Forensic Science
·	Summary
·	Facts & Figures
·	Legislation
·	Publications
·	Programs
·	Training & Technical Assistance
·	Grants & Funding
Related Resources

Forensic Science - Related Resources

This section contains examples of nationally recognized agencies and organizations that provide services or information.

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)
AAFP is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists.

American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFA)
AAFA is a professional society dedicated to the application of science to the law and reaches international groups of people through the Journal of Forensic Sciences, annual conferences, and newsletters.

American Academy of Forensic Science Educational Programs
This Web site provides a comprehensive list of colleges and universities that offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral forensic science programs.

American Board of Criminalistics
The American Board of Criminalistics is composed of representatives from regional and national forensic organizations. The members answer questions about the organization, certification examinations, proficiency testing, and related issues.

American Board of Forensic Anthropology
The American Board of Forensic Anthropology seeks to improve the standards for forensic anthropology and certifies qualified scientists as experts.

American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI) DNA Forensics Program
The APRI DNA Forensics Program furnishes written materials on scientific advancements, case law, and legislation; consultation and advice on methods for effectively presenting DNA in court; and national training conferences taught by scientific and legal experts in their fields.

American Board of Forensic Document Examiners
The American Board of Forensic Document Examiners provides a certification program in forensic document examination to serve the public interest and promote the advancement of forensic science.

American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators
The board certifies individuals who have the proven knowledge and skills to perform medicolegal death investigations, as set forth in the National Guidelines for Death Investigation published by the National Institute of Justice in 1997.

American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors is a nonprofit professional society that strives to link all crime laboratories internationally. It provides information on crime labs that have been accredited throughout the world and works with the labs to develop standards that all forensic labs should follow.

American Society of Forensic Odontology
The American Society of Forensic Odontology is the largest organization dedicated to the pursuit of forensic dentistry. Membership is open to all individuals who have an interest in forensic odontology.

Back to Top

Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP)
AFIP is a tri-service agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. AFIP strives to consult, educate, and provide research to forensic specialists and the general public. Programs currently established at AFIP include research in basic science, environmental pathology and toxicology, geographic and infectious disease pathology, oncology, molecular diagnostics, and forensic science.

Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction (ACSR)
Founded in 1991, ACSR is an organization of professionals dedicated to understanding the elements of crime and recognizing and preserving evidence.

Association of Forensic DNA Analysts and Administrators
The association disseminates publications, discusses DNA legislation, and hosts workshops and trainings.

Biometrics Catalog
The Biometrics Catalog was developed as a service to the biometrics community and potential users of biometric technology. It was designed to provide multiple search options so catalog visitors can find the information they want, quickly and easily.

British Toxicology Society (BTS)
BTS promotes the advancement, communication, and understanding of those scientific disciplines necessary to foster public health and environmental safety.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Fire Research Lab (FRL) 
FRL is an innovative partnership among law enforcement, fire services, public safety agencies, academia and the private sector that will use the most advanced scientific, technical, educational, and training methods to make ATF and its partners leaders in fire investigation science to serve and protect the public.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Laboratories
ATF Laboratories provide accurate and authoritative scientific information needed by ATF in reducing violent crime and protecting the public.

Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)
CODIS enables Federal, State, and local crime labs to exchange and compare DNA profiles electronically, thereby linking crimes to each other and to convicted offenders.

Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice
The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section attorney staff focus exclusively on the issues raised by computer and intellectual property crime. Section attorneys advise Federal prosecutors and law enforcement agents, comment on and propose legislation, coordinate international efforts to combat computer crime, litigate cases, and train law enforcement.

Department of Energy Human Genome Program
The U.S. Human Genome Project's goal is to discover the more than 30,000 human genes and render them accessible for further biological study. To facilitate the future interpretation of human gene function, parallel studies are being carried out on selected model organisms.

Back to Top

DNA Initiative: Advancing Criminal Justice through DNA Technology
The DNA Initiative provides funding, training, and assistance to ensure that forensic DNA reaches its full potential to solve crimes, protect the innocent, and identify missing persons.

DNA Resource
A Web resource for anyone who seeks information on the latest developments in forensic DNA policy.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory Specialized Training Program
The FBI Laboratory provides forensic science courses through the Specialized Training Program. The courses are between four and ten days in length and are presented by forensic science experts from the FBI Laboratory and other partnering agencies.  The courses are open to U.S. law enforcement agencies, government crime laboratories and military personnel.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory
The FBI laboratory provides forensic and technical services to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies at no expense to these agencies. The lab analyzes physical evidence ranging from blood and other biological materials to explosives, drugs, and firearms.

Innocence Project
The Innocence Project is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. The Innocence Project represents clients pro bono and has a very specific mandate: it accepts cases where post-conviction DNA testing can yield conclusive proof of innocence. The Innocence Project does not require evidence to be found before it accepts a case. For more on how to submit a case for consideration, visit the Contact Us section of the Innocence Project Web site.

International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA)
IACA is organized to enhance effectiveness and consistency in the fields of crime and intelligence analysis. IACA is dedicated to advocacy for professional standards, to providing practical educational opportunities, and to the creation of an international network for the standardization of analytic techniques.

International Association for Identification (IAI) 
IAI is targeted to individuals involved in forensic identification, investigation, and scientific examination of physical evidence. IAI communicates with its members regarding new issues in the field and promotes research in forensic science disciplines.

International Association of Forensic Toxicologists
This organization's members are employed in analytical toxicology or allied areas. The aims of this association are to promote cooperation and coordination of efforts among members and to encourage research in forensic toxicology.

Mid-Western Association of Forensic Scientists
The Mid-Western Association of Forensic Scientists encourages the exchange of ideas and information within the forensic sciences by improving contacts between people and laboratories engaged in forensic science.

National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)
NAME is the national professional organization of physician medical examiners, medical death investigators, and death investigation system administrators who perform the official duties of the medicolegal investigation of deaths of public interest in the United States.

Back to Top

National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence
The Commission targeted three limitations to the full and effective use of DNA technology: (1) the current backlog of untested convicted offender database samples, (2) the lack of appropriate prioritization of database sample collection and testing, and (3) the limited use of DNA in non-suspect cases. The Commission made recommendations, which subsequently led to NIJ's establishment in FY 2000 of two important initiatives: the Convicted Offender DNA Backlog Reduction Program and the No-Suspect Casework DNA Backlog Reduction Program.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Human Genome Research
The National Human Genome Research Institute was established to head the Human Genome Project for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to support biomedical research.

National Institute of Justice (NIJ): Forensic Sciences
NIJ's Forensic Sciences Division manages several major programs, including the Crime Laboratory Improvement Program; the Convicted Offender DNA Sample Backlog Reduction Program; the Five-Year DNA Research and Development Program; the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence; Technical Working Groups, a general forensic sciences research program; and professional conferences and workshops.

National Toxicology Program (NTP)
This program was established in 1978 by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to coordinate toxicological testing programs within the Department, strengthen the science base in toxicology; develop and validate improved testing methods; and provide information about potentially toxic chemicals to health regulatory and research agencies, the scientific and medical communities, and the public.

Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists
The Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists is responsible for exchanging ideas regarding new issues in forensic science and establishing contact with the laboratories located in the northeastern United States.

Serological Research Institute
The Serological Research Institute is a nonprofit corporation that offers a broad spectrum of support services for the forensic community. The institute maintains a staff of casework analysts and provides case analysis services to criminalists, law enforcement agencies, and attorneys.

Short Tandem Repeat DNA Internet Database
The Short Tandem Repeat DNA Internet Database was created to benefit research and application of short tandem repeat DNA markers to human identity testing which are used for genetic mapping, linkage analysis, and human identity testing.

Society of Forensic Toxicologists
The Society of Forensic Toxicologists is an organization of practicing forensic toxicologists, and those interested in the discipline, that promotes and develops forensic toxicology.

Southern Association of Forensic Scientists
The Southern Association of Forensic Scientists is an organization for forensic experts that have provided expert testimony in a court of law and now share ideas throughout the forensic science community.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory 
The National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory serves both national and international communities in identifying and comparing physical evidence in an attempt to link suspect, victim and crime scene.

The Vidocq Society
The Vidocq Society is a fraternal organization comprised of professionals and non-professionals who meet in a social setting to discuss unsolved crimes. The society's work is pro bono and their sole purpose is to act as a catalyst and provide guidance to law enforcement agencies to assist them in solving these crimes.

Back to Top

Links from the NCJRS Web site to non-Federal sites do not constitute an endorsement by NCJRS or its sponsors. NCJRS is not responsible for the content or privacy policy of any off-site pages that are referenced, nor does NCJRS guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or correct sequencing of information. NCJRS is also not responsible for the use of, or results obtained from the use of, the information. It is the responsibility of the user to evaluate the content and usefulness of information obtained from non-Federal sites.