The Future of Forensic Science: (Forensic Science in Focus)

Offers a diverse, interdisciplinary, and eye-opening view of the future direction of forensic science  This one-of-a-kind book is a collection of content from the Past and Current Presidents of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences—providing readers with all of their forensic science experience, knowledge, insight, and wisdom. It envisions where forensic science will be a decade from now and the impact of these emerging advances on the law (along with our place in it), emphasizing theoretical advances, innovative leads from the laboratory, and emerging technologies. Filled with information from some of the greatest forensic minds of their generation, The Future of Forensic Science covers all of the eleven sections that comprise the AAFS. It discusses new directions in forensic anthropology, and looks at the future of such disciplines as criminalistics, forensic engineering science, forensic psychiatry and behavioral science, forensic toxicology, and forensic document examination. It also touches on the current and future state of digital and multimedia sciences. Contains contributions from an eminent group of forensic science experts Presents a valuable repository of forensic science experience, knowledge, insight, and wisdom Offers an insightful interdisciplinary look at the future of forensic science and how it is changing forensic science for the better Timed to coincide with the NIST forensic science initiative and the OSAC process  The Future of Forensic Science is a must-have book for practicing forensic science professionals, academics, and advanced undergraduate and graduate students in forensic science.  This book is published as part of the AAFS series ‘Forensic Science in Focus’.

Table of Contents:
Notes on contributors xi Series preface xix Preface xxi 1 New directions in forensic anthropology 1 Douglas H. Ubelaker 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Detection and recovery 3 1.3 Determination of human status 4 1.4 Age at death 6 1.5 Time since death 7 1.6 Sex estimation 8 1.7 Ancestry 9 1.8 Living stature 9 1.9 Postmortem history 10 1.10 Positive identification 10 1.11 Foul play 11 1.12 Certification 12 1.13 Conclusion 13 Acknowledgments 14 References 14 2 Some thoughts on the future challenges to criminalistics 19 Ronald L. Singer 2.1 Introduction 19 2.2 Technological advances 20 2.2.1 Computers software and databases 20 2.2.2 DNA 21 2.2.3 Impression evidence 21 2.2.4 Instrumentation 22 2.3 Quality issues 23 2.3.1 NAS Report 23 2.4 Financial burdens 24 2.4.1 Seeking additional sources of grant funding 25 2.4.2 Staffing 25 2.4.3 Regionalization 26 2.4.4 Consolidation 26 2.4.5 Cost recovery 27 2.4.6 Privatization 28 Acknowledgments 29 References 29 3 Digital and multimedia sciences 31 Zeno Geradts 3.1 Introduction 31 3.2 History 33 3.3 Digital evidence 35 3.4 Damaged (mobile) devices 37 3.5 Multimedia 38 3.5.1 Deep learning (Hinton et al. 2006) 39 3.5.2 Camera identification 40 3.5.3 Other biometrics 41 3.6 Wearables and quantified self 41 3.7 Drones 41 3.8 Sensors 42 3.9 Geo satellites 42 3.10 Disasters/large scale incidents 42 3.11 Quality assurance 43 3.12 Challenges 43 References 44 4 A look at the future of forensic engineering science 49 Thomas L. Bohan “The future”: a preface 49 4.1 Junk law in the courtroom 50 4.2 Forensic engineering sciences and needs of the modern world at large 55 Acknowledgments 58 References 58 5 General section history: look at two disciplines and a review of standards certifications and education 61 John E. Gerns 5.1 Introduction 61 5.2 Forensic veterinary science 62 5.3 Certification: introduction 66 5.4 Certification—ABMDI 66 5.5 Standards evolution—OSAC 68 5.6 Standard evolution—ASB 69 5.7 Education accreditation 70 5.8 Summary 71 Acknowledgements 72 References 72 6 The future of forensic science: hot leads in contemporary forensic research: Jurisprudence 73 Carol Henderson 6.1 Daubert’s history 75 6.2 The Daubert test 77 6.3 Questions raised by Daubert 77 6.4 The NAS report 78 6.5 The national commission on forensic science and the organization of scientific area committees 80 6.6 NCFS 80 6.7 OSAC 82 6.8 The path forward for judicial and legal education in forensic science 84 Acknowledgments 87 References 87 7 Forensic odontology 91 Robert E. Barsley 7.1 Introduction 91 7.2 Roles of the forensic odontologist 92 7.3 Current considerations 94 7.4 Identification by teeth 96 7.5 Dental age assessment 104 7.6 Bitemarks 105 7.7 Abuse and negligence 107 7.8 Closing 107 8 Opportunities and problems faced in forensic pathology 109 Edmund R. Donoghue 8.1 Opportunity: radiology technology and computer imaging 109 8.2 Threat: dropping forensic pathology training requirement for anatomic pathology 110 8.3 Threat: maintenance of certification could see some forensic pathologists unemployed 111 8.4 Threat: standards are becoming increasingly detailed and rigorous 112 8.5 Threat: forensic: overregulation by federal government and other entities 112 8.6 Conclusion 112 9 The future of forensic psychiatry and behavioral science 113 Richard Rosner 9.1 The BRAIN initiative 114 9.2 The law and the human mind 114 9.3 Correlation is NOT causation 115 9.4 Theories of consciousness 115 9.5 The hard problem of consciousness 116 9.6 Consciousness and the failure of the physical sciences 117 9.7 The problem of free will 118 9.8 The bottom line 119 References 119 10 The future of forensic document examination 121 John L. Sang Linton A. Mohammed and Carl R. McClary 10.1 What is a forensic document examiner (FDE)? 121 10.2 Origins of questioned document examination 123 10.3 Albert S. Osborn and the formation of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners (ASQDE) 125 10.4 Ordway Hilton and the formation of American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 126 10.5 Questioned documents and the formation of the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) 128 10.6 Key issues 128 10.6.1 Certification 128 10.6.2 Standardization 129 10.7 Standards of practice 132 10.8 The Daubert standard and FDE 135 10.9 How FDE meets Daubert 137 10.9.1 Standards 137 10.9.2 Error rate/reliability 138 10.9.3 Testing of basic principles 139 10.9.4 Peer review and publication 142 10.9.5 General acceptance in the forensic community 143 10.10 Research in FDE 144 10.10.1 Neuroscience 144 10.10.2 Eye tracking 146 10.11 Signature and handwriting verification systems 148 10.12 Automation in the forensic examination of handwriting 148 10.13 Current research 149 10.14 Conclusion 150 10.14.1 The public and how law and forensics will be shaped 150 10.14.2 Research 151 10.14.3 Research in other document examinations 151 References 152 Further readings 155 Measurement science and standards in forensic handwriting analysis – U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Symposium June 2013 presentations 157 11 Past perspectives and future directions in forensic toxicology 159 Barry K. Logan F-ABFT 11.1 Our history 159 11.2 Reflections on factors affecting our future direction 163 11.3 Facing forward 167 11.3.1 Laboratory resources and the role of the Federal Government 168 11.3.2 Standards development and harmonization of best practices 168 11.3.3 Technology 169 11.3.4 Training research and interdisciplinary collaboration 171 11.4 Conclusion 173 Acknowledgments 174 Index 175

About the Author :
Edited by Daniel A. Martell, PhD, is a Past President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and Professor at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is Board-Certified in Forensic Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology; a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology; a Fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology; and a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. He is also a consultant for the United Nations International Criminal Court in The Hague.