Vision Statement

The goals and objectives of the institute are:

  • To improve the public health and provide services in the fields of forensic sciences, especially in cases where such services would alleviate human suffering;
  • To build human potential in the area of forensic sciences, especially among the minority ethnic populations in the U.S.A. by assisting in the training of members of the minorities in the field of forensic sciences and medicine;
  • To influence legislation to insure that there is adequate focus on support and empowerment of the neediest and most difficult to serve populations and ethnic minorities and females in the fields of forensic sciences and medicine; vis-à-vis the role of forensic sciences and medicine in the criminal justice system;
  • To provide research programs and initiatives in the fields of forensic sciences especially as they relate to curbing and preventing various diseases and improving the public health of our citizens and the entire world;
  • To leverage funds and facilitate philanthropic organizations’ quest to alleviate human suffering by utilizing the extensive knowledge and research in the fields of forensic sciences and medicine.

In pursuing these goals and objectives, the Nebraska Institute of Forensic Sciences, Inc., has established strong affiliations with other similar organizations such as the Cyril H. Wecht Institute of Forensic Science and the Law at Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA., and the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science at the University of New Haven, CT.

The Institute is currently establishing two (2) one–year certificate programs in forensic sciences – one at the Albany State University, Albany, GA., and the other at Chadron State College, at Chadron, Nebraska. The aim of these two (2) certificate programs is to provide educational training in forensic sciences to law enforcement and health care professionals and especially to recruit members of the ethnic minorities and females and train them in the fields of forensic sciences and medicine. These individuals will be able to attend classes during the weekends while still holding their current jobs. Qualified minorities and females will be specifically sought to start in these programs during the fall of 2004 and the spring of 2005. The Institute will organize and also provide internships for these students as they finish their course work. The sites for the internships include: Lancaster County Coroner’s Office, Lincoln, Nebraska (under the directorship of Matthias I. Okoye, M.D., J.D.), Director of Nebraska Forensic Medical Services, P.C.; Allegheny County Coroner’s Office, Pittsburgh, PA., (under the directorship of Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D.); Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office, Kansas City, MO., (under the directorship of Thomas Young, M.D., Chief Medical Examiner; and Michael J. Chambliss, M.D., Deputy Coroner, Coroner’s Office, Fresno County Coroner’s Office, Fresno, CA.).

Arrangements are also underway to provide internship training for the students at several other medical examiners/coroner’s offices in the country, such as, Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, Atlanta, GA.; Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office, Birmingham, AL.; and Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office, Little Rock, AK.; Medical Examiner’s Office, Knoxville, TN, and Scottsbluff County Coroner’s Office, Scottsbluff, NE., and Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office, Houston, TX. Students will also have the opportunity to rotate through the Allegheny County Crime Lab, Pittsburgh, PA. Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab, Lincoln, Nebraska, Connecticut State Crime Lab, Meriden, CT.