Smart On Crime - Forensic Science

Unvalidated or improperly applied forensic science contributed to approximately half of the 265 wrongful convictions overturned by post-conviction DNA testing 1, leading to serious questions about the reliability of many forensic analyses that the police and legal system use to determine innocence or guilt. In the landmark 2009 report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, the National Academy of Sciences recommended additional research and development of forensic science based on their finding that the validity and reliability of certain non-DNA forensic techniques had not yet been proven.2 To accomplish the NAS report’s goals, researchers must conduct more rigorous studies of non-DNA forensic techniques 3, Congress must implement national standards based on this research, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) must oversee the system to ensure compliance and enforcement.