Forensic Science and Quality Management: Addressing the Era of Standardization in Challenging Environments

"The era of standardization of forensic sciences brings with it the standardization of its disciplines and the guarantee of reliability of its results, which would allow a common language in a globalized world. Efforts have been focused on identifying and developing standardized processes and procedures, as well as rigorously controlling them to guarantee the reliability of the results obtained through the reproducibility, repeatability, consistency and traceability of the results obtained. However, it is clear that without the essential ongoing training and certification of the professional and a relevant support system based on quality management, forensic results can be misused or misinterpreted by investigators, leading to possible difficulties and make serious mistakes. To mitigate this problem, various efforts have emerged in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, which currently lead interesting models of standardization processes in the World; as well as multilateral understanding agreements between regional networks such as the so-called International Forensic Strategic Alliance (IFSA) that promotes strategic collaboration among the global forensic community to regulate forensic procedures. Regarding these important efforts, which demonstrate an era of standardization of forensic sciences in developed countries with stable economies and significant investment in scientific research, the question arises: How can these rigors be applied or adapted in cultural, social and political settings? complex in developing countries and weak economies? Where violence against the living and the dead is an especially critical, daily, overwhelming issue, therefore, forensic sciences have a relevant role in the justice system and humanitarian situations. Complex contexts where it is necessary to investigate various processes of violent death caused by armed conflicts, drug trafficking, human trafficking, organized crime or other situations of violence that involve, but are not limited to, cases of sexual and gender violence and torture"-- Provided by publisher.