E ‘value’ ating Forensic Science

Abstract

Determining how to assess the value of forensic science is complex and multifaceted. The contributions of forensic science, the impact of evidence in case processing and their effects on the criminal justice system have not been thoroughly recognised. However, the research that has been conducted to date on the effectiveness of forensic science in the criminal justice system points to its enormous potential. Notions of value differ as evidence moves through the criminal justice system, and too often the focus is just on the costs of the provision of forensic science (e.g., cost per test) alone. Analysis of a range of literature which investigate the effectiveness of investigations and the uses of forensic science often have a very limited scope of their notion of value and are dependent on the organisation they are attached to (e.g., police force, forensic service provider, governmental body). Effectiveness and efficiency are important in evaluating forensic science, however assessing value is much broader than just assessments of its costs. The closure of the Forensic Science Service Ltd. has had significant impact on the provision of forensic science in the UK in recent years. Cost effectiveness of forensic science is difficult to assess as data is hard to obtain. This article uses data published over a number of years to assess how the cost of forensic services has changed for police forces in England and Wales. Although only available at an aggregate level, it points to a shifting balance of forensic services provided "in-house" and by external providers; the market of forensic science continues to be difficult to measure.

Analytical Validation of a Portable Mass Spectrometer Featuring Interchangeable, Ambient Ionization Sources for High Throughput Forensic Evidence Screening

“…Of the overall backlog of evidence reported (i.e., 1 .2 million requests), forensic biology accounted for~75%, with controlled substance attributing to a more modest 12%. Though novel training [4] and funding initiatives [5] have helped to contend with the demand, forensic biology has proven to be indispensable for suspect identification, leading to a significant level of outsourcing to private labs [6,7]. While the development of higher performance analytical methods is seen as a means of accommodating the increasing number of these requests [8,9], so too are techniques that reduce the impact of other types of forensic evidence [5,10], allowing the reallocation of resources towards the more laborious biological analyses.…”

The effectiveness of the current use of forensic DNA in criminal investigations in England and Wales

“…Both public security and civil liberty considerations continue to shape investment in this policing technology. However, our understanding of its aggregate and actual effectiveness and/or cost‐effectiveness, and contribution to the resolution/prevention of crime is limited (Ludwig, 2016; Science and Technology Committee, 2016, p. 16; Walport, Craig, & Surkovic, 2015, p. 6; Wiles, 2017, pp. 13–14).…”

Is the (traditional) Galilean science paradigm well suited to forensic science?

“…As such, forensic scientists are hardly in a position to criticize their stakeholder's understanding or misunderstanding of science. This could be a main point of friction, as the definition of science may differ between these communities, reinforcing the confusion between the “scientificity,” admissibility and even the instrumentality of science (Black & Daeid, ; Brodeur, ; Ludwig, ; Mousseau, Baechler, & Crispino, in press; van Brakel & De Hert, ).…”