PROMISE AND PROBLEMS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE - THE FORENSIC SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE (FROM FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICES AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, 1978 - SEE NCJ-56852)

• NCJ Number: 56854
• Author(s): J L PETERSON; R K PETERSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: University Research Corporation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

FORENSIC SCIENTISTS DISCUSS ISSUES SURROUNDING THE USE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Abstract

FORENSIC SCIENCE DOES NOT EXIST INDEPENDENTLY AS A SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE. IT IS A SERVICE TO LEGAL DECISIONMAKERS. THE VIABILITY OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCE PROFESSION DEPENDS ON ITS ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE TO THESE DECISIONMAKERS THE UTILITY OF ITS SERVICES. IN THIS CONTEXT, THE FORENSIC SCIENCE PROFESSION NEEDS TO BE CONCERNED WITH THE FOLLOWING: (1) GUARANTEEING THE QUALITY OF ITS SERVICES; (2) DRAWING ATTENTION TO ITS UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION OF OBJECTIVITY AND IMPARTIALITY TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS; (3) DEMONSTRATING ITS COST EFFECTIVENESS IN CLEARING CRIMES, PROSECUTING THE ACCUSED AND ENSURING A HIGH QUALITY OF JUSTICE; (4) CONDUCTING RESEARCH TO ADVANCE THE STATE-OF-THE-ART IN FORENSIC SCIENCE TO A LEVEL COMMENSURATE WITH KNOWLEDGE IN ALLIED SCIENTIFIC FIELDS; (5) DEVELOPING CORE CURRICULUMS AND CAREER PATHS TO ATTRACT QUALIFIED PERSONNEL TO THE FIELD; AND (6) PROMOTING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SCIENTISTS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS. PROBLEMS RELATED TO EACH OF THESE CONCERNS ARE DISCUSSED, AND EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS IS CITED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, DESPITE THE LIMITED USE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICES BY CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, IT REMAINS CLEAR THAT SCIENTISTS CAN PROVIDE IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE TO LEGAL DECISIONMAKERS. THESE DECISIONMAKERS ARE URGED NOT TO CONFUSE THE FORENSIC SCIENCE PROFESSION'S GROWING PAINS WITH ITS POTENTIAL. (LKM)