Global Justice Information Sharing - The Forensic Perspective

1. Global Justice Information Sharing – The Forensic PerspectiveSusan D. Narveson, ChiefInvestigative and Forensic Sciences DivisionNational Institute of Justice

2. Forensic Science • Is becoming one of the most important crime fighting tools available to the criminal justice community • It is used not only to investigate crime and implicate the guilty, but also to eliminate suspects and exonerate the wrongly accused and/or convicted

3. Forensic Science • The use of forensic science technology is expected to increase and evolve as research scientists advance the science and scope and breadth of its application • In order to realize its full potential to solve and prevent crime, forensic science information must become an integral component of global justice information sharing systems.

4. Information Sharing Challenges • Specialized Data Bases • AFIS, NIBIN, CODIS, LIMS • Lack of Interoperability • Vendor Driven Specifications • Restricted Access • Under Use of Bioinformatics Information

5. The President’s DNA Initiative • Commitment of $1 Billion over 5 Years to enhance the use of DNA Technology • Provides funding to states and localities to increase their capabilities and capacities • To maximize the application of DNA technology in solving crime and identifying missing persons

6. The DNA Vision • Build our Nation’s capacity to use DNA as a routine law enforcement investigative tool • allow police to focus resources on the guilty early on in the investigation • exonerate the innocent before charges are filed

7. A Powerful Case for aForensic Information Data Exchange National initiatives like the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM), and the Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM), provide a powerful case for the development of a Forensic Information Data Model (FIDM), and a Forensic Information Data Exchange (FIDEX).

8. Forensic Information Data Exchange Model (FIDEX)

9. FIDEX Overview What is FIDEX? • Forensic Information Data Exchange • Specific Evidence Data will be formatted using a Forensic InformationData Model (FIDM) • Based on the Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM)

10. GJXDM & LIMS • Where does the forensic evidence information come from? • Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) are an excellent source of forensic information • The development of data using FIDM will allow information to be collected from LIMS and shared with the justice community

11. Forensic Data Information Model The development of an individual Forensic Data Information Data Model (FIDM) for each type of evidence will allow for a uniform set of information to be input and shared.

12. Forensic Data & Crime Scenes • Evidence collected from the crime scene could be input using FIDM and made available with FIDEX to other agencies within the state.

13. Forensic Data & LIMS • Evidence collected from the crime scene could be analyzed by the laboratory, and input into a Laboratory Information Management (LIMS) System • This information could be formatted using FIDM and made available through FIDEX to other GJXDM users

14. Forensic Data Sharing • Evidence data from crime scenes and forensic laboratories could be collected in data warehouses for data sharing by other GJXDM compatible systems

15. Forensic Data Sharing Concepts • FIDEX data sharing (fusion) concept could be created at the State Level • FIDEX data could be available for: • Crime Mapping and Reporting • Criminal Investigation • Forensic Intelligence • Crime Lab Analysis • Courts & Judicial Use • Electronic Presentation of Evidence

16. Forensic Data Fusion • Forensic data from crime scenes and forensic laboratories could be shared between FIDEX systems to share State and National Forensic Data

17. How is CODIS set up? • CODIS is a three-tiered system -- with separate local, state, and national databases. That way, local and state labs can maintain DNA databases according to their own laws and needs, but still search for matches at the national level. The national tier is called the National DNA Index System, or NDIS, and it is maintained by the FBI.

18. National DNA Database SystemCODIS (Combined DNA Index System) NDIS (National DNA Index System) SDIS (State DNA Index System) LDIS (Local DNA Index System) • DNA Indexes: • Forensic casework • Convicted offender • Missing persons • Unidentified Remains • Missing Person • Relatives of Missing Person

19. Criminal Justice Information Data Bases • AFIS – Automated Fingerprint Identification System • CODIS – Combined DNA Index System • NIBIN – National Integrated Ballistics Information Network • CJIS – Criminal Justice Information System • NCIC – National Crime Information Center • NCMEC – National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

20. Information Sharing Challenges • “Knowledge is Power” • Reluctance to Share Information • “Stove Piped Systems” • Inability to Share Information • Proprietary systems • No transparent connections

21. We Are All in the Same Boat ! • Information Sharing Presents a Daunting Challenge for: • Law Enforcement • Judicial • Corrections • Forensics • Entire Criminal Justice System

22. Thank You!