Creating infrastructure and incentives to increase quality in forensic science

Forensic science in the United States is one of the few high-consequence industries that primarily relies on voluntary compliance to ensure quality. Previous efforts to improve forensic science have been largely unsuccessful because appropriate support was not in place to assist providers with complying, there was no incentive for providers to comply, or both conditions occurred simultaneously. This perspective outlines how creating the necessary infrastructure and incentives can lead to positive change in this unregulated environment and how it can be used as a model to improve all aspects of forensic practice. Examples are provided that illustrate how this model has been successful when both infrastructure and incentives were present simultaneously and how the model failed when only one component was introduced. A detailed plan is also included outlining how this model can be used to achieve universal accreditation of forensic providers in the United States.