Version	1	/	Date	of	Issue:	10.29.15	/	Issuing	Authority:	Forensic	Science	Standards	Board	(FSSB)

Laboratory	Techniques	and	Technologies	at	the	Crime	Scene

Enhancement,	analysis,	databases,	portable,	durable,	ease	of	use,	rapid	results,	teleforensics

Crime	Scene	Investigation Sep	30,	2017

The	ability	to	bring	laboratory	techniques	and	technologies	(e.g.,	chemical,	instrumental,	database	search,	etc.)	to	the	

physical	crime	scene	would	allow	investigators	to	better	identify	potential	evidence,	then	properly	collect,	preserve	

and	identify	that evidence	which	would	more	quickly	advance	a	criminal	investigation.	

OSAC	Research	Needs	Assessment	Form

Title	of	research	need:

Keywords:

Submitting	subcommittee(s):	 Date	Approved:

(If	SAC	review	identifies	additional	subcommittees,	add	them	to	the	box	above.)

Background	information:

1.		Description	of	research	need:

2.	Key	bibliographic	references	relating	to	this	research	need:

3a.		In	what	ways	would	the	research	results	improve	current	laboratory	capabilities?

National	Academy	of	Science.	Strengthening	Forensic	Science	in	the	United	States.	(2009).	Pp	72-77.

Investigative	Uses	of	Technology:	Devices,	Tools,	and	Technologies.	(2007).	DOJ/OJP/NIJ.NCJ213030

Roberto	S.P.	King,	Peter	M	Hallett,	Doug	Foster	(April	2015)”	Seeing	into	the	infrared:	A	novel	IR	fluorescent	fingerprint	

powder”.	Forensic	Science	International,	pp.	21-6.

Mapes	A.A.,	Kloosterman	A.D.,	depot	C.J.,	Van	Marion	V.	(July	2016).	“Objective	data	on	DNA	success	rates	can	aid	the	

selection	process	of	crime	samples	for	analysis	by	rapid	mobile	DNA	technologies”. Forensic	Science	International,	Vol.	

264,	pp28-33.

Buxbaum	Peter,	(December	16,	2015).	”	Field	Forensics,	Special	Operations	Technology”.	http://www.specopsdhp.com/interesting-post/field-forensics/

Frégeau,	C.J.,	Germain,	O,	Fourney,	R.M.	Fingerprint	Enhancement	Revisited	and	the	Effects	of	Blood	Enhancement	

Chemicals	on	Subsequent	Profiler	PlusTM	Fluorescent	Short	Tandem	Repeat	DNA	Analysis	of	Fresh	and	Aged	Bloody	

Fingerprints,	Journal	of	Forensic	Science,	45(2):	354-380,	April	2000

Theeuwen	ABE,	Van	Barneveld	S,	Drok	JW,	Keereweer	I,	Limborgh	JCM,	Naber	WM,	et	al.	Enhancement		of	footwear	
Version	1	/	Date	of	Issue:	10.29.15	/	Issuing	Authority:	Forensic	Science	Standards	Board	(FSSB)

It	would	increase	the	efficacy,	effectiveness	and	identification	of	potential	items	of	evidence	and	

better	determine	the	probative	value	of	this	evidence.		Help	improve	quantity	and	quality	of	

evidence	submitted	to	forensic	labs	which	would	help	reduce	backlogs	and	lower	financial	

obligations.		Teleforensics	could	enable	more	efficient	collection	of	specialty	evidence	types	and	

more	probative	evidence.				

Better	enable	the subcommittee	to	draw	upon	the	conclusions	of	the	research	in	the	development	

of	standards	and	guidelines.		

Stronger	probative	value	of	evidentiary	items	resulting	in	more	effective	prosecution	(e.g.,	plea	

bargaining)	and	case	resolution.		It	does	have	the	potential	to	decrease	wrongful	arrests	and	

convictions.		Increased	societal	awareness	in	the	accuracy	of	evidence	collection	can	also	result.		

							II

3b.		In	what	ways	would	the	research	results	improve	understanding	of	the	scientific	basis	for	the	

subcommittee(s)?

3c.		In	what	ways	would	the	research	results	improve	services	to	the	criminal	justice	system?

Major gap	

in	current	

knowledge

Minor gap	

in	current	

knowledge

No	or	limited	

current	research	

is	being	

conducted

I III

Existing current	

research	is	

being	conducted

II IV

4.		Status	assessment	(I,	II,	III,	or	IV):		
Version	1	/	Date	of	Issue:	10.29.15	/	Issuing	Authority:	Forensic	Science	Standards	Board	(FSSB)

// Approval	date:

(Approval	is	by	majority	vote	of	subcommittee.		Once	approved,	forward	to	SAC.)

1.		Does	the	SAC	agree	with	the	research	need?				Yes	⃝							No		

2.		Does	the	SAC	agree	with	the	status	assessment?				Yes			⃝							No	

If	no,	what	is	the	status	assessment	of	the	SAC:

Approval	date:

(Approval	is	by	majority	vote	of	SAC.		Once	approved,	forward	to	NIST	for	posting.)

Subcommittee Sep.	30,	2016

SA

C

February	9,	2017

This	research	need	has	been	identified	by	one	or	more	subcommittees	of	OSAC	and	is	being	provided	as	an	

informational	resource	to	the	community.