ROLE OF CRIMINALISTICS IN THE WORLD OF THE FUTURE FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 9893
• Author(s): B PARKER; V GURGIN
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 150 pages
• Grant Number(s): GI-30011
• Corporate Author: Stanford Research Institute
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL SOCIAL BENEFIT OF INCREASED CRIMINALISTIC SERVICES WITH RESULTANT GUIDELINES FOR FUTURE COST-BENEFIT PLANNING.

Abstract

ESTIMATING THE FUTURE POTENTIAL OF CRIMINALISTICS CALLED FOR ANALYSIS OF ITS PRESENT SCOPE AND THE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH IT EXISTS. RESEARCH CENTERED ON AN INTENSIVE CASE-STUDY INVESTIGATION OF THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA CRIME LABORATORY. THE RECORDS OF THE CRIME LAB'S UTILIZATION OVER A 25 YEAR SPAN AND THE CRIME DATA FOR THE COUNTY, STATE, AND NATION WERE ANALYZED. INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, CRIMINALISTS IN THE LAB, AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS. FINDINGS FROM THE INTERVIEWS AND DATA ANALYSIS WERE THEN CHECKED AGAINST PREVIOUS STUDIES IN CRIMINALISTICS AND THE OBSERVATIONS OF A PANEL OF EXPERTS. ALL THESE SOURCES CONCLUDED THAT CRIME LABORATORIES ARE UNDER-UTILIZED IN THAT THEY DEAL PRIMARILY WITH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE REQUIRED BY LAW. FURTHER, THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IS LIMITED BY THE BUREAUCRACIES WHICH CONTROL THEM. THE STUDY RECOMMENDS EXPANSION OF CRIMINALISTIC SERVICES BASED UPON GREATER LAB AUTONOMY AMONG CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESEARCH CENTERS IN EVIDENTIARY SCIENCE.