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Where will all the forensic scientists go? (This editorial is reprinted from the Oct./Dec. 1997 issue of Forensic Science Society. Thanks to Bill Corson N.C.I.S. for the submitting it.) Utopia—that perfect society in which everything is optimized to make life agreeable to its citizens, where there are no failures and no deviance from accepted behaviors, where life forever pleasant and all are satisfied. Is this what we all strive for, a life with no changes or repercussions from decision making? Is this the future for mankind? If it is, there is unlikely to be a place for forensic scientists or forensic science, but one only has to read, look or listen to the media to become more aware that our society is far from meeting its Utopia. It is interesting, however, for us as forensic scientists to speculate on what the future holds. It probably was always so but recent international conversations with many involved in the forensic sciences always identify the major problem as one of resourcing forensic science. As the science develops so equipment becomes more expensive, but even more expensive is that of staffing costs. Additionally, there is a growing realization amongst others in the legal process that forensic science can dramatically influence the role of the investigator as well as that of the lawyer and this realization can exhaust even the most well provided for and economically managed forensic science organization. Investigators and lawyers are also experiencing budgetary restriction, so how is the use of forensic science to be increased and its implementation maximized? What are the developments in the sciences which lead us to believe that forensic science has a future? One of the most important developments in recent years has been in personal identification through fingermarks and DNA. Already, for fingermarks we have seen the introduction of automated fingerprint recognition (AFR) systems and recently the at--scene identification of a fingermark through on--site computer linkage with the centralized database has occurred. It can be expected that at--scene identification will become routine and with satellite linkage even extend to countries and subjects in distant lands. But what of DNA? Many countries are generating their own databases for DNA and it is to be hoped that such databases will become compatible between countries for it is only by this means that we will maximize our use of DNA technology. However, a major step forward will undoubtedly arise when we are in a position to abandon gel--based DNA profiling in favour of silica chip technology. Already we see progress in looking for single point mutations in DNA by the use of DNA strands immobilized onto the microchip. From these small beginnings we shall see hand held microchip--based devices placed in the hands of the crime scene officer which will have the capability of relaying the scene DNA profile to the data bank for comparison purposes. The data bank then becomes a primary function of the forensic science laboratory but as robotization advances, this role will be managed by a small number of technicians. Footwear marks examination is likely to undergo a similar evolution. These have now been recognized as of prime evidential value and a number of computer based systems have been developed which will match a print with a shoe type. As yet such systems will not directly compare a mark with a specific shoe but the knowledge of the footwear comparison expert must be capable of being rationalized in expert systems to permit such computer comparisons to be made. With the advent of microcolumns being etched onto microchips the miniaturization of gas chromatographic and capillary electrophoretic systems seems to be assured as crime scene instruments, especially when new detector systems for drugs, fire accelerants and explosives have been developed. This means that few forensic scientists will be required in the laboratories—only technicians. One can predict that the future role of the forensic scientist will be as a crime scene officer, or is there some other way our profession will develop?
This article was printed in “THE PRINT” |