Rivalrous redundancy

There should be several competing forensic labs in any jurisdiction.  Subject to the constraints of feasibility, some evidence should be chosen at random for duplicate testing at other labs.  The same DNA evidence, for example, might be sent to more than one lab for analysis.  The forensic worker need not know whether the evidence is examined by another lab.  He will know that there could be another lab, and sometimes is.

Independence

Crime labs should be independent of police and prosecutors.

Statistical review

Statistical review would support improved quality control.  For example, if a given lab produces an unusually large number of inconclusive findings, its procedures and practices should be examined.

Information hiding

Evidence should be prepared for testing so as to shield the lab doing a test from all extraneous knowledge of the case particulars.

Division of labor between forensic analysis and interpretation

When this measure is combined with the provision of forensic counsel for the defense, errors of interpretation are less likely to go unchallenged.

Forensic counsel for the indigent

Forensic science decides many criminal cases and yet we do not have a right to forensic counsel similar to our right to legal counsel.

Forensic vouchers

A voucher system would give forensic counselors to the indigent an incentive to provide high-quality services to their clients.

Privatization

Private labs would be subject to civil liability and administrative fines for poor performance.  They have, therefore, stronger financial incentives than publicly owned enterprises to provide good and reliable work.

Scientific vs. investigative opinion

An investigative opinion uses all available evidence to judge the probability of guilt.  A scientific opinion is based only on scientific evidence and addresses only narrow issues such as whether blood at the crime scene came from a given person.

Other

Other principles apply including the general principles of administration.  For example, labs should be accredited and they should have programs of quality control and assurance.