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
 Understanding the Use and Efficacy of Moderate Stringency DNA Searches
Award Information
Awardee
              RAND Corporation
Award #
              2014-IJ-CX-0005
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Santa Monica, CA
Awardee County
              Los Angeles
Congressional District
              33
Status
              Open
Funding First Awarded
              2014
Total funding (to date)
              $494,447
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 14 Research and Evaluation on Justice Systems-Related Topical Areas
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2014, $494,447)
In theory, moderate stringency forensic DNA searching (including familial searching) could be an enormously productive tool to identify and prosecute criminals in cases in which conventional DNA searching is unsuccessful. Critics, however, decry it as genetic surveillance, note the racially disparate effects it can have and note that it can subject innocent suspects to police suspicion. Yet, despite anecdotal reports of its efficacy, we know relatively little about moderate stringency DNA use, policies, legal challenges and
cost-effectiveness in the United States.
To guide policymakers, and improve practice in this area, RAND proposes conducting four related studies. First, they will conduct a thorough literature review of existing moderate stringency DNA laws, regulations and policies, as well as case law on challenges to its use. Second, they will conduct a survey of both SDIS and LDIS administrators to collect
information on laws, regulations, and policies as well as informal practices. Third, thy will use six states with different moderate stringency DNA policies as case studies to analyze more thoroughly the history and effects of moderate stringency DNA policies. In those states, they will collect additional metadata from SDIS and LDIS labs to be able to better
measure the effect of DNA policies, conduct qualitative interviews and collect more
detailed information on the costs associated with familial and moderate stringency DNA testing. Finally, they will conduct qualitative interviews with stakeholders in England, a jurisdiction which has used moderate stringency DNA searches for a longer period of time.
RAND is partnering with Dr. Carl Matthies of the Vera Institute, a former forensic scientist,and Dr. Emma Disley of RAND Europe, based in Cambridge, England.
We will publish and archive a comprehensive database of laws, regulations, policies, caselaw and practices on moderate stringency searches. They also plan to publish a working paper, a journal article, an NIJ report, and a practitioner-friendly research brief summarizing our findings. RAND anticipates this research will provide important guidance to both criminal justice researchers and policymakers who are confronting both the promise and the risks of this technology.
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Forensic Familial and Moderate Stringency DNA Searches: Policies and Practices in the U.S., England, and Wales




  
Grant-Funded Datasets
        
                      https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR37691.v1

  
Date Created: September 4, 2014
    
          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
        
                      Comparison of Examiner Conclusions with Score-based Likelihood Ratios for Cartridge Case Evidence
                  Can Law Enforcement Training Address Racial and Ethnic Disproportionality? An Experimental Evaluation of Effective Youth Interactions
                  A Process, Adaptation, and Outcome Evaluation of San Gabriel Valley Crisis Assistance Response & Engagement (SGV CARE)
 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