The National Academy of Sciences Forensic Science Committee issued a report in 2009 that raised a number of issues concerning forensic science. One of the major criticisms of the report concerned the nature of forensic science laboratories in the U.S. The report focused on the fragmentation of the system, the lack of universal accreditation and certification of laboratories and personnel, the management and funding models and a serious lack of standards in reporting, terminology, and methods of analysis. The question thus arises; if one could design the model of a forensic science laboratory, what should it look like? What should its management structure be? Should it be affiliated with a law enforcement agency or independent? Must it be accredited? Must all of the scientists who work in the lab be certified? What standards should be developed that govern the operation of the laboratory? What types of training should be put in place? The answers to these and other, similar questions can provide a framework for the design and implementation of a model forensic science laboratory. In the opinion of the author, such a lab would be independent of law enforcement, accredited and certified, be independently funded by the jurisdiction within which it lies, have standardized, documented training protocols, standardized, validated methods of analysis and a role for research into new methods of analysis. These and other issues are discussed.
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