eCite Digital Repository
The Effectiveness of Forensic Science in Criminal Investigations
Citation
Julian, RD and Kelty, SF, The Effectiveness of Forensic Science in Criminal Investigations, Criminal Investigation Workshop, 10 & 11 December 2009, Canberra, pp. 1-21. (2009) [Non Refereed Conference Paper]
Abstract
It is always desirable to maximise the effectiveness and
efficiency of service delivery. This is particularly so for forensic
science as the number of criminal incidents investigated greatly
exceeds the available resources that can be applied. While some
work has been done which has sought to evaluate the
effectiveness of forensic services and identify ways to improve its
impact, there is still no readily available methodology or
mechanism for evaluating the final impacts of forensic services on
police investigations. To a large extent the policing and forensic
science community has been ‘flying blind’ in terms of the actual
impact of its work. Investments of government funds are based on
the best sources of information known at the time and are often
based on number of analyses that will or can be performed
rather than on the maximum effectiveness and efficiencies of the
various forensic disciplines. This is a problem that has been
identified, and is only just beginning to be explored, in the
international context. This paper will examine this problem, review
current knowledge internationally on the effectiveness of forensic
services and introduce a new collaborative research project that
aims to establish an evidence-based model of the key variables
that affect forensic science’s impact upon the investigation of
crime for use by Australian police agencies and governments in
pursuit of optimal evidence-based policies and practice. With the
onset of new technologies and the time and cost involved in their
implementation it is important that the best strategic decisions are
made in criminal investigations. The use of forensic science as an
intelligence tool, as well as an investigative tool, will be explored
in this context.
Item Details
Item Type: | Non Refereed Conference Paper |
---|---|
Research Division: | Human Society |
Research Group: | Criminology |
Research Field: | Police administration, procedures and practice |
Objective Division: | Law, Politics and Community Services |
Objective Group: | Justice and the law |
Objective Field: | Law enforcement |
UTAS Author: | Julian, RD (Professor Roberta Julian) |
UTAS Author: | Kelty, SF (Dr Sally Kelty) |
ID Code: | 73099 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Deposited By: | Government |
Deposited On: | 2011-09-13 |
Last Modified: | 2011-09-13 |
Downloads: | 0 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page