| The need for sound, uniform investigative protocols and training for law enforcement and other public safety personnel has been demonstrated by a number of highly publicized cases. These cases have shown how faulty or careless evidence collection procedures or eyewitness interviewing techniques can lead to miscarriages of justice. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has taken a number of steps to make recommendations to the Attorney General and the criminal justice community on ways to improve the use and maximize the value of evidence in the criminal justice system. NIJ, in cooperation with numerous national organizations and agencies, has organized several panels of criminal justice practitioners and experts to do this work. The National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence has made recommendations in the areas of postconviction DNA testing, laboratory funding, and crime scene DNA evidence collection. Technical Working Groups for Eyewitness Evidence, Crime Scene Investigation, Fire/Arson Scene Investigation, Bombing Scene Investigation, and Digital Evidence—each consisting of a geographical distribution of law enforcement investigators, prosecutors, defense lawyers, forensic scientists, and researchers—have developed or are in the process of developing recommended minimum investigative practices in these areas. |
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