scholarly journals Open Forensic Science

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Chin ◽  
Gianni Ribeiro ◽  
Alicia Rairden
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Forensic Sciences ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Legal Proceedings ◽  
Forensic Scientists ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
False Discoveries ◽  
Efficiency And Reliability

The mainstream sciences are experiencing a revolution of methodology. This revolution was inspired, in part, by the realization that a surprising number of findings in the bioscientific literature could not be replicated or reproduced by independent laboratories and were likely false discoveries. In response – as reflected in a 2018 report of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine – scientific norms and practices are rapidly moving towards openness. These reforms promise many enhancements to the scientific process, notably improved efficiency and reliability of findings. Changes are also underway in the forensic sciences (although they have recently hit substantial political roadblocks). After years of legal-scientific criticism and several reports from peak scientific bodies, efforts are underway to establish the validity of several forensic practices and ensure forensic scientists perform and present their work in a scientifically valid way.In this article, the authors suggest that open science reforms are distinctively suited to addressing the problems faced by forensic science. Openness comports with legal and criminal justice values, helping ensure expert forensic evidence is more reliable and susceptible to rational evaluation by the trier of fact. In short, open forensic science allows parties in legal proceedings to understand and assess the strength of the case against them, resulting in fairer outcomes. Moreover, several emerging open science initiatives allow for speedier and more collaborative research. These, in many cases, may be readily applied to forensic science.

scholarly journals Open forensic science*

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason M Chin ◽  
Gianni Ribeiro ◽  
Alicia Rairden
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Forensic Science ◽  
Collaborative Research ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Scientific Process ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Legal Proceedings ◽  
Forensic Scientists ◽  
Efficiency And Reliability ◽  
Rational Evaluation

Abstract The mainstream sciences are experiencing a revolution of methodology. This revolution was inspired, in part, by the realization that a surprising number of findings in the bioscientific literature could not be replicated or reproduced by independent laboratories. In response, scientific norms and practices are rapidly moving towards openness. These reforms promise many enhancements to the scientific process, notably improved efficiency and reliability of findings. Changes are also underway in the forensic. After years of legal-scientific criticism and several reports from peak scientific bodies, efforts are underway to establish the validity of several forensic practices and ensure forensic scientists perform and present their work in a scientifically valid way. In this article, the authors suggest that open science reforms are distinctively suited to addressing the problems faced by forensic science. Openness comports with legal and criminal justice values, helping ensure expert forensic evidence is more reliable and susceptible to rational evaluation by the trier of fact. In short, open forensic science allows parties in legal proceedings to understand and assess the strength of the case against them, resulting in fairer outcomes. Moreover, several emerging open science initiatives allow for speedier and more collaborative research.

scholarly journals FORENSIC EVIDENCE: SCIENCE AND THE CRIMINAL LAW

2020 ◽  
pp. 053
Author(s):  
Filip Mirić
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Forensic Science ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Forensic Sciences ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
The World ◽  
Close Study ◽  
Forensic Scientists

The Book Forensic Evidence: Science and the Criminal Law is intended to serve as an introductionand guide to the appreciation and understanding of the significant historical, contemporary, and future relationship between the world of the forensic sciences and the criminal justice system. This book is not intended to be a close study of forensic science, nor was it ever conceived as becoming one. It is devoted to a study of the judicial response to uses of forensic science in all phases of criminal procedure. The audience to which this study is directed are those intimately or potentially involved in that relationship: police, forensic scientists, prosecutors, defense lawyers, and professors and students- future lawyers.

scholarly journals Beginning with Blood Patterns: Surface material and case information effects on trainee analysts’ judgments

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hugh ◽  
Liam Satchell
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
The United States ◽  
Forensic Sciences ◽  
Surface Material ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Human Interpretation ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Blood Pattern Analysis

There is growing concern about human bias and limitations in forensic science practice. The United States National Academy of Sciences has specifically highlighted that forensic sciences “rely on human interpretation of what could be tainted by error” (Edwards and Gotsonis, 2009, p9). An array of literature has shown that particular domains of forensic science, such as fingerprint and DNA matching, are vulnerable to bias and error. Less attention has been paid to the process of blood pattern analysis. In the current study, a sample of 32 trainee blood pattern analysts from the United Kingdom were asked to report the number and type of stains present on six different surfaces. The surfaces were systematically varied in terms of colour and porosity. Further, participants were provided with ‘case information’ to investigate if details about the source of the stains would bias a re-appraisal of the stains. We found that the trainees found the dark, non-porous surfaces particularly challenging when identifying the number of stains present on a surface. The accuracy at detecting the specific types of stain varied more as a function of the individual trainee than the surface material. Case information had no effect on participants reappraising the stains. The results highlight particular materials that may require targeted tutoring for trainee blood pattern analysts.

scholarly journals On the way to creating Ukrainian national cloud of open science

2021 ◽  
pp. 027-039
Author(s):  
S.Ya. Svistunov ◽  
◽  
P.I. Perkonos ◽  
S.V. Subotin ◽  
Ya.M. Tverdochlib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Computational Methods ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Information Resource ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Research Teams ◽  
Common Information ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Cloud Technologies

Modern conditions of science development, which are characterized by a significant increase in the volume of information, require new approaches to computational methods and new approaches to information processing. The article considers approaches to creating conditions and tools based on cloud technologies for more effective cooperation of research teams working on similar scientific problems. The article analyzes the stages of development of the European Open Science Cloud and presents the strategy of building the National Open Science Cloud. The article presents the main results of the development of a common information resource for scientific researches at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, which can be considered as a prototype of the National Open Science Cloud, which integrates into the European Open Science Cloud.

scholarly journals The Dangers of Convictions Based on a Single Piece of Forensic Evidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Adebola Olufunmi Olaborede ◽  
Lirieka Meintjes-van der Walt
Keyword(s):  
Justice System ◽  
Hair Analysis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Science Methods ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Bite Mark ◽  
Single Piece ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Scientific Validation

The overall goal of the criminal justice system is to ensure that perpetrators of crimes are duly punished and that victims of crimes are duly exonerated. As part of the effort to achieve this goal, the forensic disciplines have become very important in criminal investigations and prosecutions in identifying the guilty and in exonerating the innocent. There is a growing number of cases where people have been convicted based on a single piece of forensic evidence. However, some of the convictions have been found to be wrong, largely, due to the lack of adequate scientific validation of the forensic science methods. Some of these methods include latent fingerprint analysis, bite mark analysis, microscopic hair analysis and firearms identification. This article critically examines the application of forensic evidence in criminal prosecutions and highlights the dangers of convictions based on a single piece of forensic evidence. The findings of recent reports, such as, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) 2009 Report and President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) 2016 Report, confirm the critical role and broad scope of these forensic pattern-matching methods. The reports also indicate flaws that affect the accuracy of these methods, such as, inadequate scientific validation, coincidental results (erroneous match), human, laboratory and interpretive errors etc. Therefore, this article argues that the court should follow a cautionary approach when relying on a single piece of forensic evidence and that strong corroboration with other forms of evidence linking the accused to the crime should be required.

Core Competencies in Forensic Anthropology: A Framework for Education, Training, and Practice

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Natalie Langley ◽  
MariaTeresa Tersigni-Tarrant
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Forensic Anthropology ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
The United States ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Forensic Sciences ◽  
Practice Research ◽  
National Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Forensic Practice ◽  
And Training

Forensic practice, research, and expert testimony has been scrutinized increasingly by the medicolegal system over the last several decades, requiring attention to rigor and triggering reform in the forensic sciences. One hindrance to the forensic science enterprise noted in the National Academy of Sciences report Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward is fragmentation in education and training among the forensic sciences. It is crucial that practitioners receive appropriate training in their field of expertise and that education programs demonstrate the effectiveness of curricula in producing competent practitioners. This article examines a model for delineating core competencies in forensic anthropology and translating these competencies into measurable activities that characterize the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required of forensic anthropologists. We propose the model used in medical education: core competencies and Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs). We suggest EPAs that encapsulate the core competencies and allow practitioners to demonstrate that they can be trusted to perform units of professional practice unsupervised. This model emphasizes the abilities to be acquired by trainees, providing education and training programs with a set of guidelines for designing curricula and assessing learners. It also informs certification testing and credentialing in forensic anthropology. In the era of greater accountability, a competency-based model ensures that all board-certified practitioners are competent in all essential domains. The dynamic model also communicates to the medicolegal community and stakeholders the units of work produced by forensic anthropologists and our role in forensic investigations and casework.

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