Justice and Science
This chapter sets the stage for the chapters to come. We explore what forensic science is (and isn’t) and what roles it plays in various legal systems and proceedings. You will see how data produced by forensic examinations integrates into the body of an investigation and the importance of internal consistency of information. Through examples, you will see how competing stories and hypothesis develop regarding a criminal act and how forensic data helps investigators and the legal system sort through competing and contradictory versions of events.
Data and analysis generated by forensic scientists is used to make decisions that impact individual lives and society. We will examine quality management systems and practices used to ensure that this data is trustworthy, relevant and reliable. The system is not limited to laboratory procedures; it extends to the scientists involved as you will see during the discussion of human factors and ethics.
Learning Objectives
After completing this chapter and the associated exercises, you will be able to
1.1 Define forensic science and explain its role in the justice system
1.2 Differentiate between the adversarial and inquisitorial legal systems
1.3 Identify the elements of a quality management system applied in a typical forensic laboratory and cite examples.
1.4 Recognize the role of human factors in forensic analysis and reporting and evaluate their impact through example cases and scenarios.
1.5 Distinguish between science and pseudoscience
