FORENSIC SCIENCES - OVERBURDENED, UNDERUTILIZED

• NCJ Number: 53289
• Journal: Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 21-30
• Author(s): M S SERRILL
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: BACK ISSUES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE

Annotation

THIS HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCE CAPABILITIES OF THE POLICE IS DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH COMPLAINTS BY FORENSIC SCIENTISTS OF UNDERUTILIZATION BY POLICE OFFICERS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.

Abstract

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCES IN THE U.S. HAS BEEN AS HAPHAZARD AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHILE THE FORENSIC SCIENCES CAME INTO BEING AROUND THE TURN OF THE CENTURY WITH THE DISCOVERY OF FINGERPRINTS, THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE COLLECTION AND LABORATORY WORK DONE BY POLICE HAS ALWAYS DEPENDED ON THE INTERESTS THAT THE POLICE EXECUTIVES HAD IN THE SUBJECT. THE LESS SOPHISTICATED THE DEPARTMENT, THE LESS USE IT MADE OF FORENSIC SCIENCES. AS LATE AS 1968, THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 100 CRIME LABS TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE NATION'S 17,000 POLICE AGENCIES, BUT SINCE THEN, THE NUMBER HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED TO 240 DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF LEAA, THE TREMENDOUS FLOOD OF DRUG AND DRUG-RELATED CRIMES, AND INCREASED INTEREST ON THE PART OF THE POLICE IN THE UTILITY OF FORENSIC LABORATORIES. HOWEVER, MANY OF THE 240 FACILITIES STRETCH THE DEFINITION OF CRIME LABORATORIES; AT LEAST 70 EMPLOY FEWER THAN 4 PEOPLE. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS TRAINING: ALTHOUGH LAB PERSONNEL CARRY THE TITLE OF 'FORENSIC SCIENTISTS,' MOST MERELY HAVE BACHELOR'S DEGREES IN CHEMISTRY OR GENERAL SCIENCE. PROFESSIONALIZATION ISSUES NOTWITHSTANDING, THERE REMAINS AN UNDERUTILIZATION FACTOR. LEADING FORENSIC SCIENTISTS CONTEND THAT IF THE POLICE TOOK MORE INTEREST IN THE CONTRIBUTION WHICH FORENSIC SCIENCE COULD MAKE TO THEIR INVESTIGATIONS, THEY WOULD SOLVE A GREATER NUMBER OF CASES A LOT MORE QUICKLY. SOME POLICE SAY HOWEVER, THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO USE THE CRIME LAB BECAUSE FORENSIC SCIENTISTS ARE RARELY OF ANY HELP IN SOLVING CASES, OR BECAUSE CRIME LAB PERSONNEL ARE INCOMPETENT. STUDIES OF CRIME LAB EFFICIENCY PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT FOR THIS VIEW. FORENSIC SCIENCE PROFESSIONALS CONTEND THAT THE POLICE SHOULD AIM FOR CRIME LAB INVOLVEMENT IN ALL FELONY CASES; THE POLICE COUNTER BY ARGUING THAT THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE A MAJORITY OF CASES DO NOT PROVIDE THE SORT OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE ON WHICH CRIME LAB INVOLVEMENT DEPENDS. (KBL)