Department of Justice Quality Assurance Measures for Testimony and Reports Involving Forensic DNA Analysis

In August 2017, the Deputy Attorney General announced major quality assurance initiatives to advance the practice of forensic science. This session will provide an update on those projects and the Department’s three priorities on forensic science: (1) facilitating coordination and collaboration on forensic issues across the Department, the federal government, and with state, local, and tribal agencies; (2) increasing capacity of forensic services to ensure that evidence is promptly analyzed; and (3) improving the reliability of forensic science. During this presentation, the Department will provide an update on quality assurance measures designed to enhance the testimonial reliability of forensic DNA results and conclusions. Discussion will also include the purpose, scope, and implementation strategy for these initiatives.