U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Improving the Production and Use of Forensic Science
Award Information
Awardee
              RAND Corporation
Award #
              2011-DN-BX-0004
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Santa Monica, CA
Awardee County
              Los Angeles
Congressional District
              33
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2011
Total funding (to date)
              $496,006
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 11 Social Science Research in Forensic Science
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2011, $496,006)
The grantee will conduct four overlapping studies to improve our understanding of the way that forensic scientific evidence is created and used in the criminal justice system and help it realize its potential. First, in eight selected jurisdictions, they will interview police, prosecutors, and crime lab scientists to understand how forensic science is created and used and the obstacles to improving its use.  Second, they will take a sample of recent cases in those jurisdictions and track them from investigation to adjudication to understand how forensic evidence affects outcomes in these jurisdictions.  This will build on Peterson (2010)'s work and allow them to address a range of research questions about the creation and effect of forensic evidence in a wide range of jurisdictions. It will also allow them to measure the gap, if any, between stakeholders' perceptions and the actual effect of forensic evidence.  Third, they will analyze the data collected in the BJS censuses of crime labs in the United States in order to determine what effects, if any, payment system and organizational structure have on laboratory productivity and public safety impact. Does the fee-for-service payment system exhibit any impact on clearance rate, positive or negative? Does a crime laboratory's organizational affiliation have any bearing on productivity or case clearance rate?  Finally, they will conduct a national survey of prosecutors and defense counsel with experimental manipulations to understand how forensic evidence affects the perceived strength of the case during plea negotiations and trial. These overlapping studies will improve our understanding of how forensic scientific evidence is produced and used from investigation to conviction in a range of crimes and jurisdictions with different policies and institutional structures.  Such a knowledge base is a prerequisite to identifying evidence-based best practices in the organization of crime labs, the prioritization of testing, and the production and use of forensic scientific evidence.  Ultimately, these best practices will help the law enforcement community use the considerable untapped potential of forensic scientific evidence to solve crimes quickly, accurately, and efficiently.
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      The Unrealized Promise of Forensic Science-A Study of Its Production and Use

  
Date Created: September 15, 2011
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Evaluation of Culture and Climate Effects in the Virginia Department of Corrections Cognitive Communities
                  A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Impacts and Implementation of Florida's Risk Protection Order (RPO) Law, 2018-2023
                  Developing a Strategy to Evaluate Urban Violence Prevention and Intervention Ecosystems: A Case Study of Boston
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov