The best Forensic ArticlesNCJRS: A Leading Research Tool for Forensic Scientists Since 1972
By: Albert J. Irion, Content Specialist, NCJRSWant to stay connected with a Web site that provides comprehensive resources related to forensic science? The National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) interactive Web site (www.ncjrs.gov) has been designed specifically to provide information on criminal justice to researchers and practitioners and is a great way to learn about grants and funding opportunities, training, publications, and other new developments in the field of forensic science. NCJRS is federally funded by agencies within the Office of Justice Programs, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. NCJRS services and resources are available to anyone interested in criminal justice and crime prevention, corrections, law enforcement, juvenile justice, victim assistance, and public safety, including policymakers, practitioners, researchers, educators, community leaders, and the general public.
Looking to apply for Federal funding for your organization? The Forensic Science Spotlight section features information about grants and funding opportunities, as well as programs, publications, legislation, facts and figures, training and technical assistance, and other resources related to such topics as digital forensics, DNA testing, forensic facilities, and forensic investigations. The NCJRS Web site features topical pages on forensics (www. ncjrs.gov/forensics) and DNA (www.ncjrs. gov/dna) that can assist you with many of your research and reference needs. In these sections, you will find answers to frequently asked questions; publications from our sponsor agencies, including the National Institute of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the Office for Victims of Crime; and related links to other agencies and organizations.
Interested in finding Federal, state, and local government reports; books; research reports; journal articles; and unpublished research? The NCJRS Abstracts Database Library contains more than 5,000 documents related to forensic science. The Library offers more than 300 resources related to crime scene investigation and more than 1,200 resources related to forensic DNA and DNA evidence. Seeking ways to improve the management of your crime laboratory? The National Institute of Justice report Increasing Efficiency in Crime Laboratories is among the many library resources you may find helpful. Want to reduce your agency’s DNA evidence backlog? Search the database for resources on this topic and you will find the Law Enforcement Technology article Reducing the DNA Backlog: Florida Involves Local Law Enforcement to Prescreen Evidence and the National Institute of Justice report Expert Systems Help Labs Process DNA Samples. We encourage you to visit the NCJRS Library (www.ncjrs.gov/library.html) the next time you are conducting research.
Have you or your organization recently published a book, article, or other document? Consider contributing your publication to the NCJRS library collection. NCJRS accepts complimentary materials and welcomes suggestions for our collection from both governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations. Including your materials in our collection will enable you to reach a broad international audience. NCJRS staff will develop a 250–300 word abstract for your material and tag it with keyword index terms to ensure that users searching our site, as well as public search engines such as Google or Yahoo, will be able to find your material. Best of all, this service is available at no charge! If you would like to learn more about contributing to the NCJRS library, please visit www.ncjrs.gov/library/contribute. html.
Searching for conferences, seminars, and other events in your area? Visit the NCJRS Justice Events Calendar. This online tool enables users to search for events by topic and location. Hosting an event? Promote it for free through the NCJRS calendar. Thousands of your colleagues use the calendar each month to learn about upcoming events and to share events with others.
Looking for information on the use of DNA to solve property crimes? NCJRS offers extensive reference and referral services to help you find the answer to this question, as well as additional questions related to criminal justice research, policy, and practice. Use the Search Questions & Answers feature to access hundreds of queries related to forensic science, juvenile and criminal justice, law enforcement, and NCJRS services.
NCJRS has been your information partner since 1972. The NCJRS Web site offers you a free and easy way to locate information about grants and training opportunities, stay informed about new developments in forensic science technologies, and learn about research important to your field. By registering with NCJRS, you will receive: