In an effort to address these concerns, a number of new initiatives have been launched to shore up forensic science. These include:
* The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report: In 2009, the NAS released a report that made a number of recommendations for improving the quality of forensic science. These recommendations included:
* Establishing national standards for forensic science laboratories
* Requiring forensic scientists to be accredited
* Promoting research on forensic science methods
* Creating a national database of forensic evidence
* The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report: In 2016, PCAST released a report that echoed many of the recommendations made by the NAS. PCAST also called for the creation of a new federal agency to oversee forensic science.
* The Forensic Science Standards Board (FSSB): In 2017, the FSSB was created to develop national standards for forensic science laboratories. The FSSB is composed of experts from the forensic science community, as well as representatives from law enforcement and the judiciary.
These are just a few of the efforts that are underway to improve the quality of forensic science. While it is too early to say whether these efforts will be successful, they represent an important step in the right direction.
Here are some specific examples of how these efforts are being put into practice:
* The FBI is developing a new accreditation program for forensic science laboratories. The program will require laboratories to meet certain standards in order to be accredited.
* The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is conducting research on forensic science methods. NIST is developing new standards and protocols for forensic analysis, and it is also working to improve the accuracy and reliability of existing methods.
* The National Forensic Science Commission (NFSC) is a federal commission that was created to study forensic science issues and make recommendations for improving the system. The NFSC has made a number of recommendations, including the establishment of a national database of forensic evidence.
These are just a few examples of the many efforts that are underway to improve the quality of forensic science. By working together, the forensic science community, law enforcement, and the judiciary can help to ensure that forensic science is used to achieve justice.