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
                            Library & Multimedia
 Needs Assessment of Forensic Laboratories and Medical Examiner/Coroner Offices: A Report to Congress
NCJ Number
              305423

Date Published

2019
Length
              200 pages
Annotation
              This report on the needs assessment mandated by the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 (JFARA), examines the workload, backlog, personnel, and equipment needs for public crime laboratories as well as medical examiner and coroner (ME/C) offices, and while the report does not make specific policy recommendations, it does provide guidance and presents evidence-based practices to address the needs expressed during the assessment.
Abstract
              This needs assessment report compiles demonstrative evidence of how the forensic sciences field adapts to the following: advancements in technology; changes in the volume of types of forensic evidence; and the evolving needs of the justice system, especially considering sexual assault evidence backlogs and the opioid crisis. The authors took a mixed-methods analysis approach to the needs assessment, combining available quantitative data from sources like Project FORESIGHT and various programs and projects of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). The authors conducted targeted listening sessions to assess topics not easily captured by quantitative metrics. The report presents evidence-based practices to address the needs expressed during the assessment. Key findings of forensic community needs include: institutionalization of systems-based communications between forensic science service providers, their customers, and other stakeholders; sufficient and consistent funding and strategic planning to process increasing amounts of forensic evidence; sufficient and consistent funding and strategic planning to address the impact of the opioid crisis, ME/C workforce and workload challenges, and forensic practitioner training; improvement in the personnel pipeline from education through hiring and training; sufficient supply of graduates from academic programs who are prepared to seek and obtain employment in forensic science fields; continued efforts to strengthen quality assurance measures, limit preventable nonconformities, and maintain a healthy workforce in the forensic sciences; and efforts maintain a resilient forensic workforce. Challenges included but were not limited to interagency collaboration; increased workload; and insufficient funding.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2002-LP-CX-K006


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Award
        National Institute of Justice Congressionally Directed Awards
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2019
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Forensic laboratories
        Forensic sciences
        Evidence-based practices
        Crime laboratories
        Justice system



  
Similar Publications
        
                      White Paper – Information Sharing Between Medicolegal Death Investigation Offices And Organ And Tissue Recovery Organizations
                  Chromatographic and mass spectral studies on methoxymethcathinones related to 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
                  Understanding Work-Related Stress among Medicolegal Death Investigators: A National Survey and Mixed-Methods Impact Study
 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