NCJ Number
243921
Journal
THE POLICE CHIEF Volume: 80 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2013 Pages: 1-69
Editor(s)
Michael Rizzo,
Kevin Lothridge,
William Cote,
Jamie Fox,
Christine Vivian
Date Published
September 2013
Length
69 pages
Annotation
Eight feature articles in this issue focus on police chiefs' roles in the management of the forensic-science aspects of policing operations.
Abstract
"Product Feature: Forensics that the trend driving much of the innovation in investigative and forensic tools is to make it fast, make it inexpensive, and keep it simple." Examples are provided of this trend in specific tools available for law enforcement operations. "The Changing Face of Forensic Science: What Police Chiefs Need To Know About National Forensic Science Initiatives" presents the content and related activities of the National Academy of Sciences Report on Forensic Science, relevant Federal legislation, White House interagency working groups, and the National Commission on Forensic Science. The article concludes with a discussion of what law enforcement executives should expect and do next to prepare staff for trends in the forensic sciences. "Rethinking the Ownership of Crime Labs: No Matter Who Is in Charge, Jurisdictional Commitment Is Key" calls on police administrators to rethink what it means to manage today's crime laboratories, which are beholden to the standards and codes of conduct of a greater scientific community. "Are You running a Quality Forensic Science Operation? What Chiefs Need to Know about QA and Accreditation" argues that if quality assurance programs, including accreditation, are not implemented in forensic science operations, law enforcement as a whole will be diminished. "Video Evidence Is Everywhere: Training and Respect Are Needed" emphasizes the importance of training officers and investigators in handling video evidence. The content of other articles are reflected in their titles: "Communication, context, and Crime Scenes: Enhancing Opportunities to Identify and Collect Touch DNA Evidence;" "No Rape Case Goes Unanalyzed: A Rapid Approach to Sexual Assault Evidence;" and "The Synthetic Drug Craze. 5 columns and current information related to six of the magazine's departments