Bias and Forensic Science

As lawmakers across the United States grapple with how to reform law enforcement agencies, they should consider where forensic science laboratories are administratively housed and from where their funding is derived according to many experts. In most jurisdictions, these crime laboratories are housed within law enforcement agencies and derive their funding from police budgets. This structure can create bias toward law enforcement agencies. In an important Feature article, Is Forensic Science Scientific, in the May issue of BioScience, many have argued that crime labs should be independent organizations that are not dependent upon funding from police agencies. Read this important article for free at https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaa022      
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news