The author(s) shown below used Federal funds provided by the U.S.
Department of Justice and prepared the following final report:
Document Title: Strengthening Forensic Science in the United
States: A Path Forward
Author: Committee on Identifying the Needs of the
Forensic Sciences Community, National
Research Council
Document No.: 228091
Date Received: August 2009
Award Number: 2006-DN-BX-0001
This report has not been published by the U.S. Department of Justice.
To provide better customer service, NCJRS has made this Federally-
funded grant final report available electronically in addition to
traditional paper copies.
Opinions or points of view expressed are those
of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect
the official position or policies of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
,http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589.html
We ship printed books within 1 business day; personal PDFs are available immediately.
Strengthening Forensic Science in the United
States: A Path Forward
Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic
Sciences Community, National Research Council
ISBN: 0-309-13131-6, 352 pages, 6 x 9, (2009)
This PDF is available from the National Academies Press at:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589.html
Visit the National Academies Press online, the authoritative source for all books
from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering,
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.
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Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF File are copyrighted by the National
Academy of Sciences. Distribution, posting, or copying is strictly prohibited without
written permission of the National Academies Press. Request reprint permission for this book.
This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
,Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589.html
STRENGTHENING
FORENSIC
SCIENCE
I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S
A P A T H F O R WA R D
Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Science Community
Committee on Science, Technology, and Law
Policy and Global Affairs
Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589.html
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Govern-
ing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the
councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineer-
ing, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for
the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropri-
ate balance.
This study was supported by Contract No. 2006-DN-BX-0001 between the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences and the National Institute of Justice. Any opinions,
findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of
the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies
that provided support for the project.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Strengthening forensic science in the United States : a path forward : summary
/ Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Science Community,
Committee on Science, Technology, and Law Policy and Global Affairs,
Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics, Division on Engineering and
Physical Sciences.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-309-13135-3 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-309-13135-9 (hardcover)
ISBN-13: 978-0-309-13131-5 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-309-13131-6 (pbk.)
1. Forensic sciences—United States. 2. Criminal investigation—United States.
3. Evidence, Criminal—United States. I. National Research Council (U.S.).
Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Science Community. II.
National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Science, Technology, and Law
Policy and Global Affairs. III. National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on
Applied and Theoretical Statistics.
HV8073.S7347 2009
363.250973—dc22
2009011443
Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press,
500 Fifth Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or
(202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.
edu.
Copyright 2009 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Department of Justice and prepared the following final report:
Document Title: Strengthening Forensic Science in the United
States: A Path Forward
Author: Committee on Identifying the Needs of the
Forensic Sciences Community, National
Research Council
Document No.: 228091
Date Received: August 2009
Award Number: 2006-DN-BX-0001
This report has not been published by the U.S. Department of Justice.
To provide better customer service, NCJRS has made this Federally-
funded grant final report available electronically in addition to
traditional paper copies.
Opinions or points of view expressed are those
of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect
the official position or policies of the U.S.
Department of Justice.
,http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589.html
We ship printed books within 1 business day; personal PDFs are available immediately.
Strengthening Forensic Science in the United
States: A Path Forward
Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic
Sciences Community, National Research Council
ISBN: 0-309-13131-6, 352 pages, 6 x 9, (2009)
This PDF is available from the National Academies Press at:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589.html
Visit the National Academies Press online, the authoritative source for all books
from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering,
the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council:
• Download hundreds of free books in PDF
• Read thousands of books online for free
• Explore our innovative research tools – try the “Research Dashboard” now!
• Sign up to be notified when new books are published
• Purchase printed books and selected PDF files
Thank you for downloading this PDF. If you have comments, questions or
just want more information about the books published by the National
Academies Press, you may contact our customer service department toll-
free at 888-624-8373, visit us online, or send an email to
.
This book plus thousands more are available at http://www.nap.edu.
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF File are copyrighted by the National
Academy of Sciences. Distribution, posting, or copying is strictly prohibited without
written permission of the National Academies Press. Request reprint permission for this book.
This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
,Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589.html
STRENGTHENING
FORENSIC
SCIENCE
I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S
A P A T H F O R WA R D
Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Science Community
Committee on Science, Technology, and Law
Policy and Global Affairs
Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics
Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences
This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589.html
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Govern-
ing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the
councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineer-
ing, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for
the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropri-
ate balance.
This study was supported by Contract No. 2006-DN-BX-0001 between the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences and the National Institute of Justice. Any opinions,
findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of
the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies
that provided support for the project.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Strengthening forensic science in the United States : a path forward : summary
/ Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Science Community,
Committee on Science, Technology, and Law Policy and Global Affairs,
Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics, Division on Engineering and
Physical Sciences.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-309-13135-3 (hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-309-13135-9 (hardcover)
ISBN-13: 978-0-309-13131-5 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-309-13131-6 (pbk.)
1. Forensic sciences—United States. 2. Criminal investigation—United States.
3. Evidence, Criminal—United States. I. National Research Council (U.S.).
Committee on Identifying the Needs of the Forensic Science Community. II.
National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Science, Technology, and Law
Policy and Global Affairs. III. National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on
Applied and Theoretical Statistics.
HV8073.S7347 2009
363.250973—dc22
2009011443
Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press,
500 Fifth Street, N.W., Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or
(202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.
edu.
Copyright 2009 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
