Forensic Science Research and Practice

Professor Jim FraserThe Centre for Forensic ScienceUniversity of Strathclyde

© Centre for Forensic Science University of Strathclyde

Barriers to Research

• Complexity- multiple stakeholders• Heterogeneity- legal & procedural• Sensitivity- confidential information • Immaturity- of academic forensic science and

forensic science practice• Funding- rarely accessible via traditional

means

European Network of Forensic Science Institutes

•Complex research environment: scientists, police, academia and the legal profession. •Practitioner-researcher relationship requires support to be productive. •Crime and related matters- R&D requires effective interdisciplinary cooperation (natural and social sciences)

European Academy of Forensic Science

•Two major surveys•Research capability, capacity and interest•Client/user needs and aspirations

•Members of European Security Research Information Forum (ESRIF) •Influencing research agenda and funding (FP7/AFT)

•Digital technology and crime scene reconstruction•Objective interpretation of multi-modal evidence •Mobile technology for recovery and real time trace analysis

Advanced Forensic Toolbox

EPSRC Funding of the Forensic Process

Network 2: Evidence & Investigation

This network will provide a focus for research in a range of specialist areas related to the role of the police in the recovery, interpretation and effective use of intelligence and evidence in the investigation of crime and major incidents. This will include the development and evaluation of policy and good practice in the strategic and tactical use of forensic sciences.

Jointly funded by the Scottish Police Service and the Scottish Funding Council

Effective use of Forensic Science in the Investigation of ‘Volume’ Crime

• University of Strathclyde, Lothian & Borders Police, Strathclyde Police, Scottish Police Services Authority Forensic Services, Scottish police Training College, Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service

• Systematic longitudinal study of use of forensic science particularly DNA, fingerprints, shoe marks and tool marks from crime scene to criminal justice disposal

Research

‘Creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge of man, culture and society and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications. R&D is a term covering three activities: basic research, applied research and experimental development.’

University of Strathclyde Time Allocation Exercise

Research Activity and Outputs

‘HEI’s are now being seen as strong partners in research strategies for a number of …[forensic science] providers …[demonstrating] the valuable input that HEIs can offer to the furtherance of new knowledge for use in a forensic context.’

Letter to Science & Justice 48 (2008) 197- 199

• Very few operational forensic science laboratories in Europe have a formal remit to carry out research and some claim that they perform no research or development at all

Academic publication rates

Top 10 Publishing Institutions in 1996-2000 in All Biotechnology

Name

Average no

of papers

per year

University of Cambridge 536

University of Oxford 536

University College London 399

University of Edinburgh 275

Imperial College 260

University of Glasgow 209

University of Manchester 204

Imperial Cancer Research Fund 199

University of Dundee 198

University of Birmingham 181

Effective Collaboration

Requires an ethical approach with shared understanding and therefore management of :

•research priorities and aims•Research outputs- where and in what form?•Confidentiality - criminal justice •Intellectual property rights•Commercial development and exploitation

Research as a Promissory Note

Research is necessary to generate new knowledge but it is not sufficient on its own to guarantee a desired outcome especially if this has a professional, organisational or social dimension such as a police investigation or a criminal trial.

Research Methodologies

•Poor experimental design especially controlling for subjectivity and failure to use basic statistical tests are frequently encountered

•FBI tape comparison•Home Office/PSU crime reduction via fingerprint processes•‘Weekend’ DNA failures•The ‘common sense, bug

A Typology of Forensic Science

Type 1Strong scientific methodology, interpretation requires limited or no extrinsic information

Drug identificationDNA identificationChemical identity

Type 2Strong scientific methodology, interpretation requires extrinsic information, largely domain relevant

ToxicologyDrug profilingRTOH calculation

Type 3Limited or no scientific methodology, interpretation requires limited or no extrinsic information

FingerprintsPhysical fits

Type 4limited or no scientific methodology, may require significant domain extrinsic information including domain irrelevant

Damage to clothingBloodstain patternsScene reconstruction

• 90% of USA fingerprint experts agree that identification is 100% certain, 5% disagree and 4% are unsure

• Only 61% of European experts agree with this statement and 30% disagree

• 8% of European experts are unsure

Some Questions

•What proportion of forensic practice is evidence based?•How good are forensic scientists at communicating the significance of their evidence?•Do juries understand scientific evidence and what are the implications if they do not?•Is forensic science value for money- which bits?