Together informing justice: 23rd International ANZFSS Symposium on the Forensic Sciences

This issue of the Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences (AJFS) is a special issue of papers based on Plenary presentations at the September 2016, 23rd International Symposium on the Forensic Sciences held in Auckland, New Zealand, under the auspices of the Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (ANZFSS). With an overall theme on this occasion of ‘InForming justice’ the speakers represented the broad canvas of the forensic sciences, covering the law, medicine and science. Ribaux and co-authors discuss how to express the value of forensic science in policing, whilst Roberts addresses how to make forensic science a better fit for the justice system. Current hot topics for the forensic sciences are addressed by Dror and by Langenburg, looking at aspects of decision-making and contextual bias. Tamatea discusses the issues and challenges for forensic and correctional psychologists, and Tomkins explores whether there is a better way to deal with forensic science in the courtroom.

Of course it takes some time from the development and delivery of these presentations to a final published work, during which time, of course, the world does not stand still. This is certainly the case with the final paper, from John Butler, describing recent activities in the United States involving the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) and associated scientific area committees. The NCFS was tasked with providing advice and recommendations to the Attorney General on (1) strengthening the reliability and usefulness of the forensic sciences (including medico-legal death investigation); (2) enhancing quality assurance and quality control in forensic science laboratories and units; (3) identifying and recommending guidance and protocols for evidence seizure, testing, analysis, and reporting by forensic laboratories and units; and (4) identifying and assessing other needs of the forensic science communities to strengthen their disciplines and meet the increasing demands generated by the criminal and civil justice systems at all levels of government ¹.

By April 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions had announced the end of the NCFS, suspended an expanded review of FBI testimony across several techniques that have been the subject of critical comment in the 2016 President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report ² and flagged that ‘A path to meet needs of overburdened crime labs will be set by a yet-be-named senior forensic adviser and an internal department crime task force’ ³. A few days later the US department of Justice announced a public comment period on advancing forensic science stating that ‘the NCFS has met its initial mandate, and in the light of the upcoming expiration of its charter, the department is now considering appropriate next steps’. In seeking public comments, commentators were requested to identify proposals to (1) improve the underlying science and validity of forensic evidence; (2) improve the operational management systems of forensic science providers; and (3) improve the understanding of forensic science by legal practitioners ¹.

These three aims appear to be more limited in scope than the mandate of the NCFS but time alone will tell if this is the intent or simply a more economical use of words.

As the theme of the 2018 24th ANZFSS International Symposium is ‘Forensic Science Without Borders’ it will be interesting to see the degree of international impact of events as they continue to unfold in the USA on the forensic scene in our borderless world.

By the time this editorial appears in hard copy it will be around a year out from the 2018 ANZFSS symposium, which will be held between 9–13 September in Perth, Australia. Plenty of time for budding commentators to garner their thoughts and contribute to the ANZFSS symposium on this or any other burning issue.

James Robertson
Editor, AJFS
University of Canberra
[email protected]