blue background with partial bright blue fingerprint overtop

Forensic science

Two vials, one with heroin and one with an equivalent dose of fentanyl, which is a much smaller amount.

Rapid Drug Analysis and Research (RaDAR) program

What is forensic science?

Forensic science is the systematic assessment of evidence, focusing on collection, examination, and analysis. It plays a crucial role in the criminal justice system by helping to identify perpetrators, solve crimes, and protect public safety. Forensic science also helps exonerate innocent people. It provides judges and juries with critical information to guide their legal decisions.

What is NIST's role?

NIST strengthens the science behind forensic methods with a goal of ensuring that evidence is collected and analyzed properly and communicated effectively. NIST conducts research, reviews scientific literature, and helps develop technically sound forensic science standards.

Our experts:

Identify the decision points in forensic processes to produce process maps that make the criminal justice system more transparent to everyone involved.
Develop virtual reality platforms to train forensic investigators and explain evidence to juries.
Help crime labs and first responders rapidly detect and identify opioids.
Study how human factors influence the analysis and interpretation of things like fingerprints, handwriting, and DNA evidence.
Develop tools so forensic practitioners can be more confident that their methods give the correct result, remain properly calibrated, and work the same way every time.
Create and curate biometric research databases for facial recognition and fingerprints.
Provide documentary standards to help make sure processes used for collecting and handling evidence are the same throughout the U.S., ensuring equal treatment across the criminal justice system.