Forensic Technology: Algorithms Strengthen Forensic Analysis, but Several Factors Can Affect Outcomes

Law enforcement agencies use forensic algorithms in criminal investigations to help assess whether evidence originated from a specific individual—improving the speed and objectivity of many investigations.

However, analysts and investigators face several challenges, such as difficulty interpreting and communicating results, and addressing potential bias and misuse.

We developed three policy options that could help with such challenges:

Increased training
Standards and policies on appropriate use
Increased transparency in testing, performance, and use of these algorithms