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
 Role and Impact of Forensic Evidence in the Criminal Justice Process
NCJ Number
              231977

Author(s)
          Joseph Peterson;
                        Ira Sommers;
                        Deborah Baskin;
                        Donald Johnson
Date Published

October 2010
Length
              151 pages
Annotation
              The reported study estimated the percentage of crime scenes from which one or more types of forensic evidence is collected; described and cataloged the kinds of forensic evidence collected at crime scenes; tracked the use and attrition of forensic evidence in the criminal justice system from crime scenes through laboratory analysis, and then through subsequent criminal justice processes; and identified which forms of forensic evidence contributed most often (relative to their availability at a crime scene) to successful case outcomes.
Abstract
              For the five jurisdictions analyzed, the study found that the collection of forensic evidence from crime scenes and victims was extensive in homicides and, to a lesser extent, rapes; it was significantly more limited for assaults, burglaries, and robberies. With the exception of homicides, few of the reported offenses involved forensic evidence that was submitted to crime laboratories. Such submissions were 89 percent for homicides; 32 percent for rapes; and under 15 percent for assaults, burglaries, and robberies. Also, the overall percentage was low for reported offenses that had physical evidence examined in crime labs, with the exception of homicides (81 percent); it was less than 20 percent for rape cases and less than 10 percent for assaults, burglaries, and robberies. Of evidence submitted to labs, however, rates of examination exceeded 70 percent, with the exception of rape cases (58 percent). These findings suggest that criminal justice officials screen much of the forensic evidence in determining which evidence will be sent to crime labs for analysis, giving them significant discretion in determining evidence-examination priorities and practices. The most frequently collected, submitted, and examined types of evidence were fingerprints, firearms, and biological material (blood and semen). DNA evidence was concentrated in homicide cases and, to a lesser extent, rape cases. Specific follow-up research is recommended. 10 figures, 24 tables, 28 references, and appended data on unique/associative evidence and the increase in DNA analysis
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2006-DN-BX-0094


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)


  
  
        
  Award
        The Role and Impact of Forensic Evidence on the Criminal Justice Process
    
  
  
Date Published: October 1, 2010
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Related Datasets
        
                      http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR29203
                  http://dx.doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR33841
Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Assault and battery
        Burglary
        Comparative Analysis
        DNA fingerprinting
        Evidence



  
Similar Publications
        
                      Technical Note – Gas Chromatography Vapor-Phase Infrared Spectroscopy (GC-VIR)
                  Advances in Detecting and Identifying Explosives After an Attack
                  Enhancing Foundational Validity of Forensic Findings in Medico-Legal Strangulation Examinations
 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