Integrating Forensic Science into Criminal Justice Reform for a Safer Society

Abstract

This conference paper attempts to clarify that true reform of criminal justice (particularly in Nigeria) cannot be achieved without integrating forensic science at its very core. It highlights how science provides real-time courtroom evidence through various forensic methods and techniques all over the world in assisting investigations and transforming justice delivery from probability to certainty. However, in many developing countries, progress could be hindered by various inherent factors and challenges. The paper subsequently seeks to draw lessons from selected international models that showcase the value of integrating forensic science in criminal justice administration, thereby demonstrating how reform of criminal justice can move from rhetoric to reality. It challenges policymakers, scholars, and practitioners to see forensic science not as an accessory but as the very foundation of criminal justice administration for a safer and fairer society.