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Special Forces students learn to collect fingerprint records from detainees in custom-designed scenarios.

Making a Difference

"All members of the audit team were well prepared, but most importantly very pleasant to deal with. This team was the most personable group we have ever had, thus decreasing the stress level greatly. Questions were posed in a way that was not confrontational.... Very good team!"
(Assessments Program)

~Ted Staples
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - HQ Laboratory

National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

Partnering to Ensure Public Safety

National Institute of JusticeDepartment of JusticeFor almost a decade, NFSTC has worked closely with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research, development and evaluation agency of the Department of Justice (DOJ), to develop resources that support the mission of the criminal justice community. From facilitating symposiums to evaluating the latest technologies to developing training programs, NIJ relies on NFSTC to consistently deliver innovative programs to enhance the practice of forensic science.

In 2007, NIJ awarded NFSTC a grant to operate the Forensic Technologies Center of Excellence (FTCoE). The FTCoE is the only Center of Excellence focused on forensic research and development. Through the Center, NFSTC evaluates mature and emerging technologies, providing forensic science practitioners with objective information on new tools and technologies that can be leveraged to more effectively investigate crime.

Innovative Training Solutions for the Justice Community

Through cooperative agreements with NIJ, NFSTC provides valuable training and technology assistance to the forensic science community at little or no cost.  This valuable funding provides support to forensic professionals who might not otherwise have access to advanced training due to agency budget constraints.

From training that gives first responders to a crime scene the knowledge to collect the most critical evidence, to education programs that explain DNA analysis to non-scientists, NFSTC has developed a wide range of interactive multimedia training programs for the NIJ.

NFSTC developed a large percentage of the web-based training for the President’s DNA Initiative, located at www.DNA.gov, including the widely utilized Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court (available online at http://dna.gov/training/otc/). And in 2008, the NFSTC was the recipient of four competitively awarded cooperative agreements from the NIJ to provide training to members of the justice community.