Support for Forensic Science Research Improving the Scientific Role of the National Institute of Justice (2015) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 11-20
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From page 11... ...
Although significant progress has been made in some forensic science disciplines, the forensic science community still faces many challenges. To address some of these challenges, an extensive program of highquality, strategically focused forensic science research is vital to improving the quality, validity, reliability, and breadth of forensic tools available to the criminal justice system.
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From page 12... ...
In response, the NRC established the Committee on Strengthening Forensic Science at the National Institute of Justice to assess NIJ progress and to make recommendations to improve NIJ's forensic science research program. CHARGE TO COMMITTEE The charge to the committee is as follows: An ad hoc committee will conduct a study and prepare a report that will review the progress made by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
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From page 13... ...
The committee examined NIJ's ability to lead critical areas of forensic science research by studying its current research operations and how they have changed since 2009. A prior NRC report Strengthening the National Institute of Justice provides descriptions of NIJ's earlier operations (National Research Council, 2010)
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NIJ provides most of the funding for forensic science research, both for research conducted within forensic laboratories (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2012) and for research conducted by academic researchers.3 However, Forensic Science: Path Forward (National Research Council, 2009b, p.
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From page 15... ...
. Forensic Science: Path Forward recommended the creation of a new independent federal agency was not followed, and, as stated earlier, this committee did not take a position on that issue.4 One recommended task for this new agency was "developing a strategy to improve forensic science research" and "promoting scholarly, competitive peer-reviewed research and technical development" (National Research Council, 2009b, p.
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From page 16... ...
In addition to funding research, NIJ carries out a number of activities to support state and local forensic laboratories, including testing and evaluation of forensic techniques, technical assistance in the application of the science, and funds for DNA backlog reduction and crime laboratory improvements. Strengthening NIJ concluded that administration of these activities may have diminished NIJ's capacity to direct and sustain research in forensic science and other areas (National Research Council, 2010, pp.
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From page 17... ...
. NIJ has acknowledged the findings and recommendations in both Forensic Science: Path Forward and Strengthening NIJ; efforts to respond to the recommendations are in motion, and some improvements have been made to NIJ's research operations (National Institute of Justice, 2010, 2011a; Laub, 2011; Executive Office of the President, 2014a, 2014b)
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From page 18... ...
STUDY METHODS The committee held four meetings during the course of the study. The first three were information-gathering meetings during which the committee heard presentations from a variety of stakeholders, including the NIJ director and deputy director, representatives from NIJ's Office of Investigative and Forensic Sciences, former NIJ directors, and representatives from partner federal agencies, including the FBI, the Defense Forensic Science Center, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National S cience Foundation.
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From page 19... ...
ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT The committee's report on its assessment of and guidance for NIJ has been organized into four chapters. Following this introduction, Chapter 2 describes the forensic science community -- the landscape of disciplines, forensic science practice, and forensic science research -- and assesses NIJ's role among federal agencies that support forensic science research.
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