Washington Ins & Outs: Kerr Heads FBI Crime Lab; O'Toole and Alm Leave DOE

This article discusses crime fighting sensors that are being designed to identify ceramic weapons, plastic explosives, chemical weapons, and organic materials. They are also being developed to help protect citizens from terrorism and aid police in solving crimes. One organization leading the development of innovative antiterrorism sensing technologies is Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M. Among Sandia’s projects is an explosives-detection portal, designed for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The portal is intended to help prevent airliner hijackings and bombings by identifying passengers, airport visitors, and employees who have been recently working with any of a wide variety of explosive chemicals. Upcoming tests with the Albuquerque Police Department’s crime lab are designed to help work out any bugs in the technique, define what kinds of evidence it can help find, and determine whether the system will be practical as a tool for law enforcement. Its most promising features are its portability and the fact that it does not contaminate evidence.

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Chemistry in the crime lab. A forensic science course

Journal of Chemical Education ◽

10.1021/ed054p38 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 38 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

M. J. Clark ◽

J. F. Keegel

Keyword(s):

Forensic Science ◽

Crime Lab

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Organization economics explains many forensic science errors

Journal of Institutional Economics ◽

10.1017/s1744137409990245 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 71-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

ROGER KOPPL

Keyword(s):

Law Enforcement ◽

Forensic Science ◽

Organization Theory ◽

Law And Economics ◽

Law Enforcement Agencies ◽

Wrongful Convictions ◽

Crime Lab ◽

Organizational Features

Abstract:Judge Posner (2010) has identified an important lacuna in law and economics, namely a tendency to ignore organization theory. I will apply the tools of organization theory to an area almost completely neglected in law and economics, forensic science. Posner points us to tools we should make use of; I am pointing to an application we have neglected. Forensic science today is characterized by a twofold monopoly. First, evidence is typically examined by one crime lab only. Second, that same lab will normally be the only one to offer an interpretation of the results of the examination it performs. Crime labs today are typically organized under law enforcement agencies, which may create conscious and unconscious biases in favor of police and prosecution. These organizational features of forensic science today encourage errors and wrongful convictions.

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