Support for Forensic Science Research: Improving the Scientifi c Role of the National Institute of Justice.

摘要

The ability to analyze and interpret criminal justice evidence accurately is central to the effective functioning and credibility of every democratic country’s justice system, and there is a constant need to keep improving both the accuracy and reliability of forensic analytic techniques, known as forensic science. The best way to meet that need is through bringing the full power of scientific research to bear on forensic science questions and methods. Within the federal government, a variety of agencies both conduct and support research on or related to forensic science, but there is little strategic coordination or leadership among them. The consequences include unmet needs, even in the face of at times unnecessary redundancies, and missed opportunities. This report is the third time in the past 6 years that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have been asked to examine, directly or indirectly, the quality of and ways to strengthen federal leadership of forensic science research.