Abstract while new jersey is the fifth smallest state geographically, IT has the eleventh largest population size with close to 9.3 million residents (according to the 2020 census), making IT the most…

The New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Office of the Attorney General, received a $305,216 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Forensics Training and Technical Assistance Program (CFDA 16.044). The grant will enable the department to assess its inventory of long-term missing persons and unidentified human remains cases, ensure compliance with legal mandates to collect biometric data, and determine which DNA investigations require further testing and potential exhumations to develop CODIS-eligible profiles. This effort aims to provide closure for missing persons cases in New Jersey as well as surrounding states like New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The grant has an award date of October 1, 2023 and a target completion date of September 30, 2026.

Abstract while new jersey is the fifth smallest state geographically, IT has the eleventh largest population size with close to 9.3 million residents (according to the 2020 census), making IT the most densely populated state in the U.S. Bordered by new york, pennsylvania, and delaware, new jersey is situated directly between new york city and philadelphia, two of the most populated cities in the united states, with nearly 10.2 million people. New jersey is one of the few states in the united states surrounded by water (rivers, bays, and the atlantic ocean) on all three sides. These geographic features collectively make new jersey unique in that missing individuals and unidentified remains are shared with large metropolitan areas from its neighbors in pennsylvania, delaware, and new york. Extensive bridges and tunnels connect new jersey with manhattan, and philadelphia, some with walking lanes which make traversing across state lines extremely accessible. Unfortunately, these connecting bridges are sources of suicide for many missing individuals which often result in portions of unidentified human remains shared between the states. New jersey maintains approximately 1,337 long-term missing individuals each year and 372 unidentified human remains throughout the state. However, the state lacks sufficient legal, monetary, and personnel resources necessary for the effective reporting, processing, and identification of missing persons and unidentified remains, which frequently results in these cases remaining unsolved for extremely long periods of time. The njsp MP & HTU seeks grant funding to rectify the issues which affect all the citizens of the state, but with a focus on the underserved black and migrant and seasonal farm workers (MSFW) communities within new jersey, who are missing at disproportionately high rates. The njsp plans to utilize grant funds to assess the inventory of our long-term missing and unidentified remains cases as entered in the national crime information center (NCIC) and maintained by the medical examiners offices throughout the state. The njsp MP & HTU will ensure that long-term missing and unidentified remains cases are compliant with patricias law C.52:17B-212, which legally mandates law enforcement agencies to attempt to collect biometrics; fingerprints, dental, and DNA. From there, the njsp MP & HTU will determine which DNA investigations require further testing, identify cases for exhumations to further DNA codis eligible profiles, which may include genealogy. This will provide closure not only to new jerseys families, but also to those in the surrounding areas including new york, pennsylvania, and delaware.