluation using insect growth data (West Virginia University Research Corporation)
Slide 37: General Forensic R&D: Forensic Odontology
- A test of the Lamendin Age estimation method (State University of New Your [SUNY] at Oswego)
- Probability of a match in bitemarks (Institute for Forensic Imaging)
Slide 38: General Forensic R&D: Forensic Pathology
- Erythema and deep tissue injury detector (elder forensics) (National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering [NIBIB])
Slide 39: General Forensic R&D: Friction Ridge Identification
- Adding human expertise to the quantitative analysis of fingerprints (Indiana University)
- Quantitative assessment of the individuality of friction ridge patterns (Research Foundation of SUNY)
- Quantifying the dermatoglyphic growth patterns in children through adolescence (Ultra Scan Corporation)
- Latent-print detection by macro-raman imaging (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
- Analysis of level III characteristics at high resolutions (International Biometric Group, LLC)
- Improving methods for fingerprint development on hand-guns (Israeli National Police through the Technical Support Working Group [TSWG])
- A topological model for the evidential value assessment of partial fingerprints (University of Lausanne through TSWG)
- Cultivating methods to enhance the quality of aged fingerprints developed by cyanoacrylate fuming (University of Tennessee)
- Breakable cartridge cyanoacrylate fingerprint development system/3 port sublimation chamber (Mountain State University)
- Application of polynomial texture mapping (PTM) in the area of shoe/tire impression evidence (California Department of Justice)
Slide 40: General Forensic R&D: Questioned Documents
- Quantitative assessment of the discriminatory power of handwriting and validating/improving handwriting identification procedures (Research Foundation of SUNY)
Slide 41: General Forensic R&D: Toxicology
- Use of LC/MS/MS to rapidly perform first-pass screening for drugs and poisons in postmortem toxicology cases (Georgia Bureau of Investigation)
- Enhanced studies of LC/MS/MS capabilities to analyze toxicology postmortem samples (Georgia Bureau of Investigation)
- Evaluation of new and Nobel direct sample introduction, time of flight mass spectrometry instrument for postmortem toxicology screening (Research Triangle Institute)
- Development and production of reference materials for control and calibration of hair drug testing (Research Triangle Institute)
- Analysis of cocaine analytes in human hair: Evaluation of concentration ratios in different hair types, cocaine sources, drug user populations, and surface-contaminated specimens (Research Triangle Institute)
Slide 42: General Forensic R&D: Trace Evidence
- Forensic glass analysis by LA-ICP-MS: Assessing the feasibility of correlating windshield composition and supplier (Sacramento County)
- Application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to forensic science: Analysis of paint and glass samples (University of Central Florida)
- Evaluation of ultraviolet radiation absorbing compounds in textile fibers utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography and atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) (Sacramento County)
- Instrumental analysis of pigmented inks (Indiana University)
- Density of the refractive index glass standard reference material (NIST)
- The development of a method for objective physical matching: Meeting Daubert (Israeli National Police through TSWG)
- Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy workshop (Ames Laboratory, DOE)
- Elemental analysis of glass and paint materials by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry forensic application (Florida International University)
- Elemental analysis of Ggass by SEM-EDS, XRF, EPMA, LIBS and LAICPMS (Florida International University)
- Characterization of Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) synthetic by-products for source and route determination (University of Central Florida)
- Forensic analysis of link samples using a revolutionary mass spectrometry method (Iowa State University)
- Application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to forensic science: Analysis of paint samples (University of Central Florida)
- Development of advanced raman spectroscopy methods and databases for the evaluation of trace evidence and the examination of questioned documents (Research Foundation of the City University of New York)
- Application of fluorescence line narrowing spectroscopy to forensic fiber examination (University of Central Florida)
- Fire debris research (NIST)
Slide 43: General Forensic R&D: FY 2007 Topics
- Arson
- Crime scene
- Impression evidence
- Toxicology
- Medical examiner (potential)
Slide 44: Forensic Resource Network
The Forensic Resource Network (FRN) is a system of four forensic centers whose mission is to assist state and local forensic service providers in achieving their service delivery goals through research and development, testing and evaluation, training, technology transfer, and technology assistance.
Slide 45: FRN Projects of Interest
FY 2005–FY 2006:
- West Virginia University
- Free Continuing Education for Forensic Professionals Event
- Free Crime Scene and Hair Analysis for DNA Examiners Training
- National Center for Forensic Science (NCFS)
- National Y-STR Database—Consolidating and Managing
- Marshall University Forensic Science Center (MUFSC)
- Free 1-week DNA Training Courses for new DNA Examiners
- Free Expert System Demonstrations at Marshall University
- Managing these NIJ Expert System Testbed Project
- National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC)
- Free Biological Screening and DNA Workshops
- Free Fire Debris Analysis Validation/Verification Kits
- Free Upcoming Cold Case Training Sessions
Slide 46: FRN and Technology Transfer
- Mitochondrial DNA Workshop at NFSTC that included NIJ funded research products
- qPCR Workshop at NFSTC that included NIJ funded research products
- Expert System Demonstrations at Marshall University that included the three commercially available single source expert systems
Slide 47: Stetson University
- Operates the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law
- Operates an online resource of materials concerning the intersection of science and the law www.ncstl.org
- Is building an important reference collection of law, science, and technology literature for interlibrary loan
- Develops primers on law, science, and technology topics
- Hosts the National Conference on Science, Technology and the Law scheduled for November 2–5, 2006 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Slide 48: Lessons Learned From 9/11: DNA Identification in Mass Fatality Incidents
- Released by NIJ on September 11, 2006
- Report of the Kinship and Data Analysis Panel (KADAP)
- Discusses the incorporation of DNA identification into a mass fatality disaster plan
- Available on DNA.gov
Date Entered: November 28, 2007