My Article Hit the Most Downloaded at Forensic Science International: Synergy

“Truth, Power, and the Crisis of Forensic Independence” is resonating across the forensic science community

I’m excited to share that my recent editorial, “Truth, Power, and the Crisis of Forensic Independence,” has reached the Most Downloaded list in Forensic Science International: Synergy.

It’s encouraging to see this topic resonating with so many readers in such a short time.

In this piece, I examine the structural tension between scientific independence and institutional loyalty in forensic laboratories operating within law enforcement hierarchies.

The article explores documented cases in which forensic professionals who challenged prosecutorial narratives or exposed systemic issues faced retaliation or marginalization.

I argue that these are not isolated incidents, but symptoms of a deeper governance problem. True scientific integrity requires independence from institutional pressure, full disclosure practices, meaningful external oversight, and real protections for whistleblowers.

Forensic science cannot claim objectivity while remaining structurally dependent on the very authorities it is supposed to scrutinize.

If we want public trust, we must be willing to examine the systems that shape our conclusions.

You can read the full open-access article here:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsisyn.2025.100647

I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to read, download, and engage with the work. The conversation around forensic independence is not always comfortable, but it is necessary.

PS - I also encourage you to read the recent paper by Max Houck, about how forensic knowledge is captured within the institutional framework of today’s policing profession: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589871X26000057