Adkins 1

Mackenzie Adkins
Mrs. Debock
English 4 H
20 September 2016
Works Cited
Essential Question: What would happen to the crime rate if forensic science labs got more
funding?
Working Thesis: If state and federal funding for crime labs was higher, the crime rate would
decrease.
Refined Thesis: If state and federal funding for crime labs was higher, the crime rate would
decrease due to the fact that labs could get more equipment, hire more scientists, and have access
to technology that was previously unavailable.
"DA Requests Emergency Funding for National Forensic Labs [press release]." Africa News
Service 2014: Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 22 Sept. 2016. This press release
discusses the need for federal forensics labs to get more funding so that more crimes can
be solved effectively and quickly. There is a need for more assistants and equipment, not
only on a statewide scale, but also on a nation level. It is taking too long to return blood
tests that actually only take a day to complete. This is important to the research because it
shows what the effects of low funding in forensic science labs are, and it reflects the fact
that the need for funding is not just in state or county labs, but also in our federal
forensics labs.

Gabel, Jessica D. "Realizing Reliability In Forensic Science From The Ground Up." Journal of

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Law and Criminology 104.2 (2014): 283-352. Advanced Placement Source [EBSCO].
Web. 21 Sept. 2016. This journal article shows how the forensic science labs are flawed
and have been flawed for a long time. It shows how the forensic science labs are trying to
reform, but how unsuccessful they have been in the past. It reveals all of the things that
contribute to the real issue of forensic science labs getting enough funding. The lack of
the ability in the forensic labs has led many people to be wrongfully convicted. This
source is relevant to the research because it shows the need for the labs to have more
funding, and the reason that the labs have not gotten enough funding.
"Information On Training, Funding, And The Availability Of Forensic Examiners." GAO Reports
(2016): 1. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 14 Sept. 2016. This article talks about
the funding of forensic examiners. It is focused on the sexual assault forensic examiners.
It focuses more on the funding of the examiners than the funding of the labs, which is just
as important. This explains how important the funding is to the training of new
examiners. The availability of new forensic examiners is also directly related to the
funding and training. It shows that the funding of the examiners helps to lower the sexual
assault rate. This article is relevant to the research because it shows directly how the
number of sexual assault forensic examiners directly affects the number of sexual assault
cases.
Linacre, Adrian. "Towards A Research Culture In The Forensic Sciences." Australian Journal Of
Forensic Sciences 45.4 (2013): 381-388. Academic Search Complete. Web. 14 Sept.
2016. This article is about the importance of the forensic science labs. This addresses the
need for more research in the forensic science labs, which could be achieved if the
funding for forensic science labs was a larger amount. It also shows the impact of the

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forensic journals on the areas that they come from. This shows that the word is being
spread about the forensic science labs and what they do for the community and the crime
rate. This article is important to the research because it shows the importance of forensic
science labs, which is the whole point of the research.

"SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE NEARLY $350,000 IN FED FUNDING FOR THE

MONROE COUNTY CRIME LAB; INVESTMENT WILL HELP MAINTAIN
OPERATIONAL CAPACITY AND REDUCE CASE BACKLOG." States News Service
2015: Biography in Context. Web. 20 Sept. 2016. This snippet shows that the need for
funding is able to be seen by many people. People are willing to put time and money into
the forensic science labs because they need it. The DNA research is not up to par because
of the need for money to pay for it. The colleges are even getting involved. Because of
the lack of funding, a backlog does exist and this is the problem with lack of equipment.
This article is important to the research because it shows how much other people are
willing to put into the forensic science labs and how important it is for cases to be solved
effectively.

"SLAUGHTER ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $210,000 IN FUNDING TO HELP MONROE

COUNTY CRIME LAB REDUCE DNA BACKLOG." States News Service 2016:
Biography in Context. Web. 20 Sept. 2016. This article shows how the government is
now giving more funding for the forensic science labs so they can deal with the
backlogged cases that most forensic science labs have. The government is allowing over
$200 thousand to help with DNA research. This will allow forensic examiners to connect
suspects to crimes faster and more effectively. This is relevant to the research because it

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shows the need for the forensic science labs to get more funding, and the fact that the
government has even seen the need for there to be more funding and they have acted on
this need.