Government Information

While most government information is freely available, these were selected for their relevance to the forensic sciences.

Department of Justice

Bureau of Justice Statistics - "the United States' primary source for criminal justice statistics"

National Criminal Justice Reference Service Virtual Library - "more than 225,000 collection records and over 80,000 online resources, including all known Office of Justice Programs works" At the top of the page is a subscription option for JUSTINFO to get emails about new publications, funding opportunities, events and news about NCJRS.

Criminal Justice Information Services - "assists law enforcement with the criminal justice information they need to protect the United States while preserving civil liberties including Uniform Crime Reporting, National Crime Information Center, National Instant Criminal Background Check System and more.

National Institute of Justice - "focuses on basic and applied scientific research for forensic sciences"

Forensic Science - Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy - "This website contains information of value to the forensic science community, as well as stakeholders engaged in the criminal justice system with interests in forensic science."

FBI's Handbook of Forensic Services - "The Handbook provides guidance and procedures for safe and efficient methods of collecting, preserving, packaging, and shipping evidence and describes the forensic examinations performed by the FBI’s Laboratory Division."

FBI Forensic Response - "The FBI provides a variety of forensic services and capabilities, including crime scene documentation; evidence and hazardous evidence response; investigative/forensic photography and imaging support; scientific, technical, and forensic support for investigations involving chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials; and expertise in health and safety matters."

Department of Agriculture

Systematic Entomology Laboratory - Agricultural Research Service

Drug Enforcement Administration

Forensic Sciences - "provide quality scientific, technical and administrative support to the law enforcement, and to the criminal justice system at large, to assist with the enforcement of controlled substance laws and regulations of the United States. "

Forensic Science Careers - "describes qualifications, education, and training required for different positions in the DEA.

Judiciary

Forensics Resources - "The Federal Judicial Center is the research and education agency of the judicial branch of the United States Government."

Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence - "assists judges in managing cases involving complex scientific and technical evidence by describing the basic tenets of key scientific fields from which legal evidence is typically derived and by providing examples of cases in which that evidence has been used."

Current Rules of Practice and Procedure - "federal rules and forms including Rules of Evidence. Each state will have its own state court website with state rules and procedures as well. "

Govinfo.gov

govinfo - "publications on govinfo include"

• Legislative, Executive, and Judicial content:
  • Bills and Statutes, congressional committee materials, and proceedings of Congress
  • Presidential and regulatory materials
  • Opinions from more than 100 U.S. courts