Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science (International Forensic Science and Investigation)

220 Pages·2009·2.08 MB·English

by  Robin T. Bowen

Ethics
and the Practice of
Forensic Science
I N T E R N AT I O N A L F O R E N S I C S C I E N C E A N D
I N V E S T I G AT I O N S E R I E S
Series Editor: Max Houck
Firearms, the Law and Forensic Ballistics Fingerprints and Other Ridge Skin
T A Warlow Impressions
ISBN 9780748404322 C Champod, C J Lennard, P Margot,
1996 and M Stoilovic
ISBN 9780415271752
Scientific Examination of Documents:
2004
methods and techniques,
2nd edition Firearms, the Law, and Forensic Ballistics,
Second Edition
D Ellen
Tom Warlow
ISBN 9780748405800
ISBN 9780415316019
1997
2004
Forensic Investigation of Explosions
Forensic Computer Crime Investigation
A Beveridge
Thomas A Johnson
ISBN 9780748405657
ISBN 9780824724351
1998
2005
Forensic Examination of Human Hair
Analytical and Practical Aspects of
J Robertson
Drug Testing in Hair
ISBN 9780748405671 Pascal Kintz
1999 ISBN 9780849364501
Forensic Examination of Fibres, 2006
2nd edition Nonhuman DNA Typing: theory and
J Robertson and M Grieve casework applications
ISBN 9780748408160 Heather M Coyle
1999 ISBN 9780824725938
2007
Forensic Examination of Glass and Paint:
analysis and interpretation Chemical Analysis of Firearms,
B Caddy Ammunition, and Gunshot Residue
ISBN 9780748405794 James Smyth Wallace
2001 ISBN 9781420069662
2008
Forensic Speaker Identification
Forensic Science in Wildlife Investigations
P Rose
Adrian Linacre
ISBN 9780415271827
ISBN 9780849304101
2002
2009
Bitemark Evidence
Scientific Method: applications in failure
B J Dorion
investigation and forensic science
ISBN 9780824754143
Randall K. Noon
2004
ISBN 9781420092806
The Practice of Crime Scene 2009
Investigation
Forensic Epidemiology
J Horswell Steven A. Koehler and Peggy A. Brown
ISBN 9780748406098 ISBN 9781420063271
2004 2009
Fire Investigation Ethics and the Pracice of Forensic Science
N Nic Daéid Robin T Bowen
ISBN 9780415248914 ISBN 9781420088939
2004 2009
I N T E R N AT I O N A L F O R E N S I C S C I E N C E
A N D I N V E S T I G AT I O N S E R I E S
Ethics
and the Practice of
Forensic Science
Robin T. Bowen
Boca Raton London New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Bowen, Robin T.
Ethics and the practice of forensic science / Robin T. Bowen.
p. cm. -- (International forensic science and investigation series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4200-8893-9 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Forensic sciences--Moral and ethical aspects--United States. 2. Forensic
scientists--Professional ethics--United States. 3. Forensic sciences--Moral and ethical
aspects. 4. Forensic scientists--Professional ethics. I. Title. II. Series.
HV8073.B649 2010
174’.936325--dc22 2009042280
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
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and the CRC Press Web site at
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This book is dedicated to all the professionals
struggling to find the right answer…
And to my husband, for always helping me to find my right answers.

Table of Contents
Foreword x i
Preface xiii
Series Editor x v
Acknowledgments xvii
Author xix
1 What Is Ethics? 1
Introduction 1
Ethical Theories 2
The Study of Ethics 3
Utilitarianism: The Greater Good 4
Deontological Ethics: Obligation and Intention 6
Comparing Approaches for Forensic Science 8
Ethical Decision Making 9
Framework for Ethical Decisions 1 2
Rule 1: Inherent Good Surpasses Noninherent Good 1 3
Rule 2: Noninherent Evil Surpasses Inherent Evil 1 4
Rule 3: When Selecting between Levels of Good or Evil,
Select the Highest Good or the Lowest Evil 1 4
Result of Decisions 1 4
2 The Ethics of the Criminal Justice Culture 1 9
Introduction 1 9
Recruitment 2 0
Culture 2 1
Ethics of Criminal Justice 2 3
Ethics Training 2 5
Unethical Behavior 2 6
Sources of Pressure for the Forensic Scientist 3 1
3 Ethics in the Courtroom: The Scientist’s
Perspective 33
Introduction 3 3
Role of Attorneys 3 4
vii
viii Table of Contents
Attorney–Expert Relationship 3 6
Misconduct 3 8
Examples of Misconduct 4 0
Duke Lacrosse Case, 2006 4 1
Federal Prosecutors, 2007 4 2
4 Research Ethics in Science 4 5
Introduction 45
Science, Technology, and Society 4 6
Research and Publication 4 8
Ethics in Science and Research 5 1
Misconduct 5 2
5 Ethics in Forensic Science 57
Introduction 5 7
Crime Scene 5 8
Laboratory 5 9
Role of the Scientific Expert Witness 6 1
Qualification 6 4
Admissibility of Scientific Evidence 6 6
The Frye Case 6 7
The Daubert Case 6 8
Parameters 6 9
Misconduct 7 1
6 Unethical Behavior: The Fork in the Road 7 5
Introduction 75
Unethical Behavior 7 7
Motivation 8 2
Justification 8 5
Consequences 8 6
Whistle-Blowing 8 8
7 Good Examples of Bad Behavior 9 3
O. J. Simpson Case 9 3
Case Studies 9 4
False Credentials (Associated Press, 2007a) 9 4
Misleading Degree (Moran, 2006) 9 6
Pros 9 6
Cons 9 6
Abuse of Power (North, 2001) 9 7
Table of Contents ix
Supporting a Habit (Huicochea, 2008) 9 8
“Errors” (Armstrong, 2007) 9 8
Prosecutor Pressure (Moxley, 2008) 9 9
Detroit (Clickondetroit.com, 2008) 100
Procedure (Johnson, 2008) 101
Fingerprints (Associated Press, 2008) 102
Personal Gain (Bone, 2007) 102
Research (Associated Press, 2006) 103
So What Happened? 103
What Was the Scientists’ Defense? 104
On the Other Hand… 104
FBI Whistle-Blower 104
Notorious Examples Every Forensic Scientist Should Know 105
Fred Zain 105
Michael West 105
Kathleen Lundy 105
Allison Lancaster 105
David Petersen 106
Joyce Gilcrist 106
Houston Police Department Crime Laboratory 106
8 Codes of Ethics 107
Introduction 107
National Forensic Center 109
Developing Codes of Ethics 110
Purpose 111
Council of Scientific Society Presidents Study of Codes of
Ethics 113
Familiarity with Codes of Ethics 113
The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) 114
Article II. Code of Ethics and Conduct 114
The American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) 118
Rules of Professional Conduct 118
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors 120
The International Association for Identification (IAI) 120
9 An Ethical Approach to Forensic Professionalism 123
Introduction 123
Education 123
Competence 126
Professions and Professionalism 127