CHAPTER 24: Quality Assurance, Recommendations and Standards

Forensic evidence plays a vital role in court or during the investigation of a crime regardless of the respective legal environment. Forensic scientists or practitioners are expected to examine and interpret evidence thoroughly, objectively, reliably and according to the state-of-the-art of their specific discipline. Although judges or juries make their final conclusions based on all the information and findings, a single forensic report might be the information that makes the difference between acquittal and conviction especially when the evidence — like in forensic genetics — directly links a person to a crime. As these forensic experts are the dedicated specialists in a certain area, it is very difficult for non-experts to evaluate, if the before mentioned characteristics apply to reported forensic findings…