NCJ Number
48122
Date Published
1978
Length
282 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A 3-YEAR RESEARCH EFFORT TO ASSESS THE ANALYTICAL ACCURACY OF CRIME LABORATORIES AND TO DESIGN A NATIONAL PROFICIENCY TESTING PROGRAM FOR CRIME LABORATORIES ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
TYPICAL CATEGORIES OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TESTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS RESEARCH INCLUDED DRUGS, FIREARMS EVIDENCE, BLOODSTAINS, GLASS, PAINT, SOIL, FIBERS, ARSON EVIDENCE, BODY FLUIDS, METAL SAMPLES, HAIRS, QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATIONS, AND WOOD SAMPLES. IDENTICAL TEST SAMPLES WERE MANUFACTURED AND MAILED TO APPROXIMATELY 240 LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL CRIME LABORATORIES (2 PERCENT FEDERAL, 57 PERCENT STATE OR REGIONAL, 40 PERCENT LOCAL, AND 1 PERCENT PRIVATE OR CANADIAN GOVERNMENT LABORATORIES). THE PARTICIPATION RATE VARIED FROM 99 PERCENT IN DRUGS TO 40 PERCENT IN WOOD SAMPLES. SPECIFIC PROCEDURES IN THE AREA OF SAMPLE SELECTION, PACKAGING, AND MAILING ARE DISCUSSED, AS ARE THE PROCEDURES USED IN COMPUTATION OF THE SURVEY RESULTS. A SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS AND METHODS REPORTED BY LABORATORIES IN THE EXAMINATION OF EACH TEST SAMPLE IS PRESENTED. A TABLE SUMMARIZES THE RESULTS OF THE LABORATORY RESPONSES AND INDICATES WHETHER THE LABORATORY SHOWED ACCEPTABLE OR UNACCEPTABLE PROFICIENCY, OR WHETHER FOR SOME REASON THE TESTS WERE NOT PERFORMED. THE FOLLOWING GENERAL FINDINGS TO THE STUDY ARE OUTLINED: (1) A WIDE RANGE OF PROFICIENCY LEVELS AMONG THE LABORATORIES EXISTS, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL EVIDENCE TYPES WITH WHICH THEY ARE HAVING SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES; (2) THE PROFICIENCY TESTING PROGRAM SHOULD BE EXPANDED BY MAKING SAMPLES MORE REALISTIC; (3) VOLUNTARY, ANONYMOUS PROFICIENCY TESTING IS BOTH FEASIBLE AND NECESSARY; AND (4) LABORATORY ANONYMITY AND DATA CONFIDENTIALITY ARE KEY FACTORS IN INSURING A HIGH PARTICIPATION RATE. ONE OF THE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS IS THAT LEAA CONTINUE THE SUPPORT FOR MAINTAINING WHAT HAS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL PROFICIENCY TESTING PROGRAM. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR CRIME LABORATORY EXAMINERS, RESEARCH ON SELECTED ITEMS OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, DISSEMINATION OF ADDITIONAL LABORATORY STANDARDS, ESTABLISHMENT OF CONTINUOUS PROFICIENCY TESTING, SUPPORT FOR CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION, AND RECOGNITION OF THE PROBLEMS UNCOVERED IN THE NATION'S CRIME LABORATORIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO UPGRADE THESE LABORATORIES BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. COPIES ARE PROVIDED OF THE DATA SHEETS WHICH ACCOMPANIED THE SAMPLES AND ON WHICH THE PARTICIPATING LABORATORIES RECORDED THEIR RESULTS. A ROSTER OF PARTICIPATING LABORATORIES IS SUPPLIED. A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. FOR INDIVIDUAL TEST REPORTS (A TOTAL OF 21) SEE NCJ 47522-47542; FOR SUPPLEMENTAL TEST REPORTS, SEE NCJ 41146-41148. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)