NAS, PCAST and Hart House Reports Flashcards
What was the purpose of the NAS Report?
Looking at criticisms in criminal justice system about inconcsistencies in forensic sciences, looking to determing what the current status is of forensic science in the US.
When was the NAS report published?
2009
State the title of the NAS Report
Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
Outline the key points of Recommendation #1 from the NAS Report.
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- Establishing and enforcing best practices
- Establishing standards for the mandatory accreditation of forensic science labs and the mandatory certification of forensic scientists
- Promoting scholarly, competitive peer-reviewed research
- Improve forensic science research
- Efficient allocation of available funds
- Funding independent research projects and educational programs
- Overseeing education standards and the accreditation of forensic science programs in colleges/universities
- Introduction of new technologies in forensic investigations
Why is UofT not accredited?
Forensic programs in other schools were built around the accreditation standards, while UofT’s was established before these standards. Harder to adapt
Give examples of accrediting bodies.
3
NIST, ISO, ASCLAT
Outline recommendation #2 from the NAS Report.
NIFS should establish standard terminology, model lab reports and be required to utilize model lab reports
Outline the key points of recommendation #3 of the NAS Report.
4
Research is needed to address the issues of accuracy, reliability and validity in the forensic science disciplines. Research in following categories:
* Studies establishing scientific bases demonstrating validity of methods
* Quantifiable measures of the reliability and accuracy of analyses, establish limits of reliability and accuracy that methods can be expected to achieve, be peer reviewed and published in respected scientific journals
* Develop quantifiable measures of uncertainty
How is reliability ensured in forensic sciences?
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- External bodies for training to standards
- Ongoing, effective training
- Proficiency testing
- Blind verifications
- Case reviews, presentations
Outline recommendation #4 from the NAS Report.
Improve scientific bases of forensic science examinations and remove all public forensic labs and facilities from the administrative control of law enforcement agencies or prosecutors’ offices.
Outline recommendation #5 of the NAS Report.
NIFS should encourage research programs on human observer bias and sources of human error in forensic examinations and develop standard operating procedures to minimize potential bias and sources of human error.
Outline recommendation #6 of the NAS Report.
Congress should authorize and appropriate funds to NIFS to work with NIST and in consultation with SWGs, to develop tools for advancing measurement, validation, reliability, info sharing, and proficiency testing in forensic sciences and to establish protocols for forensic exams, methods, and practices.
Outline recommendation #7 of the NAS Report.
Lab accreditation and individual certification of forensic science professionals should be mandatory.
Outline recommendation #8 from the NAS Report.
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Forensic labs should establish routine quality assurance and QC procedures.
QC procedures should be designed to ID mistakes, fraud and bias; confirm the continued validity and reliability of standard operating procedures and protocols.
Outline recommendation #9 of the NAS Report.
NIFS should establish a national code of ethics with mechanisms of enforcement
Outline recommendation #10 of the NAS Report.
To atrract students in physical and life sciences, develop graduate education programs designed to cut across boundaries and by developing and improving research methods.
Outline the key points recommendation #11 of the NAS Report.
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Improve medicolegal death investigation system by:
* Replacing and eliminating coroner systems with ME systems
* Support research, education and training in FP
* Establish a SWG for FP and MLDI, which will develop and promote standards for best practices, administration, staffing, education, training, CE
* All ME offices should be accredited
* All federal funding should be restricted to accredited offices
* All medicolegal autopsies should be performed or supervised by a board-certified FP
Outline recommendation #12 of the NAS Report.
Launch a new broad-based effort to achieve nationwide fingerprint data interoperability
Outline recommendation #13 of the NAS Report.
Congress should provide funding to NIFS to prepare forensic scientists and CSIs for their potential roles.
What was done in the PCAST report?
Independent reviews that relied on faulty expert testimony from forensic scientists.
What were some of the disciplines called into question in the PCAST Report?
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- Microscopic hair comparisons
- Bullet-lead evidence
- Latent fingerprint evidence
- Bitemark evidence
According to the PCAST report, why should experts testifying in court avoid using terms such as “100% certain”?
Such statements are not scientifically defensible
What were the nine core disciplines represented in the Hart House Report?
- Forensic pathology
- Forensic anthropology
- Forensic odontology
- Forensic nursing
- Forensic entomology
- Forensic physical evidence
- Forensic toxicology
- Forensic biology
- Forensic psychiatry
Outline the template of the HH Report.
12
- Summary
- Overview
- Service
- Facilities
- Professional standards
- Workforce
- Education
- Continuing professional development
- Research
- Publications
- Professional Organizations
- Conclusions
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic anthropology?
2
- Use of race
- Use of data from limited skeletal collections that doesn’t reflect variability in population of question
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic biology?
2
- Low template DNA amplification
- Use of DNA databanks for investigative aid information
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic entomology?
1
Lack of funding limits research in some areas, limiting some analyses.
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic nursing?
1
Utilization of forensic evidence in SA/DV
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic odontology?
2
- Error rates in bitemark analysis
- Development of scientifically sound language and terms in bitemark analysis
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic pathology?
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- Time since death
- Post-mortem artifacts
- Shaken/abused infants
- ‘Negative’ autopsies
- Death in police custody
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic physical sciences: friction ridge, bloodstain pattern, footwear & tire track analysis?
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- Bias
- Threshold for identification
- Error rates
- Limitations of methodology
- Establishment of objective, quantifiable measures for identification
- Similar bloodstain patterns with opposite opinions and scientific bases of both
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic physical sciences: Firearms?
1
Establishment of objective, quantifiable measures for identification
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic psychiatry?
3
- Cannot ethically do RCTs for interventions
- Heterogeneity of content areas
- Work in silos
What were the major scientific controversies identified by the HH Report in forensic toxicology?
2
- Alcohol or drug-induced automatism
- Research to improve science and statistical/quantitative methods on population-level studies required, especially for impaired driving
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic anthropology?
2
- Case referral system/stakeholder understanding is barrier to effect use
- Inconsistency across the country.
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic biology?
2
- Missing persons DNA index
- Evaluation, approval and use of point of collection analytical devices
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic entomology?
1
- Case referral system/lack of stakeholder understanding is barrier to effect use of workforce
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic nursing?
5
- Stabilization of workforce
- Recognition by CAN
- Standards
- Minimum education
- Credentialing
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic odontology?
3
- Certification of specialists
- Coordination and homogenization of standards of case
- Definitive approach to malpractice/reliability assurance
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic pathology?
1
Structure of death investigation systems
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic physical sciences: bloodstain pattern, friction ridge, footwear and tire tack analysis?
6
- Blind verification
- Case audit and review of SOPs
- Standard report writing
- Certification of examiners
- Accreditation of units
- Review existing areas of overlapping service delivery
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic physical sciences: firearms?
1
Reviewing areas of overlapping service delivery.
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic psychiatry?
1
Exponential service growth
What were the system/policy issues identified by the HH Report in forensic toxicology?
- Lack of new instruments/facilities, low workforce and hiring freeze results in longer turn-around time, fewer analyses and less credible science in court due to use of inappropriate individuals used as experts
