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Dutch Forensic Research Agenda

2023-2033

The Dutch Forensic Research Agenda (NFOA) outlines five interdisciplinary themes that will guide forensic scientific research in the Netherlands for the coming decade. This initiative is the result of a collaboration between the Co van Ledden Hulsebosch Center (CLHC), the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), and many partners in science and the criminal justice system. The agenda connects emerging scientific insights and technological innovations to current and future needs in forensic practice. Its aim is to make forensic research more powerful, relevant, and understandable – for investigations, prosecution, and in court.
The 5 interdisciplinary themes

These themes have been formulated following extensive discussions with academics, forensic experts, and police and legal professionals in the Dutch criminal justice system. They connect new technological possibilities and recent scientific insights to the needs of criminal investigations, with the goal of creating new forensic capabilities that can make a difference in criminal investigations and legal proceedings.

Theme 1- Finding, recovering, and following the trace

Finding, identifying, accessing, recording, recovering, and presenting trace evidence.
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Theme 2- The ultimate forensic reconstruction

What happened? And who did it? These two questions constitute the basis for reconstructing events at the site of an incident. Without reconstruction, no case!
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Theme 3- Everyone, everywhere, everything, always

The effectiveness and impact of forensic information are significantly improved when it is accessible in the right place, at the right time, in the right manner, and to the right individuals. Recent advancements in data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and mobile technology have made it possible to conduct robust forensic investigations beyond traditional laboratory settings.
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Theme 4- AI and data science in forensic practice

Data science is an emerging field that is permeating every facet of our society. The integration of increasingly powerful artificial intelligence models aligns with advancements in data acquisition and utilization. This evolution opens the door to many prospects in the field of forensic science.
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Theme 5- Doing more with forensic information

Forensic information from criminal investigations provides unique insights into both criminality in society and the effectiveness of the associated investigation.
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