Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States A Path Forward (2009) / Chapter Skim
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8 Education and Training in Forensic Science
8 Education and Training in Forensic Science
Pages 217-240
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From page 217... ...
Among many skills, forensic science education and training must provide the tools needed to understand the probabilities and the limits of decisionmaking under conditions of uncertainty. To correct some of the existing deficiencies, the starting place must be better undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as increased opportunities for continuing education.
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From page 218... ...
Training refers to the "formal, structured process through which a forensic scientist reaches a level of scientific knowledge and expertise required to conduct specific forensic analyses." Continuing professional development is the "mechanism through which a forensic scientist remains current or advances to a higher level of expertise, specialization, or responsibility." Third, there is a need to educate the users of forensic science analyses, especially those in the legal community. Judges, lawyers, and law students can benefit from a greater understanding of the scientific bases underlying the forensic science disciplines and how the underlying scientific validity of techniques affects the interpretation of findings.
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From page 219... ...
To achieve a 30-day turnaround on all 2005 requests, the different forensic science disciplines would have needed varying increases in the number of full-time examiners performing that work -- ranging from an estimated 73 percent increase in DNA examiners to an estimated 6 percent increase in examiners conducting toxicology analysis. The most recent Occupational Outlook Handbook, prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the U.S. Department of Labor, found that job growth for forensic science technicians will grow much faster than average, with 13,000 jobs available in 2006 and a projected 31 percent rise, or 17,000 jobs, projected by 2016. Yet one analyst argued that "existing science programs overproduce graduates relative to the actual labor market" in criminalistics. Having an accurate picture of demand -- as well as the capacity of employers to absorb new forensic science professionals -- is important for colleges and universities that are educating and training the future workforce.
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From page 220... ...
2003. Trends in forensic science education: Expansion and increased accountability.
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From page 221... ...
Several studies have focused on the needs of crime laboratories. In 1988 Siegel conducted a survey of undergraduate students at Michigan State University, forensic science practitioners employed by the Michigan State Police, and 240 members of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD)
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From page 222... ...
The earliest forensic science degree programs and the oldest continually functioning educational degree programs in forensic science in the United States were established at Michigan State University in 1946 and the University of California at Berkeley in 1950.19 A survey conducted in the mid-1970s located 22 colleges and universities in the United States offering degrees (in one case a certificate) in criminalistics/forensic science, although some of these institutions offered multiple degrees.20 16 See, e.g., S
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From page 223... ...
The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) now lists 138 undergraduate, 59 graduate, and 6 doctoral forensic science degree programs in the United States.23 Not all are science based -- many are criminal justice programs.
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From page 224... ...
Laboratories are forced to evaluate each graduate student individually to determine his suitability for a given position."26 Unevenness in the quality of these programs has caused problems for students and future employers. The Council of Forensic Science Educators stated that, "Students completing these lesser programs expect to find employment in crime labs but are surprised to learn that lab management is not impressed by the curriculum."27 Additionally, the lack of applicants with a science or forensic background means that crime laboratories have to spend precious time and resources in the training of new scientists.28 If forensic science education programs had sufficient rigor in science, law, and forensics, crime laboratories would have to spend less time and money for training,29 thereby shortening as well the apprenticeship time needed.
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From page 225... ...
These were provided in a 2004 report.32 In 2002, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences created an ad hoc committee, the Forensic Education Program Accreditation Committee, to look into issues regarding an accreditation system. The committee was made a standing committee in 2004, at which time the name was changed to the Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC)
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From page 226... ...
226 STRENGTHENING FORENSIC SCIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES Table 8-2 Major Areas of FEPAC Standards General Standards for All Programs - Eligibility - Planning and Evaluation - Institutional Support - Student Support Services - Recruiting and Admissions Practices, Academic Calendars, Catalogs, Publications, Grading, and Advertising - Record of Student Complaints - Distance Learning and Other Alternative Delivery Mechanisms Undergraduate Program Standards - Mission, Goals, and Objectives - Undergraduate Admissions Requirements - Curriculum - Program Director - Faculty - Success with Respect to Student Achievement - Professional Involvement Graduate Program Standards - Mission, Goals, and Objectives - Graduate Admissions Requirements - Curriculum - Program Director - Faculty - Success with Respect to Student Achievement - Professional Involvement SOURCE: www.aafs.org. the curriculum as necessary, based on the results of its evaluation activities; and for planning to achieve its mission in the future; • ave adequate institutional support in the form of financial re h sources, facilities, instructional, and support services; • rovide adequate student support services, such as mentoring, ad p vising, and career placement; • ave policies and procedures for student recruitment and ad h missions, with advisers to students regarding requirements for employment; • have procedures for handling student complaints; and • onsider the use of distance learning as an instructional technique, c demonstrating that all required laboratory experiences are hands on for all students.
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From page 227... ...
All forensic science students should, at the earliest point possible, take a hands-on crime scene investigation course that teaches the principles of evidence, including its collection, preservation, and value. Additionally, the forensic science courses in drug analysis, criminalistics, and forensic biology (including DNA analysis)
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From page 228... ...
The forensic science degree programs that are not sufficiently rigorous eventually would disappear, because their graduates would not be competitive in the employment arena. Consequently, employers would be more confident in the capabilities of graduates of forensic science programs and hence would be more inclined to hire them.
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From page 229... ...
EDUCATION AND TRAINING 229 Table 8-3 FEPAC Accredited Programs, 2008 Programs Degree Program Albany State University Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Science Arcadia University Master of Science Degree Program in Forensic Science Cedar Crest College Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, and Genetic Engineering, with a concentration in Forensic Science Eastern Kentucky University Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Forensic Science Florida International University Certificate Programs in Conjunction with the Bachelor of Science in a Natural Science such as Chemistry or Biology Florida International University Master of Science Degree Program in Forensic Science Marshall University Master of Science Degree Program in Forensic Science Metropolitan State College of Denver Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Chemistry with a concentration in Criminalistics Michigan State University Master of Science Degree Program (biology and chemistry tracks) University of Mississippi Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Chemistry Ohio University Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Chemistry SUNY at Albany Master of Science Degree in Forensic Molecular Biology Virginia Commonwealth University Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Science Virginia Commonwealth University Master of Science Degree in Forensic Science West Chester University Bachelor of Science Degree Program In Forensic and Toxicological Chemistry West Virginia University Bachelor of Science Degree -- Forensic and Investigative Science Program SOURCE: www.aafs.org.
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From page 230... ...
Nor should state and local governments fund research, as their funds have to support the service mission of the laboratories. The National Institute of Justice has traditionally provided virtually all federal research funding for forensic science, but additional funding from alternative sources is essential."39 Many forensic degree programs are found at small colleges or universities with few graduate programs in science and where research resources are limited.
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From page 231... ...
; 40 Education and Training in Forensic Science: A Guide for Forensic Science Laboratories, Educational Institutions, and Students (2004) ,41 developed by TWGED; and a report prepared by ASCLD for NIJ, published in May 2004, which has become known as the 180-day Study Report: Status and Needs of United States Crime Laboratories.42 The issues addressed in all of these reports are the same ones confronting this committee today, namely the need for continuing education and the ongoing training of working examiners in the various disciplines: Prior to conducting analysis on evidence, forensic scientists require both basic scientific education and discipline-specific training.
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From page 232... ...
During their training period, individuals in experience-based disciplines serve much like an apprentice to a senior examiner.44 NIJ describes a variety of training needs for forensic scientists in crime laboratories by position.45 For operational scientists, training is needed to stay up to date in theoretical and practical issues (such as applying methods and performing analyses)
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From page 233... ...
Continuing Education Continuing education is critical for all personnel working in crime laboratories as well as for those in other forensic science disciplines, such as forensic pathologists or anthropologists. Some commonly used approaches to continuing education are instructor led, professional conferences/seminars, distributed learning, apprenticeship, residency, internship, teaching and presentations by trainee/employee, and independent learning.47 The greatest issue for continuing education is quality.
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From page 234... ...
EDUCATION IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM The forensic science community needs to educate those who use their services and therefore needs to understand the services and their terminology. Users of forensic science analyses include law enforcement officers, forensic pathologists, the bar, the judiciary, the general public, and policymakers.
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From page 235... ...
But other than this initiative, judicial education programs have not focused on the forensic science disciplines.
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From page 236... ...
The National College of District Attorneys and the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys also periodically offer courses in forensic science. A third option is for law schools to offer more courses in the forensic disciplines, statistics, or basic science methodology, or to provide credit for students wishing to take courses in those fields.
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From page 237... ...
Moreover, there are no requirements or incentives in place to ensure that forensic science education programs must be accredited in order to receive federal funds. Current funding is insufficient for developing graduate training programs that cut across organizational, programmatic, and disciplinary boundaries and that can attract students in the life and physical sciences to pursue graduate studies in multidisciplinary fields critical to forensic science.
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From page 238... ...
Better connections must be established and promoted among experts in forensic science and legal scholars and practitioners. The fruits of any advances in the forensic science disciplines should be transferred directly to legal scholars and practitioners (including civil litigators, prosecutors, and criminal defense counsel)
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From page 239... ...
Recommendation 10: To attract students in the physical and life sciences to pursue gradu ate studies in multidisciplinary fields critical to forensic science practice, Congress should authorize and appropriate funds to the National Institute of Forensic Science (NIFS) to work with appro priate organizations and educational institutions to improve and develop graduate education programs designed to cut across orga nizational, programmatic, and disciplinary boundaries.
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