New Forensic Science Report

A report on the state of forensic science in the U.S. was released February 18 by a National Academy of Science/National Research Council committee. Links to a briefing and press release are here. The report, entitled “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward,” identifies several shortcomings in U.S. forensic science, including a lack of standards for professionals, facilities, and techniques; misleading court testimony by forensic scientists; and a dearth of research into the limitations of forensic scientific methods.  The report’s recommendations include:

• creating a new, stand-alone federal agency, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish standards for forensic science practitioners, education, and facilities;
• establishing a standard terminology for forensic experts to use in court testimony;
• providing federal funds for research on the validity, reliability, and accuracy of forensic scientific techniques;
• cutting administrative and funding ties between government forensic laboratories and prosecutors’ offices;
• writing and enforcing a national ethics code for forensic scientists;
• establishing uniform standards for forensic death investigation;
• making fingerprint databases interoperable; and
• preparing forensic scientists for homeland security investigations.

[Robert Richards]