Current Policy Issues
Affecting Forensic Sciences
This page is intended to provide the CAC membership with important, and increasingly relevant, information regarding the National Academy of Sciences report as well as ethics-related information from throughout the field of forensic science. If you are a CAC member and you have additional information that you think should be included on this page, please email webmaster@cacnews.org.
- An Examination of Forensic Science in California
In November 2009, the California Crime Laboratory Review Task Force released this report. The Executive Summary includes a complete listing of the Task Force’s recommendations. The full report includes background information and discussions of the recommendations; each of these recommendations reflects the consensus of the Task Force. The entire document is provided here.
- NACDL Preliminary Recommendations on Strengthening Forensic Science
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is looking for input and feedback from scientists as they prepare the "Final Recommendations" that will br submitted to the NACDL Board of Directors in February, 2010. For more information, contact Jack King, (202) 872-8600 x228, jack@nacdl.org .
- CAC's Reponse to the 2009 NAS Report
This is the formal response to the NAS report by the CAC, dated August 15, 2009.
- NY Innocence Project's National Oversight Body Proposal
The third document is a proposal by the New York Innocence Project as to what they would like the national oversight body to "look like." They are proposing the formation of an Office of Forensic Science Improvement and Support (OFsis) in the Dept of Commerce. This would work with the NIST and NSF, & other appropriate existing federal agencies. The CAC will be responding to this with a letter in the near future.
- CAC's Draft of a Proposed National Code of Ethics
A draft of a National Code of Ethics as a guide for the eventual code to be written per the NAS report. This is a proactive response to the NAS recommendation for a national code of ethics and has been created by the CAC ad hoc committee that was formed to address this issue. Peter Barnett is the chair of this committee and you may submit any recommendations directly to Peter (pbarnett@fsalab.com). The committee really wants feedback from the community, especially CAC members. They would prefer that you make specific suggestions for language changes (rather than just say things like "it's unclear").
- ASCLD’s Comments on the Release of the NAS Report on Forensic Science
On February 18, 2009, the National Academy of Sciences released their long anticipated report on the forensic sciences in the United States. The report, entitled “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward,” will bring opportunities to make unprecedented changes to the structure and delivery of forensic sciences in the United States. The Board of Directors of American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) has had an opportunity to briefly review the extensive report and is providing some points for ASCLD members to consider.
- The FBI Quality Assurance Standards Audit for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories
Effective July 1, 2009, this Audit Document defines and interprets each standard, with added discussion points clarifying the criteria necessary for compliance. Additionally, the document is structured such that criteria, which overlap between the FBI issued standards and the corresponding ASCLD/LAB elements, share a consistent interpretative view.
- NAS Executive Summary - Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
This free executive summary is provided by the National Academies as part of their mission to educate the world on issues of science, engineering, and health. If you are interested in reading the full book, please visit us online at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12589.html. You may browse and search the full, authoritative version for free.
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