European Cooperation - A Comparative Study of Portuguese and French Scientific Police Laboratories

Abstract

This study was aimed at relating the work done by scientific police (forensic) laboratories with implications on criminal investigation through international cooperation and collaboration in the forensic field. In order to do so, a qualitative research methodology was adopted, with data obtained from the Scientific Police Laboratory of Lisbon and the National Institute of Scientific Police of Lyon. The results obtained reveal that, although both laboratories use the same techniques and the same instruments for the different forensic assessments, differences found in the procedures have a direct impact on criminal investigation.