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Ethics in Forensic Science

"Well-established principles" for forensic scientists in journal of forensic sciences. Evidence can be deliberately or accidentally mishandled. Forensic scientists must remain unbiased and nonpartisan.

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241 views10 pages

Ethics in Forensic Science

"Well-established principles" for forensic scientists in journal of forensic sciences. Evidence can be deliberately or accidentally mishandled. Forensic scientists must remain unbiased and nonpartisan.

Uploaded by

api-218687995
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ETHICS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE

Hunter Singleton

The identification, collection, and preservation of any piece of forensic evidence will ultimately involve numerous individuals. At any step within the process, evidence can be deliberately or accidentally mishandled.

-Excerpt from Ethics for the Public Service Professional, by Aric W. Dutelle

Common Principles
Joseph L. Peterson and John E. Murdock reported these well-established principles for forensic scientists in Vol. 34 of the Journal of Forensic Sciences: Forensic scientists should be technically

competent Forensic scientists are to be honest about their qualifications Forensic scientists are to be honest with data upon which they base their opinions Scientists are to remain unbiased and nonpartisan

Implications of Mishandling Evidence


Analysis from forensic scientists is given

more weight than other testimony Entire decisions may be thrown out due to misinformation Wrongful convictions may occur Correctly analyzed evidence may be called into question as well

Accidental Mishandling of Evidence


Evidence was not

collected properly Evidence was not heated/cooled properly Proper procedures were not followed (chain of custody) Mistakes were made during analysis

Apparent Mishandling of Evidence Was a Major Factor in the O.J. Simpson Case

Intentional Misrepresentation of Evidence


Evidence can possibly be swapped Results may be lied about Evidence may be planted on the scene

Drugs or other substances may be

planted in samples Evidence may be completely discarded

Interfering with Evidence


CSI Chief David Kofoed was convicted for planting evidence which linked two innocent men to a murder case

Enforcement
Perjury is illegal

The American Board of Criminalistics and

the American Academy of Forensic Scientists have strict codes of ethics Lawyers may cross-examine forensic scientists and question forensic evidence Labs are expected to follow proper protocol

Works Cited
http://library-

resources.cqu.edu.au/JFS/PDF/vol_34/iss_3/JFS3438907 49.pdf http://www.evidencemagazine.com/index.php?option=com _content&task=view&id=453 http://journalstar.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/ex-csichief-kofoed-sentenced-to-prison/article_3ae347c6-6dcb11df-ba80-001cc4c002e0.html Ethics for the Public Service Professional, written by Aric W. Dutelle

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