Confronting The Crisis In Forensic Science Labs

There is a crisis in forensic science. Namely: mounting evidence that forensics rely on flawed science and that experts overstate their accuracy in court.

Take for example hair analysis -- once a commonly trusted tool in criminal trials. You know, when an expert would testify that they found strands of hair on the victim that matched the perpetrator. This was before DNA analysis came on the scene. Turns out, hair analysis is very subjective and potentially very flawed, even though it was used by the FBI for more than 30 years.

That is why in 2013, the Obama administration launched the National Commission on Forensic Science, an independent committee charged with improving the reliability of forensics and creating uniform standards across the country.

Last month, Attorney General Jeff Sessions disbanded the commission. Sessions said the Justice Department will conduct its own review of forensic science.

Suzanne Bell, chemistry and forensic science professor at West Virginia University. She's also a former member of the now-defunct National Commission on Forensic Science.