U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

National Institute of Justice

Forensic Science Technology Working Group 

Operational Requirements

November 2019

The Forensic Science Technology 

Working Group (TWG) is a committee of 

approximately 50 experienced forensic 

science practitioners from local, state, 

and federal agencies and laboratories. 

Through the Forensic Science TWG, NIJ reaches 

out to the forensic science practitioner community 

to identify, discuss, and prioritize operational needs 

and requirements. These needs and requirements 

help inform NIJ’s planned and ongoing research 

and development activities, and ensure that future 

research and development investments meet 

practitioners’ needs. TWG meetings are the first 

phase in NIJ’s research and development process.

Disciplines represented by the Forensic Science 

TWG include:

• Crime Scene Examination

• Forensic Anthropology and Odontology

• Forensic Biology/DNA

• Forensic Pathology

• Impression and Pattern Evidence

•Medicolegal Death Investigation

• Seized Drugs

• Toxicology

• Trace Evidence

The following list of needs and requirements was 

developed based on discussions at the Forensic 

Science TWG meeting held in fall 2019.

For more information go to NIJ.ojp.gov, keyword: TWG.

IMPLEMENTING RESEARCH

EVALUATING RESEARCH RESULTS

DEVELOPING A RESEARCH AGENDA

POST-AWARD ACTIVITIES

NIJ’s Research and Development Process

IDENTIFYING NEEDS

 

1

2

3

4

5

6 DISSEMINATING TO THE FIELD

NIJ’s research and development process helps ensure that projects 

are relevant to the field and produce valid, actionable results. The 

process typically includes:

In addition to working group meetings, NIJ sponsors workshops

and other events to guide future research.

Our long-term research agenda is guided by our strategic goals.

NIJ funds research at external organizations, supplemented

by the in-house research of our science staff.

NIJ scientists and grants managers monitor research 

projects and conduct site visits.

Results from awards inform future funding opportunities and 

become part of the process of developing NIJ’s research agenda.

NIJ spreads knowledge to policymakers, practitioners, and other

researchers to advance science and practice.
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Forensic Science TWG Operational Requirements

Operational Requirements

Forensic

Discipline(s)ScientificResearchTechnology DevelopmentPolicy orProtocol DevelopmentAssessment& EvaluationDisseminationor TrainingDatabasesor Reference Collections

Scientific foundations for expert conclusions of forensic evidence Impression & Pattern 

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü

Development and validation of standardized forensic methods and 

conclusions

Impression & Pattern 

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü ü ü

Determination of accuracy and reliability of forensic analyses and 

conclusions, including potential sources of error

Impression & Pattern 

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü ü

Practical statistical approaches for the interpretation of forensic 

evidence

Impression & Pattern 

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü ü ü ü

Evaluation of the effectiveness of varied types of review and/or 

verification of casework, testimony, and investigative leads

Impression & Pattern

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü ü ü ü

Evaluation of qualified language of association along the continuum 

from investigative leads to definitive conclusions 

Impression & Pattern

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü ü

Novel and/or improved evidence recognition, collection, and 

visualization tools and analytical instrumentation for field and lab 

use

Impression & Pattern

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü ü ü

Evaluation of the effects of inter- and intra-disciplinary sequential 

evidence processing and analytical methods

Impression & Pattern

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü ü ü ü

Determination of the optimal content and frequency of proficiency 

tests to evaluate performance and mitigate risk

Impression & Pattern 

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü ü

Understanding of the cognitive processes involved in pattern 

recognition as applied to forensic comparative analysis 

Impression & Pattern

Evidence; Trace Evidence ü

Quantitative methods to augment visual trace evidence screening 

and examinations Trace Evidence ü ü ü

Comprehensive evaluation of the detection and utility of organic 

gunshot residues Trace Evidence ü ü ü

Fundamental understanding of how environmental factors can 

affect trace evidence Trace Evidence ü

Evaluation of non-DNA approaches for human hair screening or 

comparison Trace Evidence ü

Determination of the causes of textile physical damage (e.g., tear, 

cut, stab, shot, burn) and evaluation of the persistence of damage 

characteristics

Trace Evidence ü

Understanding the interference of or chemical interaction between 

sexual lubricants, personal care products, and the human body Trace Evidence ü ü

Development of a comprehensive extraction method to allow for 

both DNA and sexual lubricant analysis from a single sample Trace Evidence ü ü ü

Construction of new and updating of existing databases with 

properties of manufactured materials Trace Evidence ü

Identification and characterization of nanomaterials in evidentiary 

materials Trace Evidence ü ü

Objective and validated methods to classify spatter patterns by the 

mechanism of formation

Bloodstain Pattern 

Analysis ü ü ü

Fundamental understanding of droplet formation, droplet trajectory, 

and the resultant formation of bloodstain patterns

Bloodstain Pattern 

Analysis ü ü
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Forensic Science TWG Operational Requirements

Operational Requirements

Forensic

Discipline(s)ScientificResearchTechnology DevelopmentPolicy orProtocol DevelopmentAssessment& EvaluationDisseminationor TrainingDatabasesor Reference Collections

Understanding of the interaction of blood with fabrics and textiles Bloodstain Pattern 

Analysis ü

Understanding of the creation and obscuration of fire patterns due 

to ventilation effects Fire & Arson Investigation ü

Evaluation of methods for origin and cause determination Fire & Arson Investigation ü

Standardized procedures for collecting, preserving, and analyzing 

building system electronic data Fire & Arson Investigation ü ü

Understanding of the effect of materials properties on the 

development and interpretation of fire patterns Fire & Arson Investigation ü ü ü

Field and laboratory techniques for the quantitative measurement 

of fire patterns Fire & Arson Investigation ü ü ü

Tools for fire investigators to evaluate the effects of fuel 

characteristics on the growth and spread of fires Fire & Arson Investigation ü ü

Characterization of electrical system response as a means to study 

fire progression Fire & Arson Investigation ü

Adequate materials property data inputs for accurate computer fire 

models Fire & Arson Investigation ü ü

Evaluation of incident heat flux profiles to walls and neighboring 

items in support of fire model validation Fire & Arson Investigation ü

Repeatability and reproducibility of test measurements of largescale structure fires Fire & Arson Investigation ü

Evaluation of the probative value of general wear on outsoles 

during footwear examinations Footwear ü

Determination of relevant populations for the interpretation of class 

associations in footwear/tire impression evidence Footwear; Tire Tread ü ü

Evaluation of Schallamach features on footwear outsoles and their 

utility for source determination Footwear ü ü

Algorithms for automated searching of make and model of crime 

scene footwear or tire impressions within a database of known 

footwear outsole or tire tread patterns

Footwear; Tire Tread ü ü ü

Understanding of the relationship between manufacturing 

techniques and the resultant features used for outsole 

comparisons

Footwear ü ü ü

Understanding of the morphological variability of the shape of the 

foot and the resulting shoeless impression [barefoot and socked] Footwear ü

Understanding of the variability of dimensional characteristics that 

occur during the replication of impressions Footwear ü ü

Characterization of footwear and tire impressions made from 

geologically based materials for selecting appropriate chemical 

enhancement techniques

Footwear; Tire Tread ü ü ü

Reference collection databases of handwriting samples, copybook 

curricula, and typewriter and computer font styles

Forensic Document 

Examination ü

Quantitative assessment of intra- and inter-person handwriting and 

handprinting variation

Forensic Document 

Examination ü ü ü ü
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Forensic Science TWG Operational Requirements

Operational Requirements

Forensic

Discipline(s)

ScientificResearchTechnology DevelopmentPolicy orProtocol DevelopmentAssessment& EvaluationDisseminationor TrainingDatabasesor Reference Collections

Assessment of the comparability of different forms of writing from 

individuals (e.g., initials, signatures, handwriting, handprinting, 

foreign writing)

Forensic Document 

Examination ü

Understanding of the kinematics of handwriting and digitally 

captured signatures

Forensic Document 

Examination ü

Comparative evaluation of automated handwriting identification 

systems

Forensic Document 

Examination ü

Optimal methods and materials for the preservation, visualization, 

recovery, and comparison of tool marks in cartilage and bone

Tool Marks; Forensic 

Pathology; Forensic 

Anthropology

ü ü ü

Source attribution of drug tablets using manufacturing tool marks Tool Marks; Seized Drugs ü ü ü ü

Biological evidence screening tools that can address any or all 

of the following: identifying areas on evidence with DNA, time 

since sample deposition, number of contributors, proportions of 

contributors, or sex of contributors

Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü

The ability to differentiate, physically separate, and selectively 

analyze DNA and/or cells from multiple donors or multiple tissue/

cell types contributing to mixtures, with minimal or no sample loss

Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü

Improved DNA collection devices or methods for recovery and 

release of DNA Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü ü

The ability to associate cell type and/or fluid with DNA profile, 

primarily for mixture DNA profiles Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü ü

Better understanding of advanced approaches to removing 

steps from typical DNA processing workflows (e.g., extraction, 

quantitation, amplification)

Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü ü

Improved methods for identifying the number of contributors and 

mixture interpretation algorithms for all markers (STRs, sequencebased STRs, Y-STRs, mitochondrial, microhaplotypes, SNPs) to 

include statistical considerations for combining marker types

Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü ü

Probabilistic haplotyping tool for mixture interpretation of lineage 

markers (Y-STRs, mitochondrial) and/or methods by which to 

statistically evaluate mixture profiles (Y-STRs, mitochondrial)

Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü

Better characterization of existing databases and further 

development of population data of forensically relevant genetic 

markers (SNPs, Y-STRs, X-STRs, etc.) to include populations that 

are currently underrepresented in existing databases

Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü

Information and/or software about using multiple marker systems 

for identifying family relationships Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü

Increased information about the discriminatory power and 

sensitivity of alternate biological analyses (e.g., proteomics, 

microbiome, plants, animals) to associate individuals with crime 

scene evidence

Forensic Biology/DNA ü

Increased knowledge of computational models for linking CODIS 

STR marker alleles to SNPs (e.g., SNP arrays used in current 

genealogical databases)

Forensic Biology/DNA ü
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Forensic Science TWG Operational Requirements

Operational Requirements

Forensic

Discipline(s)ScientificResearchTechnology DevelopmentPolicy orProtocol DevelopmentAssessment& EvaluationDisseminationor TrainingDatabasesor Reference Collections

Development of genetic genealogy testing procedures for use by 

crime labs Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü ü ü

Comprehensive, systematic, well-controlled studies that provide 

both foundational knowledge and practical data about "touch 

evidence" DNA transfer (e.g., primary, secondary) and persistence 

in the real world, as well as best practices for interpretation

Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü ü ü

Information on the impacts various methods, reagents, and 

materials have on the recovery, repair, and/or preservation of lowquantity and/or low-quality DNA from various cell typesForensic Biology/DNA ü

Assessment of limitations and/or variability of probabilistic 

genotyping software Forensic Biology/DNA ü

Assessment of the variability of DNA deposition on swabs, 

including replicate swabs (e.g., vaginal swabs, wet/dry) Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü

Methods by which to identify areas on a swab with DNA type of 

interest (e.g., semen) to determine how much is needed for testing 

prior to beginning extraction

Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü

Better understanding of how to integrate Rapid DNA into lab 

workflows Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü ü

Better ways to enrich or target genomic areas of forensic DNA 

interest as opposed to a traditional PCR-based approach Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü ü

Methods to remove stutter from PCR-based STR analysis Forensic Biology/DNA ü ü

Need for error rate studies on qualitative analysis (single tests 

and schemes); the conclusion of such a study will also explain 

its limitations

Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü ü

Research into science-based acceptance criteria of analytical data 

generated in case samples; the effectiveness of this study could 

be improved if performed in conjunction with the study for error 

rate on qualitative analysis (single tests and schemes)

Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü ü

Need for process optimization, which may include scene 

evaluation, evidence collection and handling, submission 

acceptance criteria, analysis, data management, and/or reporting 

(for example, automation of sample preparation for toxicology)

Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü ü ü ü

Improved, broader, more representative proficiency testing to 

include some blind testing Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü ü

Limber, configurable, cost-effective laboratory information (data) 

management systems and/or add-on components/modules Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü ü ü

Research regarding natural cannabinoids other than 

delta 9-THC (delta 8-, delta 6-, and delta 10-THC, CBV, CBG,

acid versions, etc.)

Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü

Evaluation of the systematic sources of occupational stress and 

its effect on work quality, forensic laboratory staff well-being, and 

organizational health

Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü

Access to other forensic laboratories’ methods/SOPs/validation 

plans Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü
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Forensic Science TWG Operational Requirements

Operational Requirements

Forensic

Discipline(s)ScientificResearchTechnology DevelopmentPolicy orProtocol DevelopmentAssessment& EvaluationDisseminationor TrainingDatabasesor Reference Collections

Continued advancement of practical forensic application/

development of emerging or current instrumentation and software 

(e.g., microspectrophotometer, using the second derivative, 

thermal analysis coupled with FTIR or GC-MS, TOF/QTOF); a 

clear case should be made for how new technology either may 

do something that current technology cannot, or may be an 

improvement over current technology (more sensitive, faster, more 

cost-effective, etc.)

Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü ü ü

Access to fieldwide corrective action documentation for all lab 

operations (e.g., proficiency testing, quality control failures, 

personnel issues, etc.)

Seized Drugs; Toxicology ü ü

Research to establish validated methods for THC quantity in plant 

materials, edibles, extracts, etc. Seized Drugs ü

Correlating analytical findings to legal status of seized drugs; 

laboratory staff are asked to render legal opinions outside of their 

scientific expertise

Seized Drugs ü

Field test for discrimination of hemp versus marijuana that is 

validated to industry standards Seized Drugs ü ü

Emphasis on adequate training/development of drug chemists Seized Drugs ü ü

Difficulty identifying NPS with limited resources (instruments, 

financial, personnel, knowledge of/access to external resources) Seized Drugs ü

Study of interpretation of scientific report language by nonscientist 

stakeholders, including juries/the public Seized Drugs ü ü

Suggested standardized language for reports, based on data 

gathered from diverse agencies, to include a glossary of terms 

to clarify commonly misunderstood words and phrases (e.g., 

identification uncertainty versus misidentification) to improve 

written communication with stakeholders

Seized Drugs ü

Research to determine limitations of GC/MS-only schemes to 

correctly identify Schedule 1 and 2 drugs, to include analogs Seized Drugs ü ü ü

Evaluation of efficient methods of triaging cases and successful 

case management agreements among labs and customer 

stakeholders

Seized Drugs ü ü

Identifying NPS by comparison to spectra from a different 

instrument rather than reference standard Seized Drugs ü ü

Research on the correlation of blood and oral fluid values, 

particularly in regards to DUID interpretation and post-mortem, 

with an emphasis on studies pertaining to pharmacokinetics and 

pharmacodynamics of drug partitioning into oral fluid

Toxicology ü

Centralized repository for seized drug and toxicology-related 

composite data/surveys (e.g., NFLIS, NAME, medical examiner/

coroner survey, DEA)

Toxicology ü

Challenges of implementation of high-resolution mass 

spectrometry in the toxicology workflow Toxicology ü
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Forensic Science TWG Operational Requirements

Operational Requirements

Forensic

Discipline(s)

ScientificResearchTechnology DevelopmentPolicy orProtocol DevelopmentAssessment& EvaluationDisseminationor TrainingDatabasesor Reference Collections

Better understanding of the impact of vaping both licit and 

illicit substances Toxicology ü ü

Basic pharmacology and statistics training for forensic toxicologists Toxicology ü

Tools for effective communication between forensic laboratory 

staff and policymakers (resources, public safety, public health) Toxicology ü

Sufficient quantity of new pharmaceutical and emerging illicit 

substance reference materials (to include quantitative samples) for 

use in forensic labs (to include parent drugs and metabolites)

Toxicology ü

Nationwide evaluation of implementation of OSAC-established 

minimum testing scheme policies for medical examiner/coroner 

offices

Toxicology ü ü

Research to examine drug levels pre- and post-embalming 

to improve assessment of cause of death if toxicology is not 

completed prior to embalming

Toxicology ü

Prevalence of DFC drugs in actual casework from adjudicated 

cases Toxicology ü

Research and data collection to gain a better understanding 

of the relevance of isomers of novel psychoactive substances, 

such as (but not limited to) synthetic opioids, cannabinoids, 

benzodiazepines, and substituted cathinones

Toxicology ü

Enhanced, and cost-effective, development/improvement of 

technologies and capabilities for visualizing and imaging evidence 

at the scene

Crime Scene Examination ü ü

Development of novel, improved, or enhanced presumptive tests 

(rapid, accurate, and nondestructive) for evidence analysis and 

interpretation at the scene and in the morgue/lab; although 

presumptive tests exist, there is always an opportunity for 

improved, enhanced, or novel tests 

Crime Scene Examination; 

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations; Toxicology

ü ü ü

A number of tools and calculators for forensic anthropology (e.g., 

ancestry and sex estimation) and crime scene investigation (e.g., 

blood stain pattern analysis) exist in disparate locations or nonuser-friendly formats

Forensic Anthropology; 

Crime Scene Examination ü

Development of a multidisciplinary statistical model, for example, 

likelihood ratio, for use in personal identification, based on 

population frequencies of traits (anthropological, friction ridge, 

radiological, odontological, pathological, biological, etc.) to reduce 

subjectivity in decedent identifications

Forensic Anthropology ü

Further research on bone healing rates, at the macro- and microlevels, and the quantification of healing rate differences by age and 

by bone element

Forensic Anthropology; 

Forensic Pathology ü

Obtaining records for human identification through dental 

comparison; MDIs cannot locate dentist to obtain ante-mortem 

records for identification purposes

Forensic Anthropology; 

Forensic Pathology ü ü ü

Difficulty in locating clandestine graves; inability to use current 

technology effectively

Forensic Anthropology; 

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations

ü ü ü ü
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Forensic Science TWG Operational Requirements

Operational Requirements

Forensic

Discipline(s)ScientificResearchTechnology DevelopmentPolicy orProtocol DevelopmentAssessment& EvaluationDisseminationor TrainingDatabasesor Reference Collections

Enhancement of unidentified decedent system(s) with weighting 

capability for ante-mortem and post-mortem comparisons with 

the goal of providing a ranked list of “best matches” to effectively 

and efficiently identify potential candidates or hits; current human 

identification systems could be improved to more efficiently and 

effectively identify potential candidates or hits

Forensic Anthropology; 

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations

ü ü ü

Difficulty in identifying geographical origin of remains; development 

of novel and innovative methods and/or systems for identifying 

geographic region or country of origin of unidentified remains

Forensic Anthropology; 

Forensic Pathology; 

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations

ü

Training opportunities for practitioners, resources, and employee 

retention to meet caseload demand within the MDI community

Forensic Anthropology; 

Forensic Pathology; 

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations

ü

Innovation and collaboration with other science disciplines outside 

of the medicolegal death investigation arena

Forensic Anthropology; 

Forensic Pathology; 

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations

ü ü ü ü ü ü

More studies to improve accuracy and reliability of isotope 

analyses for geolocation and human remains identification, to 

overcome challenges in identification of human remains

Forensic Anthropology; 

Forensic Pathology; 

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations

ü ü

Ability to determine the cause and manner of death of infants 

and children (distinguishing between natural, accidental, and 

nonaccidental) in sudden fatal events to include traumatic 

injury versus sudden nontraumatic causes of death, e.g., 

channelopathies, genetic disease, metabolic disorders, etc.

Forensic Pathology ü

Further research studies on force measurement, fracture 

mechanics, and modeling of injuries (to include hard tissue and 

soft tissue) to improve accuracy of trauma analysis and quantify 

error rates associated with trauma interpretation

Forensic Pathology ü

Difficulty in detecting subtle injuries (to include deep tissue 

bruising, tattoos, and other soft tissue modifications) on bodies, 

both living and deceased

Forensic Pathology ü ü

Further research into the utility of advanced imaging technologies 

in post-mortem examination, assessing the cost-benefit of the 

imaging results with the financial burden of purchasing such 

technologies and hiring the expertise required, and development 

of standardized protocols; advanced imaging technologies in 

post-mortem examination are expensive, inaccessible for most 

agencies, difficult to interpret, and require specialized expertise

Forensic Pathology ü ü ü ü

What are the consequences of differing levels of post-mortem 

investigation? Is there an unknown error rate in diagnosis of cause 

and manner of death due to the necessity of deciding on field 

investigation vs. no field investigation, autopsy vs. no autopsy, 

external exam vs. autopsy, impact of full-body imaging, and the 

roles of ancillary tests (toxicology, histology, microbiology, genetic 

and metabolic)?

Forensic Pathology ü ü ü ü
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Forensic Science TWG Operational Requirements

Operational Requirements

Forensic

Discipline(s)

ScientificResearchTechnology DevelopmentPolicy orProtocol DevelopmentAssessment& EvaluationDisseminationor TrainingDatabasesor Reference Collections

Ability to read through hypoxic artifacts and identify traumatic 

brain injury in pediatric patients who have been hypoxic for any 

period of time

Forensic Pathology ü

Ability to collect reliable, appropriate, well-documented toxicology 

samples; improved collaboration and education between sample 

collectors (e.g., pathologists, autopsy technicians, medicolegal 

death investigators, hospital phlebotomists, and organ and tissue 

procurement staff) and toxicologists, including training on sample 

taking and recording

Forensic Pathology; 

Toxicology; Medicolegal 

Death Investigations

ü ü ü

Effective biometric capture techniques and devices for the digital 

acquisition of decedent data; effective technologies do exist for 

biometric capture for living persons, but not decedents, including 

decedents exhibiting various post-mortem artifacts

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations ü ü ü ü

Ability to determine precise time since death; studies of innovative 

methods or technologies to determine precise time since death

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations ü ü ü

Greater understanding of potential loss of forensic evidence due to 

decedent recovery, transport, and handling from scene to morgue; 

what evidence is lost by not performing evidence recovery prior to 

removal from the scene?

Medicolegal Death 

Investigations ü ü ü