ABSTRACT

The frequency of misconduct in forensic science is low compared to many other professional cultures, yet the impact is much greater. Forensic science is a high-stakes profession that requires diligence and integrity from the initial arrival at a crime scene, to laboratory analysis, and through the court testimony. The Austin Police Crime Laboratory halted DNA evidence analysis due to a lack of proper training for scientists in the wake of a state audit in June 2016. Case samples are being outsourced to private laboratories or to the Texas Department of Public Safety for analysis. Nika Larsen was a forensic scientist and crime scene investigator for the Oregon State Police Crime Laboratory convicted of stealing drugs from the laboratory. Various types of pattern evidence are under increased scrutiny in the forensic science community. Bite mark evidence is something that with the increased experience of examiners has been shown to be less reliable evidence than previously thought.