The interface between forensic science and technology: how technology could cause a paradigm shift in the role of forensic institutes in the criminal justice system

Abstract

In this paper, the importance of modern technology in forensic investigations is discussed. Recent technological developments are creating new possibilities to perform robust scientific measurements and studies outside the controlled laboratory environment. The benefits of real-time, on-site forensic investigations are manifold and such technology has the potential to strongly increase the speed and efficacy of the criminal justice system. However, such benefits are only realized when quality can be guaranteed at all times and findings can be used as forensic evidence in court. At the Netherlands Forensic Institute, innovation efforts are currently undertaken to develop integrated forensic platform solutions that allow for the forensic investigation of human biological traces, the chemical identification of illicit drugs and the study of large amounts of digital evidence. These platforms enable field investigations, yield robust and validated evidence and allow for forensic intelligence and targeted use of expert capacity at the forensic institutes. This technological revolution in forensic science could ultimately lead to a paradigm shift in which a new role of the forensic expert emerges as developer and custodian of integrated forensic platforms.

The evolution of environmental forensics: From laboratory to field analysis

“…It can also determine the most appropriate samples to collect for confirmatory laboratory analysis, based on pollution distribution (Galuszka et al, 2015;Kalnicky & Singhvi, 2001). This not only potentially aids and improves the quality of the site investigation, it also ensures that laboratory-based analyses are more focussed as only the more relevant samples are being submitted for analysis (Kloosterman et al, 2015;Valcárcel & Cárdenas, 2005;Visotin & Lennard, 2016). In addition, the submission of the field-based results together with the associated samples for laboratory analysis can help direct the subsequent laboratory work (e.g., by assisting in the selection of the most suitable confirmatory technique) (Valcárcel & Cárdenas, 2005).…”

“…This generates a dilemma in terms of the skill level required of the site investigator (Turl & Wood, 2008). This comes down to the need for relevant training and ensuring that the operators have the necessary skills (Galuszka et al, 2015;Leary, Dobson, & Reffner, 2016), although some authors recommend that technology capable of providing automatic interpretation should be developed (Kloosterman et al, 2015). Another issue here is that someone needs to be available in the laboratory, even in instances where the site investigator visits an incident scene outside normal working hours.…”

Is the (traditional) Galilean science paradigm well suited to forensic science?

“…Although provocative, this claim could be highly relevant at a time when the combined digital transformation of society and the decentralization of forensic services challenge the traditional position of the forensic science laboratory, specifically its position in relation to field investigation. A consequence of this is the rapid merging of digital traces with their chemical, physical and biological siblings (Casey, Ribaux, & Roux, , ; Huey & Nhan, ; Kloosterman et al, ) (Box ).…”

Challenges to Forensic Medicine in the Postmodern Era the Impact of the New Technologies

“…The new technologies bring with them risks and the threat of abusive use, which demands the careful assessment of their risks and benefits, in order to ascertain the improvement of the quality of life (Kloosterman et al, 2015).…”

“…High-tech equipments, often expensive, allow the forensic experts to practice their work so that forensic evidences provided to court, being of high quality, to lead to the elucidation of criminal cases and taking the fairest decision (Kloosterman et al, 2015;Velnic et al, 2017).…”