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
 Feedback from the Field: How Your Colleagues Are Using NIJ's Work
Archival Notice
              This is an archive page that is no longer being updated. It may contain outdated information and links may no longer function as originally intended.
Date
              August 30, 2011
Speaker
              John H. Laub, Ph.D.
Examination of Digital Evidence
Examination of Digital Evidence

  
Fingerprint Sourcebook
Fingerprint Sourcebook

  
Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court
Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court

  
Law 101: Legal Guide for Forensic Experts
Legal Guide for Forensic ExpertsWe frequently receive feedback from the field about how our research and training tools are being used. Let me share a few anecdotes that have come in recently.

A prosecutor in California wrote that, a few years ago, he worked on a death-penalty case with DNA evidence. Like most lawyers, he said, he did not have a biology background, so he was worried about presenting this highly technical evidence to a jury. But he found NIJ's free online training, Principles of Forensic DNA for of the Court, and, as he said, "I learned by doing all of the modules (numerous times)."

"After trial," he added, "jurors wanted to know how many years I worked in the DNA Unit. They were amazed when I told them it was my very first time presenting DNA evidence to a jury."

Although NIJ's mission is U.S.-focused, we also hear from folks outside of the U.S. who find us at NIJ.ojp.gov. Recently, we received a note from an attorney and digital-evidence analyst with the Bombay (India) High Court, saying that he found NIJ's Forensic Examination of Digital Evidence: A Guide for Law Enforcement particularly helpful. Another person from India wrote that NIJ's internet-based resources on policing have “...been a bonanza for police officers from developing countries like India.” And an assistant U.S. attorney working in Southeast Asia sent an email just a few weeks ago, saying that his counterparts were very interested in NIJ's online course, Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert, which offers a comprehensive discussion for forensic experts who are preparing to testify in court.

Of course, NIJ's work is amplified when those who are training practitioners use it as a part of their coursework. It was, therefore, very gratifying to hear recently from an instructor at one of the state police academies who said he uses NIJ's Fingerprint Sourcebook when he trains rookies, and he advises his students to refer to it regularly.

We are always thrilled to hear vignettes from the field, so do feel free to contact NIJ's Web manager, Lee Mockensturm at [email protected]. With your support, we can be sure that our work reaches those in the field, both here and abroad.
    
          Similar Speeches and Messages
        
                      Director Nancy La Vigne’s Vision
 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