Forensic science as “risky business”: identifying key risk factors in the forensic process from crime scene to court
| Pages | 195-206 |
| Date | 07 December 2015 |
| Published date | 07 December 2015 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-09-2015-0044 |
| Author | Roberta Julian,Sally F. Kelty |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology |
Forensic science as “risky business”:
identifying key risk factors in the forensic
process from crime scene to court
Roberta Julian and Sally F. Kelty
Roberta Julian and
Sally F. Kelty, both are based
at School of Social Sciences,
Tasmanian Institute of Law
Enforcement Studies (TILES),
University of Tasmania,
Hobart, Australia.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss key risk factors in the use of forensic science in
the criminal justice system by adopting a holistic and systemic approach that examines the collection and use
of forensic evidence from crime scene to court.
Design/methodology/approach –The research on which the paper is based was a mixed-method
five-year study of the effectiveness of forensic science in the criminal justice system in Australia using
qualitative and quantitative methods. The paper draws on the in-depth analysis of qualitative data from
11 case studies of investigations of serious crime to identify key risk factors in the use of forensic science from
crime scene to court.
Findings –Six key risk factors in the forensic process from crime scene to court are identified: low level of
forensic awareness among first responders; crime scene examiners (CSEs) as technicians rather than
professionals; inefficient and/or ineffective laboratory processes; limited forensic literacy among key actors in
the criminal justice system; poor communication between key actors in the criminal justice system; and,
financial resources not directed at the front end of the forensic process. Overall the findings demonstrate that
forensic science is not well embedded in the criminal justice system.
Practical implications –The paper suggests that the risks inherent in the current practice of forensic
science in the criminal justice system can be reduced dramatically through: forensic awareness training
among first responders; the professionalisation of CSEs; continued improvements in efficiency and
effectiveness at the laboratory with a focus on timeliness and quality; greater forensic literacy among actors
in the criminal justice system; appropriate avenues of communication between agencies, practitioners
and policymakers in the criminal justice system; and increased allocation of resources to the front end
of the forensic process.
Originality/value –By adopting a holistic, systemic approach to the analysis of forensic science in the
criminal justice system, and identifying inherent risks in the system, this paper contributes to the emerging
body of research on the social processes that impact on the effectiveness of forensic science.
Keywords Criminal justice system, Crime scene, Criminal investigation, Forensic evidence,
Forensic science, Prosecution
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Since the first airings of the CSI programme on US television in 2000, forensic science has
captured the public imagination (Dioso-Villa, 2015). Surveys have regularly shown that, among
the general public, there is widespread faith in the benefits of forensic science to the criminal
justice system (Robbers, 2008). Forensic science has been viewed as revolutionising the criminal
justice system (Ludwig and Fraser, 2013) and it has even been seen as providing the way
Received 4 September 2015
Revised 6 October 2015
Accepted 6 October 2015
The authors gratefully
acknowledge the Australian
Research Council for their support
in funding the research on “The
Effectiveness of Forensic Science
in the Criminal Justice System”
(LP0882797) through their Linkage
scheme. The authors also
gratefully acknowledge the support
of the Industry Partners in this
research, Victoria Police, the
Australian Federal Police Forensic
and Data Centres, and the
National Institute of Forensic
Science.
DOI 10.1108/JCRPP-09-2015-0044 VOL. 1 NO. 4 2015, pp.195-206, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2056-3841
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH, POLICY AND PRACTICE
j
PAGE195
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