title: The interface between forensic science and technology: how technology could cause a paradigm shift in the role of forensic institutes in the criminal justice system.
abstract: In this paper, the importance of modern technology in forensic investigations is discussed. Recent technological developments are creating new possibilities to perform robust scientific measurements and studies outside the controlled laboratory environment. The benefits of real-time, on-site forensic investigations are manifold and such technology has the potential to strongly increase the speed and efficacy of the criminal justice system. However, such benefits are only realized when quality can be guaranteed at all times and findings can be used as forensic evidence in court. At the Netherlands Forensic Institute, innovation efforts are currently undertaken to develop integrated forensic platform solutions that allow for the forensic investigation of human biological traces, the chemical identification of illicit drugs and the study of large amounts of digital evidence. These platforms enable field investigations, yield robust and validated evidence and allow for forensic intelligence and targeted use of expert capacity at the forensic institutes. This technological revolution in forensic science could ultimately lead to a paradigm shift in which a new role of the forensic expert emerges as developer and custodian of integrated forensic platforms.
authors.affiliation: WISK department, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ministry of Security and Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ate
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kloosterman
authors.affiliation: Forensic Science Department, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Leeuwenburg, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mapes
authors.affiliation: Department of Digital Technology and Biometrics, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ministry of Security and Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Zeno
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Geradts
authors.affiliation: Department of Digital Technology and Biometrics, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ministry of Security and Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands Informatics Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Eijk
authors.affiliation: WISK department, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ministry of Security and Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koper
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Chemical Investigations, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ministry of Security and Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jorrit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biological Traces, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ministry of Security and Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verheij
authors.affiliation: Account Management, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ministry of Security and Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Steen
authors.affiliation: WISK department, Netherlands Forensic Institute, Ministry of Security and Justice, The Hague, The Netherlands van't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands CLHC, Amsterdam Center for Forensic Science and Medicine, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands a.van.asten@nfi.minvenj.nl.
authors.forename: Arian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Asten
mesh_terms: D044707:Forensic Sciences / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D007603:Jurisprudence; D013672:Technology / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*
keywords: digital forensic evidence; forensic DNA analysis; forensic science; illicit drugs; integrated forensic platform; technology