Assignment:
According to the National Academy of Sciences 2009 report on improving the quality of forensic science in the United States, all forensic laboratories should be required to be accredited. After the report was issued, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates announced new policies to acquire accreditation for forensic science laboratories. Please read the National Academy of Sciences 2009 report as well as the article, Accreditation in Forensic Science, and answer the following questions:
1. What role does the forensic laboratory play in crime scene investigation?
2. What is the difference between accreditation and certification?
3. What is the role of each (accreditation and certification) in forensic laboratories and crime scene investigation?
Based on your research into this issue, do you agree with the NAS (2009) and The Police Chief magazine position on mandatory forensic laboratory accreditation? Why or why not? Be sure to support your position with credible, scholarly evidence.