DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AWARDS MORE THAN $7.1 MILLION IN
FISCAL YEAR 2010 FOR FUNDAMENTAL FORENSIC SCIENCE RESEARCH

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Justice announced today that its National Institute of Justice (NIJ) awarded 20 grants totaling more than $7.1 million in Fiscal Year 2010 funding through its Fundamental Forensic Science Research program. NIJ is the Department's research, development, and evaluation agency and a component of the Department's Office of Justice Programs.

"We want to continue to expand and improve our understanding about the accuracy, reliability, and validity of forensic science disciplines such as fingerprint analysis, trace evidence, firearms and toolmark identification, digital evidence, and other evidence," explained John H. Laub, Ph.D., NIJ's director.

"In addition, we want to look at potential human errors in forensic practice. Forensic scientists, like other scientists, may be subject to human observer bias. We want to better understand how this bias may occur, as well as the ways forensic practitioners and other criminal justice practitioners interact," Dr. Laub continued.

A list of the 20 grantees receiving awards through NIJ's Fiscal Year 2010 Fundamental Research to Improve Understanding of the Accuracy, Reliability, and Measurement Validity of Forensic Science Disciplines solicitation is available at: https://ojp.gov/funding/FY2010_awards_solicitation.htm.

###

The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Assistant Attorney General Laurie O. Robinson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has seven components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; the Community Capacity Development Office, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at ojp.gov.