NAS Calls For Standardized Handling Of Crime Evidence

The National Academy of Sciences is expected to release a report that scrutinizes the way forensic evidence is analyzed and used by law enforcement agencies.
According to the New York Times, the report claims that analyses like blood spatter, hair samples, and finger printing are “often handled by poorly trained technicians who then exaggerate the accuracy of thier methods in court.”
“This is not a judicial ruling; it is not a law,” expert, a psychology and law professor at arozona state university, said of the new report.”But it will be used by others who will make law or will argue cases.”
The report has a wide a variety of applications. For example. judges could use it to raise the bar for certain types of forensic evidence. On the other hand, lawyers could use it to discredit forensic procedures and experts witnesses in court.
“DNA was a shock to police culture and created an alternative scientific model, which promoted standardization, transparency and a higher level of precision,” said Paul Giannelli, a forensic science expert at case Western Reverve University Law, who presented his research to the  National Academy.
“My hope is that this report will provide an objective and unbiased perspective of the critical needs of our crime labs,” Senator Richard C. Shelby, Republican of Alabama, told the New York times.” The report’s most controversial recommendation is the establishment of a federal agency to finace research and training and promote universal standards in forensic science, a dicipline that spans anthropology, biology, chemistry, physics, medicine and law.
The report also clals for tougher regulation of crime laboratories,” said the Times.