This bulletin examines the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and advances in forensic science and technology.
Forensic science can be defined as the application of scientific knowledge to the legal system, and includes disciplines such as serology, pathology, molecular biology, biometrics, trace evidence, and weapons identification. Forensic technology can be defined as the tools or methods used to apply this scientific knowledge. Forensic science begins at a crime scene and proper evidence collection is crucial. The more scientific evidence, the stronger the case. The more scientifically grounded the evidence the more the prosecutors will be willing to use the evidence to strengthen a case. By awarding grants to forensic scientists around the country to fund forensic science projects as diverse as DNA profiling and the development of a portable device for visualizing latent fingerprints, the Office of Science and Technology is updating forensic science and advanced technologies into more systematic use. These specific products are now available to law enforcement: DNA identification, mitochondrial DNA population data, and DNA evidence in the courtroom. Another area where standardization of procedures is crucial is death investigation. These should be available to law enforcement and laboratory personnel in the near future. NIJ continues to support projects that develop a scientific basis of forensic techniques, advance the reliability or safety of forensic techniques, or bring established sciences to bear on forensic problems in a new way.