Federal Bureau of Investigation Forensic Science Research and Training Center
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Forensic Science Research and Training Center (FSRTC), established in 1981, is a specialized division of the FBI Laboratory aimed at advancing forensic science techniques and providing comprehensive training for law enforcement personnel at all levels. Located at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, the center plays a crucial role in researching and developing innovative methods for gathering and analyzing forensic evidence, impacting law enforcement practices globally. Scientists at the FSRTC collaborate with various institutions, including universities and private-sector labs, to improve techniques in areas such as fingerprint analysis, DNA technology, and explosives examination.
In addition to its research efforts, the FSRTC is dedicated to training new and existing FBI agents, as well as personnel from local and state law enforcement agencies, ensuring they are well-versed in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The center’s educational programs cover a wide range of forensic topics and emphasize hands-on experience with forensic tools and evidence handling. Furthermore, the FSRTC actively engages in outreach to raise awareness about forensic science careers among young people, including internship opportunities for college students. Through its research publications and conferences, the FSRTC fosters a community of forensic professionals dedicated to enhancing the field of forensic science.
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Federal Bureau of Investigation Forensic Science Research and Training Center
DATE: Established in 1981
IDENTIFICATION: Section of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division responsible for developing new and improved forensic science techniques and for providing training in the forensic sciences to local, state, and federal law-enforcement and criminal justice system personnel.
SIGNIFICANCE: The Forensic Science Research and Training Center makes important contributions to the field of forensic science by supporting researchers as they develop new methods and technologies and improve existing techniques for gathering, examining, and analyzing forensic evidence. The work done at the center influences the work of law-enforcement agencies around the world.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Forensic Science and Research Training Center (FSRTC), a section of the FBI Laboratory Division, is located on the grounds of the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. One of the primary purposes of the FSRTC is to engage in research in the ever-changing field of forensic science. The center works to develop new methods as well as to improve existing techniques for the analysis of forensic evidence. Using the most advanced equipment available, scientists at the FSRTC study a vast range of forensic subjects, including the analysis of fingerprints and footprints, tire impressions, explosives, documents, fibers, and (deoxyribonucleic acid).
The scientists who work at the FSRTC are among the best in their fields. Researchers at the FSRTC work in partnership with researchers from all over the United States, including scientists in university laboratories, governmental and nongovernmental labs, and private-sector labs. In addition, the FSRTC provides support to the FBI Laboratory in the areas of forensic science research and quality assurance.
Research findings of the FSRTC are widely disseminated to forensic scientists through a number of outlets, including the quarterly journal Forensic Science Communications, which is published by FBI Laboratory personnel. In addition, the FSRTC regularly holds widely respected conferences that attract the participation of criminal justice professionals from all over the world.
Another important function of the FSRTC is to provide training in the forensic sciences for new FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration agents as well as continuing education courses for FBI special agents, laboratory examiners, and laboratory technicians. The center also offers training to local, state, and other federal law-enforcement agencies. In addition to teaching the theoretical aspects of forensic science, the FSRTC provides substantial hands-on training to ensure that trainees are comfortable with the actual handling of equipment, chemical solutions, and physical evidence. Among the topics covered by FSRTC courses are the collection and preservation of physical evidence, photographic techniques, laboratory management, fingerprint analysis, and DNA technology.
The FSRTC is also involved in raising awareness among young people of the increasing importance of forensic science professions. As part of this effort, the FBI’s Honors Internship Program creates opportunities for college science students to work alongside some of the nation’s leading geneticists, biochemists, and other scientists at the FSRTC.
Bibliography
Federal Bureau of Investigation. Handbook of Forensic Services. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, 2003.
James, Stuart H., and Jon J. Nordby, eds. Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques. 2d ed. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 2005.
National Institute of Justice. The Future of Forensic DNA Testing: Predictions of the Research and Development Working Group. Honolulu: University Press of the Pacific, 2005.
"QIAGEN Partners with FBI to Develop Digital PCR Assay for QIAcuity for Use in Forensics." QIAGEN, 7 May 2024, corporate.qiagen.com/English/newsroom/press-releases/press-release-details/2024/QIAGEN-partners-with-FBI-to-develop-digital-PCR-assay-for-QIAcuity-for-use-in-forensics/default.aspx. Accessed 14 Aug. 2024.
Saferstein, Richard. Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science. 9th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007.