Global Justice Information Sharing – The Forensic Perspective discusses the need for a Forensic Information Data Exchange (FIDEX) to allow forensic science information to be shared globally. It proposes developing a Forensic Information Data Model (FIDM) based on the Global Justice XML Data Model to standardize how forensic evidence data is formatted and collected from sources like crime scenes and laboratory information management systems. This would allow forensic data to be shared between agencies and in data warehouses, helping to solve crimes and exonerate the innocent through increased forensic data fusion and information sharing across the criminal justice system.

1. Global Justice Information
Sharing – The Forensic
Perspective
Susan D. Narveson, Chief
Investigative and Forensic Sciences Division
National 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 a
Forensic 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 Information
Data 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 System
CODIS (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!