Developing the Academic Programs in Forensic Sciences: A Consistent Need to Achieve Professionalism in Forensic Work and to Serve the Criminal Justice
Article content
Abstract
As a result of the rapid global challenges related to the nature of the crime over the past two decades and the criminal justice systems’ need for forensic graduates and practitioners who possess the necessary knowledge, skills, and capabilities and demonstrate high levels of professionalism, it is now more essential than ever to truly invest developing the education and training systems in the field of criminal justice and forensic sciences. This development should include the academic programs, the curricula, the pedagogical approaches, the assessment methods, and the practice-based facilities available, the research environment, and the partnerships in place between the educational institutions and the industry stakeholders (e.g., forensic laboratories, police departments, forensic science centers, research institutes, etc.).
This study provides a comprehensive worldwide review of forensic educational approaches and accreditation programs/frameworks. The aim of such a review is to prompt Arab forensic academic institutions to engage into a deeper educational and curricular conversation about how to continuously develop, review, and advance their academic and training programs to meet the needs of the forensic science community and their local judicial system.
This review strongly argues for creating an Arab forensic accrediting body that can
work closely with the various forensic academic and training institutions across the Arab
world on creating a set of standards and educational frameworks that are benchmarked
against international standards while maintaining the local contexts in each Arab country.
The aim of these standards and educational frameworks is to ensure consistency among the Arab countries in terms of program and course learning objectives, curricula, teaching methods, and assessment practices in a manner that addresses the required practical forensic skills, capabilities, and competencies; emphasizes workplace best practices; and prompts continuous training, research and development, and sustainable growth for both the forensic practitioners and forensic centers and laboratories.
Keywords
Forensic Science, Academic Programs, Forensic Aptitude Test(FSAT),, Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission(FEPAC)
Downloads
References
Ribaux O, Walsh SJ, Margot P. The contribution of forensic science to crime analysis and investigation: forensic intelligence. Forensic science international. 2006;156(2-3):171-81.
Mennell J. The future of forensic and crime scene science: Part II. A UK perspective on forensic science education. Forensic science international. 2006;157:S13-S20.
Garrett BL, Gardner BO, Murphy E, Grimes P. Judges and forensic science education: A national survey. Forensic Science International. 2021;321:110714.
Technical Working Group for Education and Training in Forensic Science: A Guide for Forensic Science Laboratories, Educational Institutions, and Students: US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice; 2004.
Roux C, Crispino F, Ribaux O. From forensics to forensic science. Current Issues in Criminal Justice. 2012;24(1):7-24.
Jackson GP. The status of forensic science degree programs in the United States. Forensic Science Policy and Management. 2009;1(1):2-9.
Quarino L, Brettell TA. Current issues in forensic science higher education. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry. 2009;394(8):1987-93.
Samarji A. Forensic science education: inquiry into current tertiary forensic science courses. Forensic Science Policy & Management: An International Journal. 2012;3(1):24-36.
Gialamas DM. A Review and Commentary on the Model Forensic Science Laboratory. Forensic Science Policy & Management: An International Journal. 2013;4(1-2):29-37.
Rushton CG. A Study of the FEPAC Accredited Graduate Forensic Science Programs’ Curricula. 2016.
Peterson J, Hickman M. Forensic science practice in the united states. The Global Practice of Forensic Science: Wiley Online Library; 2015. p. 301-34.
Kobus H, Liddy M. University forensic science programs: a student attraction strategy or a value-adding partnership with industry? Forensic Science Policy and Management. 2009;1(3):125-9.
Houck MM. Professional issues in forensic science: Academic Press; 2015.
Jersey SoN. New Jersey Students Learning Standards. In: Education Do, editor. https://www.nj.gov/education/cccs/2020/2020.
Council NR. A Framework for K-12 Science Education:Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. : The National Academies Press. ; 2012.
NGSS. Forensic Science Curriculum with NGSS and NJSLS In: Standards NGS, editor. 2021.
Wilson-Wilde L. The State of Forensic Science in Australia and New Zealand. Forensic Science Review. 2021;33(1):2-7.
Baylor M. Professional Review and Commentary a. Forensic Science Review. 2021;33(1):1-36.
AAFS. Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC): ACCREDITATION STANDARDS. In: Sciences AAFS, editor. Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC):2013.
AAFS. Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC): Accreditation Standards. 2007.
Hamnett HJ, McKie AE. Developing a procedure for learning and assessing peer review in a forensic science programme. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 2019;44(5):787-98.
Accreditation Decisions History of FORENSIC SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ACCREDITATION COMMISSION FEPAC [Internet]. Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commision. 2021. Available from: https://www.fepac-edu.org/accredited-universities.
Presley LA, Haas M, Quarino L. The forensic science assessment test (FSAT): A potential tool for the academic assessment of forensic science programs. Forensic Science Policy and Management. 2009;1(2):74-84.
Article details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
You must read and accept the copyright terms and conditions(click here for copyright terms).