Improving Forensic Science to Prevent Injustice

 
Forensic science can be a powerful tool for seeking truth in criminal investigations and trials, but it is not flawless. A recent study found that faulty forensic evidence or testimony was a contributing factor in nearly sixty percent of wrongful convictions.
 
Today, The Justice Project is releasing Improving the Practice and Use of Forensic Science. The policy review provides an overview of the problems with certain forensic science policies and procedures and offers solutions to help states improve the quality of evidence in trials and increase fairness and accuracy within the criminal justice system.

 
Forensic Oversight
The role of forensic science in America’s courtrooms has steadily increased since the first forensics labs opened in the United States in the early 20th century. But while forensic science has a reputation for producing accurate and objective evidence, it is not flawless.

In fact, of the first 200 exonerations from post-conviction DNA testing, forensic errors played a role in more than half of the wrongful convictions.

Much forensic analysis involves a degree of subjectivity requiring the analyst to make interpretations and judgment calls that can lead to inadvertent human error. In addition, carelessness in handling or analyzing evidence and outright misconduct produces questionable results.

In Improving the Practice and Use of Forensic Science: A Policy Review http://www.thejusticeproject.org/wp-content/uploads/forensics-fin.pdf, The Justice Project offers recommendations and solutions for improving the practices and standards of forensic science. The review includes information on current forensic practices, case studies, states that have enacted reforms in forensic analysis, and a model policy.

Carelessness, inadvertent bias, and misconduct in crime labs have lead to numerous wrongful convictions and demonstrate the need for reform and regulation in forensic science. Without proper safety measures in place, the criminal justice system risks introducing bad forensic analysis into the courtroom and more wrongful convictions.

http://www.thejusticeproject.org/national/solution/improving-forensic-evidence-testing-procedures/