A team headed by UCLA faculty is conducting research on the accuracy of fingerprint analysis techniques, thanks to a grant from the National Institute of Justice.
The project’s start comes roughly one year after a National Academy of Sciences report that found inadequate scientific assessment of forensic accuracy in the U.S., according to a university statement.
“(The report) emphasized that basic research in forensics hasn’t taken place,” said law professor and project leader Jennifer Mnookin. Mnookin added that the $866,764 project will be underway shortly.
Slated to finish in summer 2012, the effort aims to establish a method for quantifying the difficulty of fingerprint identification tasks and to create a classification system that will effectively predict the error rate of a specific fingerprint analysis task based on its complexity, Mnookin said.
According to Mnookin, the project’s findings could have a significant effect in the courtroom and beyond.
“Our results might affect how forensic scientists go about their business,” Mnookin said. “Right now they use the same procedures for all fingerprints, but (in the future) maybe they’ll use a different procedure for harder tasks.”
Along with Mnookin, law professor Jerry Kang recently founded the UCLA School of Law’s Program on Understanding Law, Science and Evidence. The program is hosting a conference entitled “Forensic Science: A Blueprint for the Future” today at the UCLA School of Law.
The symposium will bring together forensic experts and scholars to facilitate a dialogue about the current system’s strengths and shortcomings as well as to create a plan for the field’s future, according to a university statement.
“The goal of PULSE’s inaugural conference is to focus on what’s happened since the (national) report came out,” Kang said. “The report made it clear that something needs to be done.”
Though not directly involved with the grant-funded research project, Kang said he advocates change in the forensics realm and foresees success for the UCLA initiative.
“We recognize the value and importance of a research culture within forensic science, and there is a commitment to better justice by using better science,” Kang said.