According to a report titled, "Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward," from the [U.S.] National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council (Washington DC, USA), forensic science in the U.S. needs to be overhauled.

The report recommends that the federal government create the [U.S.] National Institute of Forensic Science (NIFS). The Institute would be empowered to set and enforce best practices for the disparate forensic fields, accredit forensic laboratories, certify forensic scientists, and promote scholarly and peer-reviewed research into perfecting forensic practices and technologies.
Although great advances have been made in many areas of forensic science, such as DNA technology, the report found that too many people have been wrongly convicted of crimes they did not commit because of "faulty forensic analyses." These convictions were often based on overvalued expert testimony and imprecise testing and analysis. Although some forensic methods are more accurate than others, such as fingerprinting analysis versus bite mark analysis, there is still much variation between and within fields.

According to the report, nuclear DNA analysis is the only reliable forensic test. Aside from that, "no forensic method has been rigorously shown to have the capacity to consistently, and with a high degree of certainty, demonstrate a connection between evidence and a specific individual or source."

From1989 to 2008, 232 people were released from prison due to postconviction DNA testing in the framework of the "Innocence Project" (Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University, New York, USA), which uses DNA testing to free prisoners wrongly convicted of a crime. Seventeen of those released were on death row.

Peter Neufeld, codirector of the "Innocence Project," said, "This unprecedented report shows that many forensic techniques are relied on in courtrooms every day lack scientific support. This report is a major breakthrough toward ensuring that so-called scientific evidence in criminal cases is solid, validated and reliable."

Related Links:
National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council
Report: Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward
Innocence Project