Forensic science and forensic investigative techniques are an essential part of modern democratic policing, representing the most objective method law enforcement has to establish the facts of a criminal case.
Integrating forensic investigative methods into the host country’s criminal justice system demonstrates both the host country’s desire to implement rule of law programs, and to protect the human rights of its citizens though the use of investigative techniques that are based upon objective scientific methods, rather than subjective witness statements or coerced confessions. Four components are used to integrate the use of forensic science into a host country’s criminal justice system. These developmental components include:
Assessment, Evaluation and Program Planning: The goal of this component is to assess, continually evaluate and identify the needs of the host country’s forensic laboratory system and recommend specific methods of assistance.
Management Development: The goal is to assist the host country’s forensic system in developing the forensic management systems necessary to provide reliable information to the host country’s criminal justice system.
Infrastructure Development: The goal is to assist the host country’s forensic system in developing the forensic infrastructure necessary to provide reliable information to the host country’s criminal justice system.
Technical Development: The goal is to assist host country in developing the specific forensic disciplines, to a sustainable level, that would benefit the host government.