Chapter 21 - Accreditations for forensic science laboratories

Abstract

Forensic science is a highly analytical field that is responsible for the scientific analysis of evidence encountered at a crime scene. Because forensic science provides hard proof of evidence that can be easily produced in a court of law, it is important that the results produced are highly reliable and valid. The protocols, policies, and any other documentation must therefore be carefully documented and recorded. The laboratory itself must have a proper organizational structure and all this is possible by following a set of international standards. In order to fulfill these conditions, accreditation of the laboratory is done in which an accreditation body assesses the laboratory for these conditions. The accreditation body is an independent third-party nonprofit organization responsible for these tasks that provides recognition and transparency to the technical and management aspects of an organization. In forensic science, evidence such as DNA, biological samples, and digital forensics are often encountered and analyzed. There are separate standards for the analysis of this evidence. In this chapter, a brief overview of the need for accreditation and its history are discussed. Apart from this, the process and standards used for accreditation in forensic science are also discussed.