Senior forensic scientists in New South Wales, Australia, are warning that the drastic cuts to the forensic science workforce in the cash-strapped state, will threaten justice. The workforce is being cut by almost a quarter, with police being asked to do primary collection of potential DNA. The State already has a significant backlog of cases where evidence remains to be tested. Claude Roux warns that with police submitting samples for testing, DNA may lose its context - a vital element in correctly interpreting DNA. Read more about the cuts here…
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Mark Godsey
Daniel P. & Judith L. Carmichael Professor of Law, University of Cincinnati College of Law; Director, Center for the Global Study of Wrongful Conviction; Director, Rosenthal Institute for Justice/Ohio Innocence Project | Email | ProfileContributing Editors
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As I see it, the problem is a two way street.
An innocent person could be convicted;
A guilty person could escape detection entirely.
Were I an LEO, I would not want the responsibility of collecting DNA that may convict or acquit a defendant unless I were adequately trained to do so.