Overview
Heretofore the issue of quality in forensic science is approached through a quality management policy whose tenets are ruled by market forces. Despite some obvious advantages of standardization of methods allowing interlaboratory comparisons and implementation of databases, this approach suffers from a serious lack of consideration for forensic science as a science. A critical study of its principles and foundations, which constitutes its culture, enables to consider the matter of scientific quality through a new dimension. A better understanding of what pertains to forensic science ensures a better application and improves elementary actions within the investigative and intelligence processes as well as the judicial process. This leads to focus the attention on the core of the subject matter: the physical remnants of the criminal activity, namely, the traces that produce information in understanding this activity. Adapting practices to the detection and recognition of...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Recommended Reading and References
Barnett P (2000) The role of forensic science professional organisations in the new millennium of accreditation, certification, registration and standardization. Sci Justice 40(2):138–142
Bonfantini MA, Proni G (1988) To guess or not to guess? In: Dupin, Holmes, Peirce the sign of three. First Midland book edition. Bloomington, Indiana University Press
Brown S, Willis SM (2009) Complexity in forensic science. Forensic Sci Policy Manag: An Int J 1(4):192–198
Cook R, Evett IW, Jackson G, Jones PJ, Lambert JA (1999) Case pre-assessment and review in a two-way transfer case. Sci Justice 39(2):103–111
Crispino F, Ribaux O, Houck MM, Margot P (2011) Forensic science—a true science? Aust J Forensic Sci 43(2):157–176
DeForest PR (1997) The 90th semi-annual seminar of the California association of criminalists. Recapturing the essence of criminalistics. Science & Justice, 39(3):196–208
Dulong R (2004) La rationalité spécifique de la police technique. Rev Intern Crim Pol Techn Sci 3:259–278
Ginzburg C (1989) Traces. Racines d’un paradigme indiciaire. In: Mythes, emblèmes, traces. Morphologie et histoire. Flammarion, Paris, pp. 139–180
Girod A, Champod C, Ribaux O (2008) Traces de souliers. Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes, Lausanne
Gross H (1899) Manuel pratique d’instruction judiciaire à l’usage des procureurs et des juges d’instruction. Vol tome 1. Marchal & Billard, Paris
Inman K, Rudin N (2000) Principles and practice of criminalistics: the profession of forensic science. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton
Jackson G, Jones S, Booth G, Champod C, Evett IW (2006) The nature of forensic science opinion—a possible framework to guide thinking and practice in investigations and in court proceedings. Sci Justice 46(1):33–44
Julian RD, Kelty SF, Roux C, Woodman P, Robertson J, Davey A, Hayes R, Margot P, Ross A, Sibly H, White R (2011) What is the value of forensic science? An overview of the effectiveness of forensic science in the Australian criminal justice system project. Aust J Forensic Sci 43(4):217–229
Kind SS (1987) The scientific investigation of crime. Forensic Science Society, Harrogate
Kirk PL (1963) The ontogeny of criminalistics. J Crim Law, Criminol Police Sci 54(2):235–238
Kirk PL (1974) Crime investigation, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York
Lawless C (2011) The contested shaping of neoliberal forensic science. Br J Criminol 51:671–689
Le Grand Larousse Universel (1995) Paris, Larousse
Locard E (1920) L’enquête criminelle et les méthodes scientifiques. E. Flammarion, Paris
Margot P (2011a) Forensic science on trial—what is the law of the land? Aust J Forensic Sci 2–3:89–103
Philip’s (2008) Culture, World encyclopedia. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. University of Lausanne. 14 March 2012. http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t142.e2999
Ribaux O, Margot P (2008) La trace matérielle, vecteur d’information au service du renseignement. In: Cusson M, Dupont B, Lemieux F (eds) Traité de sécurité intérieure. Presses Polytechniques et Universitaires Romandes, Lausanne, pp 300–321
Ribaux O, Baylon A, Roux C, Delémont O, Lock E, Zingg C, Margot P (2010) Intelligence-led crime scene processing. Part I: forensic intelligence. Forensic Sci Int 195(1–3):10–16
Sebeok TA, Bouissac P, Umberto E, Pelc J, Posner R, Rey A, Shukman A (eds) (1986) Encyclopedic dictionary of semiotics (approaches to semiotics), vol. 2. Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin
Spillman L (2007) Culture. Blackwell encyclopedia of sociology. Blackwell Reference Online. http://www.blackwellreference.com/subscriber/tocnode?id=g9781405124331_chunk_g97814051243319_ss1-183, last visited 14th March 2012
Twining W (2006) Rethinking evidence. Exploratory essays, 2nd edn. University College London, UK, Law in Context
Willis SM (2009) Forensic science, ethics and criminal justice. In: Fraser J, Williams R (eds) Handbook of forensic science. Willan Publishing Ltd, Cullompton
Wilson DB, Weisburd D, McClure D (2011) Use of DNA testing in police investigative work for increasing offender identification, arrest, conviction and case clearance. Rapport 7. Campbell Syst Rev
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this entry
Cite this entry
Hazard, Đ., Margot, P. (2014). Forensic Science Culture. In: Bruinsma, G., Weisburd, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5690-2_148
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5690-2_148
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5689-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5690-2
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law