GAO to FBI: More Focus on Statistics

摘要

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released in December 2014 its report on the scientific approaches in the FBI investigation of the 2001 anthrax attacks. As the title indicates, ANTHRAX: Agency Approaches to Validation and Statistical Analyses Could Be Improved , the GAO recommended that the FBI develop a framework for validation and statistical approaches for future investigations, with which the FBI agreed. Early in 2013, the GAO requested help from the ASA Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Forensic Science in reviewing statistical aspects of the GAO's planned methodology for their investigation and a draft of the final report. The committee's role is acknowledged in the GAO report.