UNTCHI/NamUs operations to cease Jan. 1, 2021

[canteloupe]

Apologies if I'm posting this in an incorrect forum location. I just ran across this troubling update on the UNTCHI webpage:

Due to funding limitations and significant program modifications directed by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), beginning January 1, 2021, the UNT Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI) management and operation of the National Missing and Unidentified Person System (NamUs) will cease. UNTCHI will no longer be able to support NamUs stakeholders with any analytical or case support; victim services; system development; or new forensic services. The forensic services include: DNA typing (currently suspended), fingerprint examination, forensic odontology, and forensic anthropology (currently suspended). Effective immediately, NamUs will also be unable to support states that have passed legislation mandating the use of NamUs, including bulk data import needs.

UNTCHI at the University of North Texas Health Science Center has been proud to manage NamUs through a cooperative agreement with NIJ since October 1, 2011. However, despite our best efforts over the past several months to reach a sustainable solution, the sweeping program changes being mandated by NIJ at this time make it untenable for UNTCHI to continue management of NamUs.

We deeply regret the negative impact this situation will have on the thousands of NamUs criminal justice and public customers and stakeholders across the country. NamUs is the only program of its kind in existence, and we hope the program can continue its important work for agencies and families nationwide.

We will provide more information as it becomes available.
​

I'm not sure how these changes will impact the Websleuths community, but perhaps some well-placed letter campaigns can secure new sources of funding for this project going forward.

 

[chaz]

This is very disturbing. I hope there is something that can be done. If anyone has an idea, please let us know!

 

[Cubby]

I'm going to hope this is temporary until the new administration takes over. I can't imagine not having these much needed resources.

 

[coffeeandacig]

A couple of weeks ago, I believe they stated they weren't doing any more unidentified DNA testing.
So basically, the Univ. of N. Texas couldn't agree to terms with the National Institutes of Justice and they're walking away from it.
IMHO...UNT may be too small to keep up with the increasing numbers based on all the state's that are now required to report anyone without a name (including the enormous amounts of homeless) to be reported as unidentified.
However, that doesn't mean that another school or organization can't take over the responsibilities. Right?

 

[hymphs]

I'm so upset about this I feel like this basically means that no one will take it over and it will basically cease to exist. Without UNTCHI and its lab its basically dead in the water. I'm going to try to write to my representative about doing something to stop this. This is such an important resource for both law enforcement and victim's families.

 

[Coppertop15]

What should we do?

 

[hymphs]

This is very disturbing. I hope there is something that can be done. If anyone has an idea, please let us know!

What should we do?

Contact your state representatives and tell them how important NAMUS is and how it has helped solve so many cases!

 

[coffeeandacig]

Maybe we should contact NIJ and see if they already have another school or organization lined up to handle the task?

 

[Vespertine]

I honestly expected huge threads on this news when I logged into Websleuths today. It amazed me that I had to hunt for this post. This is truly awful news. I've no idea what I can do from outside the USA but I pray for the families of those missing and unidentified that something can be done to keep NAMUS or a variation of it available.

 

[SleuthyLou]

This news doesn’t make any sense to me — who will continue these efforts? I need to educated myself on this more...

 

[coffeeandacig]

Email sent to NIJ via website:
"re: Status of Namus.gov website
Hello,
I'm an independent volunteer helping to find the identities of unidentified persons using the Namus.gov website. I understand from a recent press release that the University of North Texas (Center for Human Identification) will no longer be affiliated or working with NIJ and Namus.gov.
Will the Namus.gov website be impacted by this change? Will there be an organization or school filling the void of UNTCHI's work on this very important website?
Thank you in advance for your time.
Sincerely,
*******"

Just waiting for an answer now. I'll post if I get one.

 

[annemc2]

I honestly expected huge threads on this news when I logged into Websleuths today. It amazed me that I had to hunt for this post. This is truly awful news. I've no idea what I can do from outside the USA but I pray for the families of those missing and unidentified that something can be done to keep NAMUS or a variation of it available.

Me too!

I hope it's okay to post a link to the Save Namus petition: Sign the Petition

 

[chaz]

Me too!

I hope it's okay to post a link to the Save Namus petition: Sign the Petition

Thanks for posting the link. I just signed.

 

[CCJD]

Will the Namus.gov website be impacted by this change? Will there be an organization or school filling the void of UNTCHI's work on this very important website?

This is what Amy Jenkinson (and others) have posted on FB:

On December 31, 2020 me along with all my amazing NamUs peers positions will be terminated. There is still a chance to save this much needed program. Please read the released messaging from our director below.

NamUs Amy Jenkinson

Keep in mind, the jobs at NamUs are paid positions and often those people left other jobs for the opportunity to work with/at NamUs. So it's not just a matter of another school/facility picking up the science/forensics. It's also a matter of saving the jobs of a lot of people who have worked so hard over the past 10 years or so developing this invaluable tool.

 

[canteloupe]

This is what Amy Jenkinson (and others) have posted on FB:

On December 31, 2020 me along with all my amazing NamUs peers positions will be terminated. There is still a chance to save this much needed program. Please read the released messaging from our director below.

NamUs Amy Jenkinson

Keep in mind, the jobs at NamUs are paid positions and often those people left other jobs for the opportunity to work with/at NamUs. So it's not just a matter of another school/facility picking up the science/forensics. It's also a matter of saving the jobs of a lot of people who have worked so hard over the past 10 years or so developing this invaluable tool.

The punches keep rolling in with this, huh.

Like @Vespertine, I was surprised to not find a previous discussion about NamUs funding (in general or in terms of this current fiasco).

Perhaps the petition could be a topic to raise during the Websleuths YouTube live episodes. Maybe those that organize the broadcast could have someone like Amy Jenkinson on to discuss the importance of this institution and how its defunding will cripple cross-agency investigatory efforts.

 

[chaz]

@Tricia Can you help bring more awareness to this topic? This database is one of the greatest resources for a lot of us and especially for familie members of missing persons, national and international.

 

[AliceInPain]

Can someone please explain to me how UNTCHI is important to Namus? What do they do etc. Baby language please.

 

[fred&edna]

Located on the growing campus of the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas, UNTCHI services include forensic genetic and anthropological examinations for criminal casework and missing persons identification, local CODIS operations, and development and management of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) for the US Department of Justice.

Since 2011, UNTCHI has managed the NamUs program which consists of a central on-line repository of information related to missing and unidentified decedent cases that serves law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, and the general public. Regional Service Administrators located throughout the US work closely with agencies and families with missing loved ones in an effort to exchange information and potentially resolve missing person�s cases.


UNT Center for Human Identification
UNT Center for Human Identification

 

[fred&edna]

pdf info for UNTCHI/Namus

https://justiceclearinghouse.com/wp...ng-Person-JusticeClearinghouse-6-8-2016_B.pdf


This link has pictures which help with baby steps (And, I often need pictures to understand stuff!)

 

[CCJD]

Posted on FB (Todd Matthews)
This is the message from NIJ regarding the NamUs program.
_________________________
Thank you for reaching out about the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). NamUs is a wholly-owned asset of the U.S. Department of Justice and a critical tool for law enforcement and our citizens nationwide. Database and search services offered through NamUs are operationally located within the Office of Justice Programs and will continue to be available to law enforcement agencies and members of the public. The University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (UNTHCI) that has administered the DNA testing and other parts of the NamUs system has not accepted their FY 2020 award of $4.2 million.
The National Institute of Justice is committed to NamUs as a vital tool for investigators and the loved ones of the missing across this country, and is expediting funding vehicle options that will ensure NamUs services are provided by the best means possible.
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