Forensic Science

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href="/forensic-genetics" data-drupal-link-system-path="">DNA and Biological Evidence</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/drugs-toxicology" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Drugs and Toxicology</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-biometrics" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Fingerprints and Pattern Evidence</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/trace-evidence" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Trace Evidence</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item usa-sidenav__item--parent"> <a href="/forensic-science/interdisciplinary-topics" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Interdisciplinary Topics</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu-forensics-2"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="menu-forensics-2" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/interdisciplinary-topics/scientific-foundation-reviews" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Scientific Foundation Reviews</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/interdisciplinary-topics/evidence-management" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Evidence Management</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/interdisciplinary-topics/national-commission-forensic-science" data-drupal-link-system-path="">National Commission on Forensic Science</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/interdisciplinary-topics/working-groups" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Working Groups</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu-forensics-2-4"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="menu-forensics-2-4" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/interdisciplinary-topics/working-groups/nistnij-working-groups" data-drupal-link-system-path="">NIST/NIJ Working Groups</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/interdisciplinary-topics/working-groups/legacy-scientific-working-groups" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Legacy Scientific Working Groups</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item usa-sidenav__item--parent"> <a href="/forensic-science/reference-materials-standards-and-guidelines" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Reference Materials, Standards and Guidelines</a> <button class="usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="menu-forensics-3"><span class="usa-sr-only">Expand or Collapse</span></button> <ul id="menu-forensics-3" class="usa-sidenav__sublist usa-accordion"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/reference-materials-standards-and-guidelines/reference-materials-and-standards" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Reference Materials and Standards</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/reference-materials-standards-and-guidelines/reference-data" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Reference Data</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/reference-materials-standards-and-guidelines/manuals-and-guidelines" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Manuals and Guidelines</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/forensic-science/conferences-and-events" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Conferences and Events</a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a href="/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensic-science" data-drupal-link-system-path="">Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science</a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div>  <div class="nist-block nist-social__wrapper--block" > <h2 class="nist-block__title" >Sign Up to Get NIST News</h2> <div><a href="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIST/subscriber/new?topic_id=USNIST_1" class="nist-social nist-social--envelope" title="GovDelivery" ><span>GovDelivery</span></a></div> </div>  <div class="views-element-container nist-block nist-block--topic" data-elastic-exclude="" > <div><div class="js-view-dom-id-fd60d813b67151ecba1727bb681ec368aaa8f908f4a8400c3ca57606fe16992f"> <div class="link-list"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">Forensic Science Topics</h2> <ul> <li><div class="views-field views-field-field-shared-section"><div class="field-content"><a href="/digital-evidence" hreflang="en">Digital evidence</a></div></div></li> <li><div class="views-field views-field-field-shared-section"><div class="field-content"><a href="/drugs-toxicology" hreflang="en">Drugs & toxicology</a></div></div></li> <li><div class="views-field views-field-field-shared-section"><div class="field-content"><a href="/firearms-and-toolmarks" hreflang="en">Firearms and toolmarks</a></div></div></li> <li><div class="views-field views-field-field-shared-section"><div class="field-content"><a href="/forensic-biometrics" hreflang="en">Forensic biometrics</a></div></div></li> <li><div class="views-field views-field-field-shared-section"><div class="field-content"><a href="/forensic-genetics" hreflang="en">Forensic genetics</a></div></div></li> <li><div class="views-field views-field-field-shared-section"><div class="field-content"><a href="/trace-evidence" hreflang="en">Trace evidence</a></div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div> </aside> <div class="nist-page__region nist-page__region--content tablet-lg:grid-col-8 desktop-lg:grid-col-9" > <div class="text-with-summary margin-bottom-5"> <p>NIST is working to strengthen forensic practice through research and improved standards. Our efforts involve three key components:</p><h2>Science</h2><p>We conduct <a href="https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/research">scientific research</a> in several forensic disciplines, including DNA, ballistics, fingerprint analysis, trace evidence, and digital, among others. We provide physical reference standards and data that help forensic laboratories validate their analytical methods and ensure accurate test results.</p><p>We also support CSAFE, a NIST Center of Excellence in Forensic Science, which is working to develop new statistical methods for use in evidence examination</p><h2>Practice</h2><p>We administer the <a href="https://www.nist.gov/topics/forensic-science/organization-scientific-area-committees-osac">Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science </a>(OSAC), which is facilitating the development of science-based standards and guidelines for a broad array of forensic disciplines.</p> </div> <div class="nist-block" > <div class="grid-container margin-y-5"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--topic-text paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="nist-region-heading"> <h2> What Is Forensic Science? </h2> </div> <div class="tablet-lg:grid-col-8 padding-right-5"> <div class="text-long"><p>Forensic science is the use of scientific methods or expertise to investigate crimes or examine evidence that might be presented in a court of law. Forensic science comprises a diverse array of disciplines, from fingerprint and DNA analysis to anthropology and wildlife forensics. Though they represent varied disciplines, all forensic scientists face a common set of challenges. How do you ensure that forensic methods produce reliable results? How do you communicate findings to a jury or other nonexperts in a way that is accurate and understandable? How do you keep up with new technology without falling behind on casework? Meeting these and other challenges is critical to ensuring that forensic science remains a powerful force in support of justice and public safety.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-container margin-y-5"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--topic-text paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="nist-region-heading"> <h2> Key Accomplishments </h2> </div> <div class="tablet-lg:grid-col-8 padding-right-5"> <div class="text-long"><ul> <li><strong>Forensic SRMs:</strong> NIST develops standard reference materials (SRMs) for forensic science, including <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3b92c00d-6859-4643-9729-94473b10d7a2" href="/news-events/news/2018/09/nist-updates-forensic-standard-reference-materials" title="NIST Updates Forensic Standard Reference Materials">the Standard Bullet and the Human DNA Quantitation Standard</a>. By helping to ensure that forensic labs produce accurate measurements when analyzing crime scene evidence, these SRMs contribute to public safety and fairness in the criminal justice system.</li> <li><strong>Digital forensics:</strong> NIST’s <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="581a735d-233b-4fe3-906b-cc8bcd6f11e2" href="/news-events/news/2018/09/database-software-fingerprints-expands-include-computer-games" title="Database of Software “Fingerprints” Expands to Include Computer Games">National Software Reference Library</a> is one of the largest publicly  known collections of computer software in the world and includes a database of millions of digital signatures from known software files. That database is a critical tool for computer forensics experts and vastly speeds up the investigation of crimes involving digital evidence.</li> <li><strong>Combating the opioid epidemic:</strong> Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids kill tens of thousands of Americans each year. NIST scientists have developed <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="dce93abd-366d-404e-8d2d-bd9d9b0d4f36" href="/feature-stories/safe-efficient-reliable-new-science-fight-against-killer-drugs" title="Safe, Efficient, Reliable: New Science in the Fight Against Killer Drugs">new tools</a> that help police and forensic chemists save lives by detecting and identifying these drugs safely, efficiently and reliably.</li> <li><strong>Forensic science standards:</strong> NIST is accelerating the development and adoption of high-quality, technically sound forensic science standards by administering the <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="eb4a7df4-5639-44ba-b037-d31a99b5b46d" href="/organization-scientific-area-committees-forensic-science" title="The Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science">Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science</a> (OSAC). OSAC-approved standards define minimum requirements, best practices and standard protocols that help ensure that the results of forensic analysis are reliable and reproducible.  </li> <li><strong>Forensic DNA:</strong> NIST played a central role in developing the forensic DNA analysis techniques that have revolutionized crime fighting and have helped convict the guilty and exonerate the innocent. Among other things, NIST scientists have enabled <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="97567a34-8fcf-4064-bdc3-252ce7fce671" href="/news-events/news/2016/12/nist-research-enables-enhanced-dna-fingerprints" title="NIST Research Enables Enhanced DNA “Fingerprints”">enhanced DNA “fingerprints.”</a><br>  </li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--topic-featured paragraph--view-mode--default nist-content-row--width-full bg-base-lightest margin-y-5"> <div class="grid-container"> <div class="nist-card nist-card--horizontal nist-card--horizontal-full nist-card--base-lightest"> <div class="nist-card__inner"> <div class="nist-card__image"> <a href="/feature-stories/safe-efficient-reliable-new-science-fight-against-killer-drugs"> <div class="entity-reference"> <figure class="nist-image"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/800w_x_400h/public/images/2021/03/18/Faux_Fentynal_lethal_dose_005.jpg.webp?itok=QzyMDCuD" width="800" height="400" alt="Black background. Photo of a penny. Next to the penny is a tiny amount of a white powder." typeof="foaf:Image" /> <figcaption class="nist-image__caption"> <div data-caption-editable="true" class="nist-image__caption-content"> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </a> </div> <div class="nist-card__title"> <h3> Safe, Efficient, Reliable: New Science in the Fight Against Killer Drugs </h3> </div> <div class="nist-card__content"> <div class="text-long"><p>“A new drug might appear, then three or six months later it’s gone, replaced by something new,” said NIST chemist and program manager Marcela Najarro. “It’s a totally different ballgame than 10 or 15 years ago.”</p> <p>To help with that issue and others, NIST researchers are giving law enforcement and public health experts new tools to combat fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.</p></div> </div> <div class="nist-card__links"> <div class="nist-card__button"> <a href="/feature-stories/safe-efficient-reliable-new-science-fight-against-killer-drugs" class="usa-button ">Learn more.</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="margin-y-4"> <h2 class="nist-block__title">News and Updates</h2> <div class="margin-bottom-5"> <div class="entity-reference"> <div class="nist-card nist-card--horizontal nist-card--horizontal-full"> <div class="nist-card__inner"> <div class="nist-card__image"> <a href="/news-events/news/2021/06/nist-publishes-review-dna-mixture-interpretation-methods"> <div class="entity-reference"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/600w_x_360h/public/images/2021/06/03/hero_DNA_mixtures-new.jpg.webp?itok=j0VSvOn5" width="600" height="360" alt="A dark rectangle filled with colored triangles." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </a> </div> <div class="nist-card__title"> <h3><span property="schema:name">NIST Publishes Review of DNA Mixture Interpretation Methods</span> </h3> </div> <div class="nist-card__content"> <div property="schema:text" class="text-with-summary"> [Editor's Note: The final version of this report was published on Dec. 19, 2024. More information, including a link to the final report, is available here.] The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published DNA Mixture Interpretation: A Scientific Foundation Review . This draft report, which will be open for public comment for 60 days before being published in final form </div> </div> <div class="nist-card__links"> <div class="nist-card__button"> <a href="/news-events/news/2021/06/nist-publishes-review-dna-mixture-interpretation-methods" class="usa-button ">Read more</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--dynamic-news-list-topic paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="js-view-dom-id-e7f99573bf0c7c1e3efa378e487727a5aa8f3cb02cca0aa87fada1f896c0bc0f"> <div class="grid-row grid-gap-2"> <div class="nist-card tablet:grid-col-4 nist-card--topic "> <div class="nist-card__inner"> <div class="nist-card__image"> <a href="/news-events/news/2025/01/texas-forensic-science-commission-supports-nist-recommendations"> <div class="entity-reference"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/400_x_250_focal_point/public/images/2025/01/08/1-s2.0-S2589871X24000196-gr1_lrg.jpg?h=f905bda6&itok=GGg0rman" width="400" height="250" alt="A flow diagram reflecting the process for evaluating examination results" typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </a> </div> <div class="nist-card__title padding-y-5"> <h3><span property="schema:name">Texas Forensic Science Commission Supports NIST Recommendations</span> </h3> </div> <div class="nist-card__links"> <div class="nist-card__button"> <a href="/news-events/news/2025/01/texas-forensic-science-commission-supports-nist-recommendations" class="usa-button ">Read more</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nist-card tablet:grid-col-4 nist-card--topic "> <div class="nist-card__inner"> <div class="nist-card__image"> <a href="/news-events/news/2024/12/nist-publishes-report-dna-mixture-interpretation-methods"> <div class="entity-reference"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/400_x_250_focal_point/public/images/2021/06/03/hero_DNA_mixtures-new.jpg?itok=vGuA_ZwG" width="400" height="250" alt="A dark rectangle filled with colored triangles." typeof="foaf:Image" /> </div> </a> </div> <div class="nist-card__title padding-y-5"> <h3><span property="schema:name">NIST Publishes Report on DNA Mixture Interpretation Methods</span> </h3> </div> <div class="nist-card__links"> <div class="nist-card__button"> <a href="/news-events/news/2024/12/nist-publishes-report-dna-mixture-interpretation-methods" class="usa-button ">Read more</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nist-card tablet:grid-col-4 nist-card--topic "> <div class="nist-card__inner"> <div class="nist-card__image"> <a href="/news-events/news/2024/10/nist-report-outlines-challenges-and-strategic-opportunities-enhance-drug"> <div class="entity-reference"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/400_x_250_focal_point/public/images/2024/10/09/Drug%20Detection%20Workshop%20Report%20Graphic.png?h=d75fc992&itok=z6T5Q8_2" width="400" height="250" alt="A large circle with a smaller circle in the middle. 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