Theme 5: Forensic Cooperation and Communication

Chair: Justice Tettey
Co chair: Richard Koning

Cooperation and Communication is essential in application and development of Forensic Science. It is, however, one of the most challenging issues around. In almost every project and organisation communication and cooperation is a problem area, where much can be gained from improvements, and Forensic Science is no exception. Especially in an increasingly international, if not global, arena the need for effective cooperation across borders, cultures, disciplines, and working methods is evident.  

But how can we improve? How can new innovations and best practices contribute to more effective interdisciplinary research? Or aid the interpretation of the results throughout the criminal justice system? How do we facilitate cross-border operations and bring together international investigation teams? What future lies ahead of us regarding the creation of cross-border consortia or international centres of excellence? And, finally, how does the media shape society’s attitude towards forensics, and can we use that to our advantage?  

In this highly interesting and relevant theme, we will focus on the following topics:

• Inter-disciplinary cooperation
  • Supporting tools
  • Forensic Science and Forensic Medicine
• Communication in the criminal justice system
• Operational Cross Border Cooperation
  • International Investigation Teams
  • International Criminal Courts / Tribunals
  • International Institutions
  • Cross-border exchange of information (e.g. databases, Prüm Treaty)
  • Admissibility of evidence in the international arena (e.g. language, institutional hurdles)
• Non-operational Cross Border Cooperation
  • International Networks of Forensic Institutes (e.g. are local/regional networks useful, how to coordinate)
  • International Consortia of Forensic Institutes (e.g. how to identify strengths and bundle them, how to coordinate in multi-party tendering)
• Centers of Excellence (clustering of expertise, economy of scale and load balancing)
• Forensic Science, Society and the Media