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Author: Yujiemi Chisholm
Accreditation Document Repository

Large Office: Postmortem Examination Documents

These documents pertain to autopsy reports and performing forensic examinations, and address standards for NAME Morgue Operations, section “C”. These examples are reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house.
June 2025
Additional Resources

National Technology Validation and Implementation Collaborative (NTVIC) 

The National Technology Validation and Implementation Collaborative (NTVIC) was established in 2022 with a vision to collaborate nationally on forensic science validation, method development, and implementation in the public sector. The group is not associated with any organization, corporation, or non-profit. However, the group is connected with prominent forensic science membership organizations, universities, and private technology and research companies. The NTVIC members are federal, state, regional, and large local forensic science laboratory directors with validation needs and resources. The NTVIC members have a common vision to share existing resources to work together on validation and implementation projects to lessen the burden on individual forensic science and forensic medicine providers to perform the work. Their website contains a list of laws and court cases related to Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG).
June 2025
Additional Resources

United Data Connect – DNA Resources

United Data Connect maintains a list of the following DNA Resources: Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Cases, Short Tandem Repeat (STR)-DNA Admissibility Court Rulings, STR-DNA Admissibility Appellate Case Law, Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) Cases, DNA Statistical Cases, Non-human DNA Criminal Cases, Postconviction DNA, Forensic DNA Articles, Fourth Amendment DNA Cases, Familial DNA Database Searches, Partial Match DNA Cases, Confrontation Clause DNA Cases, Low Copy Number DNA Cases, STR-DNA Y-Chromosome, John Doe DNA Case Filings Or Warrants, DNA Database Cases, and DNA Arrestee Database Cases.
June 2025
Events

3rd Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting

On behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance (Forensics TTA) Team, led by RTI International, is hosting the 3rd Annual BJA Forensics Programs Grantees Meeting on June 9-10, 2025! 

This year’s virtual meeting will offer a series of educational case studies and sessions, covering key topics of significant interest to grantees across the BJA Forensics Programs. These include the application of forensic genetic genealogy in wrongful conviction investigations, innovative strategies for solving long-term missing and unidentified person cases, the evolving legal landscape for forensic evidence in light of Smith v. Arizona, implementing Rapid DNA technology in accordance with upcoming standards updates, the impact of turnaround times on death investigations, essential grant management practices, and more.

Program-specific breakout discussions will also be featured to provide grantees with a unique opportunity to learn more from respective BJA staff and other grantees. 

June 2025
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Highlights

Remains recovered in 2007 identified as diver who went missing in Florida, deputies say

Using funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Missing and Unidentified Human Remains (MUHR) Program awarded to Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the work of FDLE’s Genetic Genealogy Investigations team, Volusia Sheriff’s Office detectives were provided a lead in 2025 for an unidentified human remains case that originated in 2007 after a diver went missing while off the coast of Ponce Inlet, Florida. With the help of the Volusia County Medical Examiner’s Office and funding from the MUHR Program grant, the recovered remains were DNA sequenced and databased, after which FDLE’s Genetic Genealogy Investigations team conducted extensive analytical and genetic genealogy research. Their research resulted in an investigative lead that ultimately led to the positive identification of the victim—providing answers in a case that had remained unresolved for nearly two decades.
June 2025
Accreditation Document Repository

Small Office: Health and Safety Documents

These documents provide guidance for health and safety, autopsy refusal, organ tissue release – including peer review quality assurance – and address standards for NAME General, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a small office with autopsies performed at a hospital facility.
June 2025
Accreditation Document Repository

Medium Office: Facility Documents

These documents pertain to fiscal management, exposure control – including safety, facility security, and facility maintenance – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. These examples are reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house and at other facilities.
June 2025
Accreditation Document Repository

Medium Office: Mass Disaster Plan

This policy example is designed to provide guidance on how to respond to a mass fatality incident, and addresses standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. This example is reflective of a medium-sized office that performs autopsies in-house and at other facilities.
June 2025
Accreditation Document Repository

Large Office: Mass Disaster Plan

This policy example is designed to provide guidance on how to respond to a mass fatality incident, and addresses standards for NAME General, section “A” as well as IACME Agency Practices, section “A”. This example is reflective of a large office that performs autopsies in-house.
June 2025
Accreditation Document Repository

Small Office: Investigative Practices Documents

These documents pertain to the handling of digital photography, identification methods, interoffice communication – including handling jurisdictional cases – and address standards for IACME Agency Practices, section “A” as well as IACME Investigative Practices, section “B”. These examples are reflective of a small office that performs autopsies in-house.
June 2025