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OSAC RESEARCH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FORM

Title of research need: Development and Processing Techniques

Describe

the need:

Develop processing techniques that are faster, cheaper, easier, or more effective than 

current solutions for forensically relevant surfaces. Consideration should be given to health 

and safety risks and potential for environmental impact involved with proposed 

techniques. Consideration should also be given to preservation of the evidence for 

sequential processing in other forensic disciplines, future testing, and court presentation. 

Of particular interest is the development of field-based techniques that can be easily and 

safely deployed at crime scenes.

Keyword(s): Friction Ridge, Processing, Development

Submitting subcommittee(s): Friction Ridge Date Approved: June 27, 2022

Background Information:

1. Does this research need address a gap(s) in a current or planned standard? (ex.: Field identification system 

for on scene opioid detection and confirmation)

The OSAC FRS is currently developing a standard for development techniques that would be supported by 

additional research in this area. The Limited Examinations document would also be supported by information on 

preferential sequential processing.

2. Are you aware of any ongoing research that may address this research need that has not yet been published 

(e.g., research presented in conference proceedings, studies that you or a colleague have participated in but 

have yet to be published)?

Research to develop new techniques is always ongoing. The intent of this research need is to help focus that 

research in ways that are of practical use to operational laboratories.

3. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need: (ex.: Toll, L., Standifer, K. M., Massotte, D., eds. 

(2019). Current Topics in Opioid Research. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88963-180-3)

Bécue, A., Eldridge, H., & Champod, C. (2020). Interpol review of fingermarks and other body impressions 2016–

2019. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 2, 442-480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.013

Roberts, M. A., Tom, K. R., & Knorr, K. B. (2020). Publication trends in forensic science research: Friction ridge 

discipline. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 2, 76-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.001
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4. Review the annual operational/research needs published by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) at 

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/forensic-science-research-and-development-technology-working-groupoperational#latest? Is your research need identified by NIJ?

Development and validation of standardized forensic methods and conclusions; Novel and/or improved 

evidence recognition, collection, and visualization tools and analytical instrumentation for field and lab use; 

Evaluation of the effects of inter- and intra-disciplinary sequential evidence processing and analytical methods

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

More efficient and effective techniques are always desirable to increase the number of suitable marks found, as 

well as save time and money where possible.

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

subcommittee(s)?

There are still areas of knowledge that need to be strengthened or understood in greater depth and breadth, 

such as identifying variability in the matrix composition and how different techniques target these compounds, 

better understanding the underlying science of how techniques work, developing more efficient techniques, etc. 

Research to improve this understanding will improve the development and use of these techniques.

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

More effective services that result in more usable marks found will improve criminal justice outcomes by 

allowing for more probative evidence, faster turnaround times, and more cases to be worked.

8. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV):

II 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

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

informational resource to the community.