It must have a culture that is strongly rooted in science, with strong ties to the national research and teaching communities, including federal laboratories.
• It must have strong ties to state and local forensic entities as well as to the professional organizations within the forensic science community.
• It must not be in any way committed to the existing system, but should be informed by its experiences.
• It must not be part of a law enforcement agency.
• It must have the funding, independence, and sufficient prominence to raise the profile of the forensic science disciplines and push effectively for improvements.
• It must be led by persons who are skilled and experienced in developing and executing national strategies and plans for standard setting; managing accreditation and testing processes; and developing and implementing rulemaking, oversight, and sanctioning processes.
No federal agency currently exists that meets all of these criteria.