FINAL by: OSAC Program Office; Version 2, December 1, 2020 1

OSAC RESEARCH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FORM

Title of research need: Modeling of MFI missing person and victim data

Keyword(s): Disaster victim identification, victim accounting, missing persons, mass fatality

Submitting subcommittee(s): MDI Date Approved: 2/28/2021

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

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)

No.

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)?

No.

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)

None.

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?

No.

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

There is currently no means to anticipate the volume and variety of data that result from, and must be managed

following a mass fatality incident. The existing assumptions are anecdotal and based on a small number of 

incidents. The volume of data (missing persons call centers, victim information centers, hospitals, law 

enforcement etc.) available from previous incident after action reports should be used to systematically develop 

reliable expectations for medicolegal operations. The development of reliable expectations for the volume and 

variety of data involved in a mass fatality incident will allow local medicolegal jurisdictions to develop more 

informed planning documents and build the appropriate capabilities for managing data (call centers, data 

management systems, etc). 
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6. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)?

The lack of existing expectations results in either the absence of preparedness or preparedness efforts focused 

on anecdotal or inaccurate expectations at the local, state, and federal level. This research would provide the 

subcommittee with information to develop scientifically supported standards and best practices for 

jurisdictional adoption.

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

Accurate expectations will contribute to determining more efficient, effective, and accurate means of managing 

incident data, ultimately contributing to the positive identification of decedents during a mass fatality incident.

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

I 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.