Providing evidence-based resources about forensic technologies and emerging challenges.

Notice

The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence, a program of the National Institute of Justice, is currently reviewing its website and materials in accordance with recent Executive Orders and related guidance. During this review, some pages and publications will be unavailable. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

RECENT ACTIVITIES

Quantitative Matching of Forensic Evidence Fragments using 3D Fracture Surface Topography

Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EasternDuration: 1 hour Overview Fractured fragments with jagged and irregular surfaces, discovered at crime scenes, are identified as “being a match” using comparative microscopy and physical pattern analysis. The surface…
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In-Brief: What Are Crime Scene Investigators Saying About Work-Related Stress and Wellbeing?

Date April 2025 Overview In 2024, the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCOE), in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid and Stimulant Use Program (COSSUP), convened a virtual roundtable of practicing crime scene investigators (CSIs). Panelists provided…
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Lessons in Leadership: Leading Change in Dynamic Environments

Overview This engaging webinar series is designed for leaders navigating organizational change, such as technology transitions, within their crime labs. These brief 30-minute webinars – crafted for the busy crime laboratory leader – feature real-world examples from forensic science laboratories…
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Driving Success: Leadership Principles for Building the Right Team

← Back to Webinar Series Page This webinar originally occurred on March 11, 2025 Duration: 30 minutes Overview Effective leadership isn’t just about setting the vision-it’s about having the right people to execute it. Hire strategically, align intentionally, and lead…
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Cost-Benefit Analysis Tool for Labor Expenditure Associated With Sexual Assault Kit Processing Workflows

Overview Updated: February 2025 Original: August 2022 Forensic Science Service Providers (FSSPs) can use different workflows to process sexual assault kit (SAK) evidence, and the workflow is often selected based on available resources. In an era of constrained local and…
Continue reading “Cost-Benefit Analysis Tool for Labor Expenditure Associated With Sexual Assault Kit Processing Workflows”…

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WEBINARS

More than 45,000 researchers and practitioners have attended one of our live or virtual events. The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence hosts educational webinars, workshops, forums, working groups, and symposia for forensic and criminal justice professionals worldwide.

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podcast

PODCAST

Just Science is a podcast for justice professionals and anyone interested in learning more about forensic science, innovative technology, current research, and actionable strategies to improve the criminal justice system.

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search Success Stories and Reports

SUCCESS STORIES AND REPORTS

The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence partners with researchers and practitioners to develop reports that explore relevant forensic science and criminal justice topics. With more than 10,000 downloads, our digital library is home to technology evaluations, landscape reports, technical notes, in-briefs, best-practice documents, and success stories.

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TOOLS

The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence strives to provide resources to suit the needs of forensic and criminal justice professionals. We focus on bringing expert guidance on critical matters affecting our communities by creating the tools necessary to keep crime laboratories running smoothly.

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Resources for Forensic Researchers

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ADDITIONAL FTCOE PLATFORMS

NIJ Grantees Database

NIJ GRANTEES DATABASE

The National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Research and Development Program awards funding to promising research in the forensic community. These projects have resulted in outstanding achievements and impactful contributions to the criminal justice system. If you are currently holding an NIJ Grant, you can log in to this database and update your project.

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Knowledge Transfer

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Forensic Technology Center of Excellence is committed to improving the practice and strengthening the impact of forensic science. Our Knowledge Transfer support helps move novel research, tools, and processes into practice. Visit our online learning platform to view our virtual library.

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