ACCOUNTABILITY
Virtually every hospital and clinic in the United States has to be accredited by a responsible agency. Environmental and pharmaceutical companies, among others, also have accreditation procedures. Thus, it might come as a surprise to many people to find out that there is no mandatory accreditation process for the nation’s forensic science laboratories. Considering the impact that forensic science can have on trials, this situation is disturbing. Arguably, the major reason for this state of affairs is that forensic science laboratories historically have arisen within police agencies whose focus is not science. Movements in the United States and worldwide to accredit forensic science laboratories have had some success: some states make it mandatory for forensic laboratories to be accredited, but many (over 80%) seek accreditation voluntarily. In the United States, the standard for accreditation is ISO 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. The accreditation process is rigorous and involves a self-study process, an extensive checklist of requirements, and an on-site evaluation by trained members of the accrediting board. It should be stressed that accreditation does not directly address the competence of the individual forensic scientists who work at the laboratory. It does mean that the laboratory meets certain minimum criteria for the physical plant (facilities, heating–cooling, etc.), security, training, equip ment, quality assurance and control, and other essential features. Reaccreditation is required every 5 years to maintain the laboratory’s status. Several accrediting vendors provide this service. Standard methods play a major role in helping laboratories become accredited. The American Society for Testing and Materials, International (ASTM), publishes voluntary consensus standards for a wide variety of sciences, including forensic science (Committee E30, Volume 14.02). They are voluntary because individuals and agencies independently choose to adhere to them. The standards are written through a consensus process, meaning that everyone on the subcommittee, committee, and the society has had a chance to read, comment, and vote on the standard.
