NIJ Journal Examines Research Advancing Forensic Science

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) today announced the availability of NIJ Journal, Issue no. 276.  The cover story, Fighting Crime with Science, gives examples of how researchers and criminal justice professionals are collaborating to improve forensic science and advance justice. Other forensics stories in this issue include:  

• Evaluating the Los Angeles County Elder Abuse Forensic Center, which describes the impact of elder abuse forensic centers, how they can ultimately help prosecutors and victims alike, while presenting a reduction in recurrence of abuse, and other benefits.
• Tracking Movements with Isotopes, a story about a Salt Lake homicide detective, using an innovative forensic science tool, isotope ratio analysis, to solve cold cases.

This issue of the Journal also includes:

• Looking for the Link: The Impact of Foreclosures on Neighborhood Crime Rates, which shows the benefits of using research to confirm or refute the notion that houses sitting empty attract criminal activity. Three NIJ studies use different, rigorous methods in different locations around the country to answer this question.

TITLE:            "NIJ Journal, Issue no. 276"

AUTHOR:      National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), United States Department of Justice

WHERE:        http://nij.gov/journals/276/pages/welcome.aspx

About the NIJ Journal
The NIJ Journal features articles to help criminal justice policymakers and practitioners stay informed about new developments in research that can help inform policy decisions and improve understanding of the criminal justice system.

The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has six bureaus and offices: 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; and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

Related Links

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov