NIST’s Role in Forensic Science

past, current, future 

VCAT, June 11-12, 2013

Willie E. May

Associate Director for Laboratory Programs and Principal Deputy 

National Institute of Standards and Technology
Changes in Needs/Expectations in Forensic Science Sector

 Forensic science in the U.S. is continuing in a period of changing 

expectations and requirements. There is growing concern about the 

scientific foundation, measurement rigor, and statistical validity of 

many forensic analyses that is leading to renewed attention to how 

scientific data are presented in evidentiary settings as well as to 

expectations of forensic science laboratories.

 In 1993, the Supreme Court ruled that “ trial judges must ensure 

that any and all scientific testimony or evidence admitted is not 

only relevant but reliable”. The Court emphasized that the 

admissibility of evidence be based on the experts “principles and 

methodology“ and “not on the conclusions that they generate.” 

U.S. Supreme Court: DAUBERT v. MERRELL DOW PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., 509 U.S. 579 

(1993) 509 U.S. 579; Argued March 30, 1993; Decided June 28, 1993; 

http://laws.findlaw.com/us/509/579.html
Helping Ensure the “Science” in Forensic Science

A landmark forensics report by U.S. National Research Council of 

the National Academies was issued in Feb. 2009.

“With the exception of nuclear DNA analysis, no forensic method has 

been rigorously shown to have the capacity to consistently, and with a 

high degree of certainty, demonstrate a connection between evidence and 

a specific individual or source.”

New Role for NIST:

• National Commission on Forensic Science

˗ Was established via MoU on Feb. 8, 2013 between DOJ and NIST

˗ to help improve the reliability of forensic science data/information and to develop 

policy recommendations for the U.S. Attorney General.

˗ to be comprised of forensic science practitioners, academic researchers, 

prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and other relevant stakeholders

• NIST will:

˗ Co-Chair the Commission

˗ Administer Guidance Groups of subject-matter experts for specific forensic science 

disciplines

˗ Validate select existing forensic science methods and guidance

˗ Develop and critically evaluate new methods 
NIST has a long and rich history of work 

in support of law enforcement. 

Currently providing research and measurement services such as validated test 

methods, Standard Reference Materials, and Reference Data in areas such as:

• crime scene investigations

• computer forensics

• fire investigations

• drug detection

• drunk driving testing

• biometrics (fingerprints and handwriting analysis)

• firearms/ballistics

• standards for body armor, nonlethal weapons 

• explosives detection technologies

• sports integrity/fairness

• genetics and DNA-based identification

that support the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security

in carrying out their programs.

Forensics at NIST
NIST’s involvement in Forensic Science began in 1930’s

NBS’s William Souder 

“one of the nation’s best 

and least known 

criminologists.”T

h

Washington Post 1954

1934

Forensics at NIST
History of Forensics at NIST

The nation’s first crime lab: 

From 1932, National Bureau of Standards 

expertise in firearms and document 

identification helped solve hundreds of crimes.

Souder helped the Division of Investigation 

(now the FBI) establish its crime lab in 1932.

In 1935, Souder’s testimony on handwriting 

samples was key to convicting Richard 

Hauptmann in the kidnapping and murder of 

Charles Lindbergh’s son. 

In 1933 Letter from NBS Director Lyman J. Briggs to 

DoJ Division of Investigation, NBS Director J. Edgar 

Hoover Reports on ballistics analysis, confirms that 

evidential bullets match a specific Colt .45 revolver.
History of Forensics at NIST

Early 1930s:

Souder was participating in 50 to 75 federal investigations/year involving: 

• extortion

• kidnapping

•theft of money orders

•raised checks

•forgeries

• stolen securities 

•threatening letters 

As one example:

• German agents caused an American 

munitions shipment bound for Europe to 

explode in New York harbor in July 1916. 

•In the early 1930s, Souder analyzed a 

handwritten letter from one of the agents, a 

critical piece of evidence in the case that 

eventually forced Germany to pay the United 

States for damages.
History of Forensics at NIST

Late 1960s:

The FBI turned to NBS for 

scientific and technical support 

for its first computerized 

scanning equipment to read and 

record fingerprint characteristics.
History of Forensics at NIST

1971: The National Bureau of Standards established a Law 

Enforcement Standards Laboratory to provide coordinated efforts to 

support and advance standards and technology used by law 

enforcement officers and agencies.

This evolved into the current NIST Office 

of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) 

whose mission is

“to help criminal justice, public safety, emergency 

responder, and homeland security agencies make 

informed procurement, deployment, training and 

operating decisions by developing performance 

standards, measurement tools, operating 

procedures and equipment guidelines”.
History of Forensics at NIST

Continuing in the 1980’s:

 NBS publishes the Fire 

Investigation Handbook as “a 

reference tool designed to be 

used by the beginning or the 

experienced fire investigator.

 The National Bureau of 

Standards participates on the 

International Committee on 

Forensic Hair Comparisons to 

advance forensic hair 

comparison as a science. 

ARSON

HAIR
Forensic Standard Reference Materials 

 Arson

– SRM 2285 - calibration of chromatographic 

instrumentation used for the classification of an 

ignitable liquid residue 

 Alcohol in Blood

– SRM 1828b – Ethanol in Water

 Bullet/Firearms

– SRM 2460 – Standard Bullet

– SRM 2461 – Standard Cartridge Case

 Drugs of Abuse: 

– SRM 1507b – THC in Urine

– SRM 1508a - Cocaine Metabolite in Urine

– SRM 1959 – Drugs of Abuse in Serum

– SRM 2379, 2380 – Drugs of Abuse in Human 

Hair

– SRM 2381 – Morphine and Codeine in Urine

 DNA: 

– SRM 2391c – PCR-based DNA Profiling 

Standard

– SRM 2392-1 – Mitochondrial DNA 

Sequencing

– SRM 2395 – Human Y-Chromosome DNA 

Profiling Standard

 Explosive Simulants 

– SRM 2905, 2906, 2907 – Explosives 

– RM 8107 – Additives in smokeless powder 

 Microscopy Standards for Trace 

Evidence

– SRM 1961, 1963a, 1965 – Particle Size 

Standards

 Laboratory Instrument Calibration: 

– SRM 1543 – Gas Chromatography/Mass 

Spec Performance Standard

– SRM 935a – Ultraviolet absorbance Standard

– SRM 1921b – IR Transmission Wavelength
NIST Forensics-related Databases

 Biotechnology

– Special DB 130 Short Tandem 

Repeat DNA Internet Database

 Chemistry

– SRD 1a NIST/EPA/NIH Mass 

Spectral Library: with Search 

Software NIST '11

– SRD 115 Hydrocarbon Spectral 

Database

 Fire Investigation

– Fire Modeling Programs

– NIST FASTData Fire Test 

Database

 Computer

– Special DB 28 NIST National 

Software Reference Library

– Computer Forensics Tool 

Testing (CFTT) Project Web Site 

 Biometrics

– Special DB 4 - 8-Bit Gray Scale 

Images of Fingerprint Image 

Groups

– Special DB 9, 14 - Mated 

Fingerprint Card Pairs

– Special DB 10 - Supplemental 

Fingerprint Card Data

– Special DB 27 - Fingerprint

Minutiae from Latent Matching 

Tenprint Images

– Facial Recognition Technology 

Database (FERET)

– Special DB 29, 30 - Images from 

Paired Fingerprint Cards

– Special DB 18 NIST Mugshot

Identification Database
Current NIST Research Activities in Support of Forensic Science

Forensic DNA

Funds Project Proj.Period

NIST/FBI DNA extraction efficiency evaluation from various swabs Continuing

NIST/FBI U.S. population data with Insertion/Deletion (InDel) markers Continuing

NIST/FBI Evaluation of Abbott’s Plex-ID system for mtDNA base composition Continuing

NIST/FBI Evaluation of rapid DNA testing instruments Continuing

NIJ/OLES DNA stability on treated and untreated paper with room temperature storage Continuing

NIJ/OLES DNA extraction method improvement (collaboration with David Ross at NIST) Continuing

NIJ/OLES Quantitative PCR and digital PCR method evaluation for DNA quantitation Continuing

NIJ/OLES Concordance studies on commercial STR kits Continuing

(with Promega, Life Technologies, & Qiagen)

NIJ/OLES Characterizing new autosomal and Y-chromosome STR loci Continuing

NIJ/OLES U.S. population data on 23 Y-STR loci (PowerPlex Y23) Continuing

NIJ/OLES U.S. population data on rapidly mutating (RM) Y-STR loci Continuing

(part of international collaboration)

NIJ/OLES U.S. population data on 29 autosomal STR loci (all commercial STR kit loci) Continuing

NIJ/OLES STR allele sequencing for variant characterization Continuing

NIJ/OLES Evaluation of probabilistic genotyping TrueAllele

software for DNA mixture interpretation Continuing

NIJ/OLES Validation studies on ABI 3500 Genetic Analyzer Continuing

NIJ/OLES Data analysis for FBI-coordinated Consortium Validation 

Project with new STR kits Continuing
Current NIST Research Activities in Support of Forensic Science (cont’d)

Forensic Biometrics

NIST Face Recognition Research and Testing Continuing

NIST Speaker Recognition and Voice Biometrics Continuing

NIST ANSI/NIST-ITL Standard for the Interchange of Biometric Data Continuing

NIST Conformance Testing for Biometric Data Interchange Formats Continuing

Microbial Forensics/Detection

DHS, OoS Metrics for Microbial Material Characterization to 8/2012-9/2013

Support Biological Agent Detection and Test and Evaluation

Toxicology

NIST Urine, Blood and Breath Chemical Analysis Measurements & Continuing

 Standards Research(ethanol, drugs, etc.)

Controlled Substances

NIST Controlled Substance Measurement & Standards Research Continuing

Nuclear Forensics

DHS/DNDO/NTNFC Radiological Reference Material Development Support 04/2012-03/2013

DHS/DNDO/NTNFC Expertise Development Post-Doctoral Fellowship 04/2012-03/2013

DHS/DNDO/NTNFC Radiological Reference Material Development Support 04/2013-03/2014

DHS/DNDO/NTNFC Isotopic and Assay Characterization of Ba-134 IDMS Tracer 04/2013-03/2014

FBI National Technical Nuclear Forensics Standard Reference Materials 09/2011-08/2013

NIST Forensics Nuclear Forensic Reference Materials (RM) for 04/2012-10/2012

 Challenge Attribution of Urban Nuclear Terrorism
Current NIST Research Activities in Support of Forensic Science (cont’d)

Forensic Biometrics

NIST Face Recognition Research and Testing Continuing

Crime Scene

NIST Sensor Research; trace gas, scent, smell, canine, etc. Continuing

NIST Sampling for Trace Biological and Other Particulate Continuing

Digital Evidence

NIST/OLES/OAs Computer Forensics Tool Testing (CFTT) Continuing

NIST/OLES/OAs National Software Reference Library (NSRL) Continuing

NIST/OLES/OAs Computer Forensics Reference Data Set (CFReDS) Continuing

Digital Forensics

NIST Cloud Forensics Continuing

NIST Rapid DNA Analysis Research and Development Continuing

NIST Microbial DNA Analysis Research and Development Continuing

Engineering Forensics

NIST Materials fatigue and failure analysis Continuing

Environmental Forensics

NIST Measurement & Standards Research for contaminants Continuing

 in the environment

Explosives

NIST Explosive Measurements & Standards Research Continuing
Current NIST Research Activities in Support of Forensic Science (cont’d)

Impression Evidence

NIJ/OLES NIST National Ballistics Imaging Comparison Proj (using SRM 2460/2461) 2008-2013

NIJ/OLES Toolmark Indentification Proficiency Test Using Electroform Replicas 2008-2013

NIJ/OLES The National Ballistics Imaging Comparison (NBIC) Project Utilizing 2010-2015

 SRM 2460/2461

NIJ/OLES Technological Refreshment and Production of NIST 2010-2015

SRM 2460 Standard Bullets

NIJ/OLES Toolmark Identification Interlaboratory Study: Electroform Replicas 2010-2015

NIJ/OLES/PSU Working Group on Presenting Forensic Science November 2012 – April 2014

Evidence Using Quantitative and Qualitative Terms (QQWG)

NIJ/OLES Web-based Testing and Measurement of Cognitive Suitability for 6/2011- 5/2015

Cognitive Consultants Intl Conducting Latent Print Examination

OLES/Cadre Three-dimensional Topography System for Firearm Identification 9/2012 -8/2013

 Research Labs using GelSight

Trace Evidence

NIST Particle Population Chemical Composition and Morphology Analysis Continuing

NIST Improved Methods for Soil/Mineral, Man-Made Materials, Fiber, Continuing

 Particle, Dust and other Analysis

NIST Gunshot residue analysis research Continuing

NIST Nuclear and radioisotope detection and analysis Continuing
Current NIST Research Activities in Support of Forensic Science (cont’d)

General Forensics

NIST Developing Hyperspectral Imaging Methods with visible, x-ray, Continuing

 EELS, Raman, IR, Mass Spec., etc.

NIST Microscopy and Microanalytical Spectroscopy and Imaging Continuing

NIST Spectroscopy: Mass, X-ray, IR, UV-Vis, Raman, Electron Energy Loss Continuing

NIST Databases: Including Mass Spec; IR; Auger; XPS; Physical and Continuing

Chemical Properties; Phase Diagram; Diffraction

NIST Crystallographic, Morphologic, Molecular, Elemental, and Isotopic Continuing

 Composition Methods

NIST Measurement & Standards Research for chemical, biological, Continuing

 radiological, nuclear, explosive weapons

NIST Reference Materials for Forensic Analysis Continuing

NIJ/OLES/ Managing Shiftwork and Fatigue in Law Enforcement and 9/2011 - 12/1/2012

 Clemson Univ Forensic Laboratories
Helping Ensure the “Science” in Forensic Science

A landmark forensics report by U.S. National Research Council of 

the National Academies was issued in Feb. 2009.

“With the exception of nuclear DNA analysis, no forensic method has 

been rigorously shown to have the capacity to consistently, and with a 

high degree of certainty, demonstrate a connection between evidence and 

a specific individual or source.”

Tjark Tjin-A-Tsoi, NFI CEO, and Willie E. May, 

NIST ADLP, sign an agreement at the NIST 

Forensics@NIST 2012 symposium on Nov. 29, 

2012 for the two organizations to collaborate for 

the advancement of forensic science. 

NIST and the Netherlands Forensic Institute 

(NFI) sign an MOU on Nov. 29, 2012 

They agreed to collaborate through activities 

focused on the following areas:

• Research and development

• Development of forensic standards

• Education and training

• Forensic governance (measures to ensure the 

ethical, transparent and accountable practice of 

forensic science)
• Memorandum of Understanding on Forensic Science between 

NIST and the Department of Justice

Mark Stolorow, Director, Law Enforcement Standards Office (OLES) 

• Forensic Science and the NIST Laboratory Programs 

Richard Cavanagh, Director, Office of Special Programs 

• Forensic Science Lab Tours

Led by: Mark Stolorow, Director, OLES

• Fire Dynamics: Dan Madrzykowski, EL

• The NIST Trace Contraband Detection Program: Greg Gillen, 

MML

• Physical Standards and Scientific Methods for Ballistics 

Identification: Richard Silver, PML

Two presentations and tours of selected labs will provide 

further details as to NIST’s current and anticipated role in 

Forensic Science