NCJ Number
56858
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A PROSECUTING ATTORNEY SUGGESTS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF REGIONAL FORENSIC SCIENCE CENTERS AS A MEANS OF ADDRESSING PROBLEMS LIMITING THE USE OF FORENSIC INFORMATION IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.
Abstract
SOCIETY'S INCREASING APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY TO EVERYDAY PROBLEMS CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR LAW AND SCIENCE TO WORK TOGETHER MORE CLOSELY TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE FORENSIC SCIENCES GENERALLY HAVE HAD A LOW PROFILE, BOTH THEIR POTENTIAL AND THEIR PROBLEMS HAVE GONE LARGELY UNATTENDED BY THE PUBLIC, POLICE, COURTS, AND TRIAL ATTORNEYS. DIFFERENCES IN PERSPECTIVE BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND LAWYERS HAVE GIVEN RISE TO CONFLICTS THAT INHIBIT THE EFFECTIVE USE OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AS EVIDENCE. TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND CERTIFICATION ARE SORELY LACKING IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCE FIELD, AND TRAINING IN FORENSIC SCIENCE APPLICATIONS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS IS VIRTUALLY NONEXISTENT. THE FIRST STEP IN IMPROVING FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICES IS TO STANDARDIZE FORENSIC SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY NATIONWIDE, I.E., TO ESTABLISH ONE METHODOLOGY THAT WILL BE USED BY ALL LABORATORIES IN THE HANDLING OF EVIDENCE. THE SECOND STEP IS TO ESTABLISH CENTERS FOR THE STUDY AND DISSEMINATION OF FORENSIC SCIENCE DATA. SUCH CENTERS WOULD BE THE JOINT EFFORTS OF POLICE, TRIAL ATTORNEYS, JUDGES, AND SCIENTISTS, AND WOULD FACILITATE COMMUNICATION AMONG AND WITHIN THESE PROFESSIONAL GROUPS. THE CENTERS COULD SERVE AS FORENSIC SCIENCE CLEARINGHOUSES AND AS FACILITIES FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING, RESEARCH, CERTIFICATION, AND STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT. WERE SUCH CENTERS ESTABLISHED, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION OF FORENSIC LABORATORIES COULD BECOME PART OF THE COURT'S DOMAIN, WITH BOTH PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE HAVING EQUAL ACCESS TO IMPARTIAL FORENSIC SCIENTISTS AND TO THE FINDINGS OF THEIR EXAMINATIONS. (LKM)