NCJ Number
79668
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The role of criminalistics in Belgian police work and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of criminalistics are discussed.
Abstract
The field of criminalistics is devoted to the study of material proof using exact scientific techniques. The limits of criminalistics are set by the limits in science. In order to conduct adequate criminalistic studies, one must learn to discern which elements of evidence are most deserving of further investigation. A facility for reasoning, practical experience, and scientific knowledge are essential characteristics of prospective criminalists. Special education is necessary to learn to collect and preserve evidence. The criminalistic specialist must also be aware of the multidisciplinary possibilities for research. Criminalistics require scientific research, and adequate material must be available for systematic analysis. Frequently, neither funds nor materials are available for such research. Possibilities for remedying the situation include formation of a centralized institute for scientific police research, creation of an inventory of potential research areas, and preparation of a general report on criminalistic science. Such a report would list experts with particular specialties so that courts could choose the most appropriate individuals. The report could also serve to interest specialists in problems crucial to criminalistics. Centralization of criminalistic research has proven successful in many countries, but suspects must be given the same right of choice of experts as the courts.