Skip to main content

NOTICE: Due to a lapse in annual appropriations, most of this website is not being updated. Learn more.

Form submissions will still be accepted but will not receive responses at this time. Sections of this site for programs using non-appropriated funds (such as NVLAP) or those that are excepted from the shutdown (such as CHIPS and NVD) will continue to be updated.

U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Technical Tracks Errors

Examples of Errors in Forensic Science

Analyst/Expert Error

  • Errors due to human bias (i.e., cognitive bias, confirmation bias)
  • Forensic examiner variability
  • Errors due to improperly collected or improperly labeled evidence from crime scenes
  • Errors due to break in the chain of custody
  • Errors due to contamination and mislabeling of evidence
  • Errors due to mishandling (i.e., losing samples, sample mix-ups, sample mislabeling and sample contamination)
  • Errors due to misinterpretation of evidence
  • Errors due to misinterpreting data
  • Errors in poorly following best practices, processes and methods
  • Errors due to poor documentation and transcriptions
  • Errors due to inadequately trained personnel
  • Errors due to analyst incompetence
  • Errors due to failure to review the analysis of the original analyst
  • Errors due to misinterpretation of post-mortem artifacts (i.e., artifacts due to resuscitation, exhumation, decomposition, embalming, rigor mortis, toxicological, environmental)
  • Measurement errors (i.e., systematic, random)

Fraud

  • Errors due to examiner fraud
  • Errors due to falsified reports
  • Errors due to suppression of exculpatory evidence
  • Errors due to exaggeration of test results
  • Errors due to false testimony about test results

Methods/protocol error

  • Errors due to unvalidated methods
  • Errors due to methods without scientific underpinnings
  • Errors due to inaccurate and misleading statistics
  • Error rates in scientific techniques
  • Measurement errors (i.e., systematic, random)

Instrumentation/Technology Limitations

  • Errors in software packages
  • Error rates in technology solutions
  • Laboratory equipment errors (i.e., poor or no calibrations)
  • Measurement errors (i.e., systematic and random)
  • Errors due to deficiencies in laboratory reference materials

 

 

Created February 24, 2015, Updated April 17, 2025
Was this page helpful?