Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward — Or Has It Been a Path Misplace

Crime laboratory scandals have arisen over and over again across the country. A 2009 report by the National Academy of Sciences discussed the flaws in the forensic science system and offered solutions. However, less progress has been made than the criminal defense bar would have hoped. The changes recommended by NAS to overhaul the current structure provide a road map for positive reform, but there has been pushback from prosecutors and the forensic science community. The report created a window of opportunity for criminal defense attorneys to demand meaningful reform. This momentum must not be lost, and defense attorneys must ensure that junk science is not grandfathered into the judicial system.