Enhancing the Scientific Validity of Methodological Support in Forensic Science: An Important International Trend

Abstract

One of the key requirements of modern-day forensic practice is to enforce the principle of scientific validity of applied methods. Current practices show that the issues of scientific validity of forensic methodologies and methodological validation of their application in forensic settings lend themselves to various semantic, operational, and legal interpretations. Drawing from the special report «Forensic Science in the Criminal Courts: Ensuring Scientific Validity of Feature-Comparison Methods», prepared by the U.S. President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and the Proceedings of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences 69th Annual Scientific Meeting, the authors examine the scope for resolving the most important methodological limitations in the forensic sciences. This includes achieving clarity of scientific standards relating to the validity and reliability of forensic methods, as well as ensuring objective evaluation of specific analytical techniques in terms of their scientific validity and reliability. Conclusions made by foreign scientists are analyzed in terms of their relevance for the future development of the Russian forensic science legislation and harmonization of forensic science collaboration within the Eurasian Economic Union.

Keywords

• судебная экспертиза
• методическое обеспечение
• научная обоснованность
• судебно-экспертные ошибки
• стандартизация