Funded by NIST, their interdisciplinary team works on building a statistically sound and scientifically solid foundation for interpretation of pattern evidence (including fingerprints and bullet marks) and digital evidence (including data from cell phones and computers). Additionally, the center provides education and training in these new methods, and transfers the new tools to forensic practitioners and other stakeholders.

CSAFE marshals the breadth and strength of the statistical community in the U.S. and abroad to collaborate with forensic and statistical scientists at NIST, the FBI, and state and local crime labs to ensure the quantification of uncertainty associated with various pattern and digital evidence analyses.