Scientific Working Groups
For more than 20 years, several federal agencies have supported the efforts of various scientific working groups, often referred to as SWGs, for the advancement of forensic standards and techniques.
Scientific working groups consist of representatives from the fields of forensic, industrial, commercial and academic communities. Some cases may also include international participants. These multidisciplinary groups assist in developing standards and guidelines and improve communications throughout their respective disciplines.
For more information, please visit the scientific working group websites listed in the following tables. Note: Several groups presently do not have websites.
NIJ does not exercise control over external websites. Read our Exit Notice.
| Name | Administering Agency | Funding Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Working Group for Forensic Anthropology (SWGANTH) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice | NIJ and the Central Identification Laboratory, Department of Defense |
| Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group for Forensic Document Examination (SWGDOC) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology (SWGFAST) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory.U.S. Department of Justice | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group for Firearms and Toolmarks (SWGGUN) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group on Materials Analysis (SWGMAT) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group on Shoeprint and Tire Tread Evidence (SWGTREAD) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group on Toxicology (SWGTOX) | NIJ | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group on Gunshot Residue (SWG-GSR) | NIJ | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group on Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (SWGSTAIN) | NIJ | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group on Medicolegal Death Investigation (SWGMDI) | NIJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group for Fire and Explosives Scenes (SWG-FEX) | NIJ | NIJ |
| Scientific Working Group on Disaster Victim Identification (SWGDVI) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice | NIJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice |
| Name | Administering Agency | Funding Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Working Group on Dogs and Orthogonal Detection Guidelines (SWGDOG) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice | Transportation Safety Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, U.S. Department of Justice |
| Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG) | Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Department of Justice | Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Department of Justice |
| Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE) | Computer Analysis Response Teams, Operational Technology Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation , U.S. Department of Justice | Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice |
| Scientific Working Group on Imaging Technology (SWGIT) | Operational Technology Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice | Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice |
| Scientific Working Group for Wildlife Forensics (SWGWILD) | United States Fish and Wildlife Services | None |
| Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG) | Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Justice, U.S. Department of Justice Information Services Division |
Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice |
