I haven't had time to think through the long-term implications of this, for example, vis a vis private accreditation or agencies like Texas' Forensic Science Commission. From the press release it doesn't sound like much more than a large, temporary advisory or study group, but we'll see:
Hard to know what to make of the "commission" from their press release and limited initial coverage but the partnership with the National Institute of Standards and Technology perhaps yields a clue. This could result in just another set of advisory recommendations or perhaps it may be considered, in the future, as the beginning of a national regulatory scheme for the forensic sciences. That depends in large part, one supposes, on who is on the commission and what it recommends. At least the public hearings should be informative.
To what end? Just as with any cancerous growth,big government begets big government,,industries are developing,,people are getting rich,,time to protect their profits with legislation that empowers yet another bureaucracy or enhances one with more funding and more federal employees. Hopefully it doesn't join the fleet of bureaucracies that are so ineffective nobody remembers their names.
ReplyDeleteThis "New national forensic commission" is a farce. Standards for both forensic labs and forensic scientists are, and have been in place - for years. Tx passed a law that all labs (private and public) that process evidence on criminal cases must be accredited through the state. ASCLAD is a national organization who accredits labs. There is also an agency that certifies forensic scientists. There is plenty of oversight. The problem is that forensic science has exploded over the years, especially in DNA, and labs cannot keep up with the demand for tests. So, they have lowered their qualifications to hire more individuals to help with the backlog - THERE"S THE PROBLEM!!!
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