Past Proceedings: 1999 - 2001
NIJ hosted the National Conference on Science and the Law to improve scientists', attorneys', and judges' understanding of the use of scientific evidence in court and the scientific principles underlying this evidence.
2001 and 2002 National Conference on Science and the Law: Summary of Proceedings
The 2001 conference themes included how scientists can convey complex information to juries, standards for collecting and managing digital evidence, use of law enforcement personnel as expert witnesses, and the roles of court-appointed expert witnesses. The 2002 conference addressed emerging trends in scientific evidence, including new issues in forensic DNA, ethical issues facing forensic scientists, how attorneys can interpret scientific reports, genetic research, scientists' roles in counterterrorism, digital evidence, and the reliability of fingerprint evidence. 2001 Program Abstracts (pdf, 17 pages)
2000 National Conference on Science and the Law: Summary of Proceedings
Conference speakers explored emerging areas and changing standards of admissibility; concerns surrounding risk assessment and predictions of dangerousness; expert testimony and the role of the judge, jurors, and attorneys; DNA evidence as it is used now and how it may be used in the future; and changes in the treatment of evidence admitted to the court, illustrated through discussions of the Clutter murder case of the 1960s. 2000 Program Abstracts (pdf, 31 pages)
1999 National Conference on Science and the Law Proceedings: Transcript of Proceedings
From crime scene to crime lab to criminal prosecution and defense, the disciplines of science and law continually interact through a shared way of hypothetical thinking, yet this relationship tends to be uneasy. This NIJ Research Forum examines the partnership of science and law from the perspectives of academics, attorneys, judges, and scientists through presentations delivered at an April 1999 conference. Participants discussed the perceived "disconnect" between science and law, problems that can arise when the two converge in the courtroom, and ways to promote greater understanding and appreciation of what both disciplines seek to achieve.